Manufacturing
Age by Industry
Age by Occupation
Age by Education
Age by Working Arrangements
Age by Industry Trends
Age by Industry
The average age (mean) of the Manufacturing industry is 39.4 years. The chart below displays the age distribution of workers in Manufacturing. The largest proportion of workers are in the 40 to 44 year age group (13.8 per cent), followed 35 to 39 years (13.5 per cent).
AGE BY INDUSTRY
Manufacturing
Age grouping
ABS (2001) Labour Force Australia
Projections of the age profile of the Manufacturing industry against the age profile of the population in ten years time, shows that there could be considerable variation between these two profiles. Most noticeable is the deviation after 20 to 24 years and 55 years and over age groups, demonstrating a higher proportional concentration of people aged 25 to 54 years compared to the Australia population.
Manufacturing
Workforce Population Age Profile Year 2004
Age by Occupation
The oldest employees within Manufacturing are Managers and Administrators, aged
43.8 years on average and Advanced Clerical and Service Workers, whose average
age is 42.4 years. The youngest group are Labourers and Related Workers, 37.7
years.
AGE BY OCCUPATION
Manufacturing
Occupation
ABS (2001) Labour Force Australia
Age by Education
The level and currency of post-secondary qualifications held by workers within Manufacturing reflects the effectiveness and capacity of the industry over the long term. Approximately half of all workers in Manufacturing have not post-secondary education. The majority of the workers, who do hold a post-secondary qualification, have a certificate level qualification (28.5 per cent).
Older people aged 45 and over years, have a slightly greater proportion of workers who have obtained qualifications. 49.8 per cent of people in this age group have qualifications, compared to 49.3 per cent of workers aged between 15 to 44 years. A slightly greater proportion of younger workers have more post-certificate qualifications when compared to older people. Seventy-nine per cent of workers aged 45 years and over who do hold post-secondary qualifications, obtained them before 1980. For workers aged less than 45 years, 45 per cent had completed their qualification prior to 1990.
| Highest Qualification | 15 to 44yrs | 45yrs and over | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Postgraduate Degree Level | 1.3% | 1.2% | 1.2% |
| Graduate Diploma and Graduate Certificate Level | .7% | .8% | .8% |
| Bachelor Degree Level | 9.1% | 5.8% | 7.9% |
| Advanced Diploma and Diploma Level | 5.3% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| Certificate Level | 28.0% | 29.6% | 28.5% |
| No Post-secondary Education | 50.7% | 50.2% | 50.5% |
| Other | 4.9% | 6.1% | 5.4% |
| Total | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| Year completed qualification | 15 to 44yrs | 45yrs and over | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Before 1971 | 42.3% | 14.4% | |
| 1971-1980 | 11.5% | 36.8% | 20.2% |
| 1981-1985 | 16.8% | 5.8% | 13.1% |
| 1986-1990 | 17.1% | 4.6% | 12.8% |
| 1991-1995 | 22.5% | 4.9% | 16.5% |
| 1996-1997 | 10.2% | 1.8% | 7.3% |
| 1998-1999 | 12.4% | 2.0% | 8.9% |
| 2000-2001 | 9.5% | 1.9% | 6.9% |
| Total | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% |
Age by Working Arrangements
The working arrangements of employees within Manufacturing are varied, with only one-quarter of Manufacturing workers employed on a standard full-time, 40 hour week basis. Forty percent of employees within the industry work less than 40 hours a week. There is only a slightly higher proportion of older people (45 years and over) who work less than 40 hours compared to younger workers, 40.5 per cent and 39.2 per cent respectively. Thirty-six per cent of the Manufacturing workforce, are employed for more than 40 hours per wee. Working beyond the standard 40 hour week, raises questions about the longevity of workers capacity as they age.
| Year completed qualification | 15 to 44yrs | 45yrs and over | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-15 hours | 4.5% | 4.4% | 4.5% |
| 16-24 hours | 4.6% | 5.0% | 4.8% |
| 25-34 hours | 5.5% | 7.1% | 6.0% |
| 35-39 hours | 24.6% | 24.0% | 24.4% |
| 40 hours | 25.5% | 22.5% | 24.5% |
| 41-48 hours | 16.3% | 14.7% | 15.8% |
| 49 or more hours | 19.0% | 22.2% | 20.1% |
| Total | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% |
Age by Industry Trends
Australian Manufacturers are increasingly focused on lean design and a simplification of production methods through the introduction of new product and process technologies that allow them to focus on core activities and comparative advantages. This has required employees to be more flexible, multi-skilled and technically adept. To enable workers to sustain their work capacity as they age, re-skilling and organisational re-deign are an imperative. This issue requires attention to ensuring support for the education and training of existing workers is given priority in by employers and in the availability of public funding.
Manufacturing has a strong focus on on-the-job training. While, this method of training provides flexibility and responsiveness, in some cases it can lead to a lack of comprehensive and consistent learning and development in the workplace. For employees, they also lack the formal recognition of current competencies, which enables them to be mobile across the industry.
As the manufacturing workforce ages, industry stakeholders such as Manufacturing Learning Australia (MLA), are looking at ways to attract younger people to their industry. The “Make It!” campaign Is a cross manufacturing marketing initiative to change young Australians perceptions of manufacturing as a career choice and is directed at 14 to 16 year old students who are about to make important decisions in their lives about their careers and further education. While, such programs are critical for future skilled labour supply, the industry must also up-skill their current workforce and look at ways they can better accommodate workers of all ages, particularly in relation to workplace deaths and injuries.
Manufacturers must assess their product development strategies, to evaluate the needs of their consumers as they age. For example in the car industry, product development must begin to incorporate features such as improved access, easier layout, controls with larger symbols etc.
Sources:
Manufacturing Learning Australia (2003) Strategic Plan for Vocational Education and Training in the process manufacturing industries and laboratory/technical operations occupations - 2003-05
Morton, I (2001) Older Age: An Age Older Challenge for Car Manufacturers
National Occupational Health and Safety Commission, (2001) Compendium of Workers’ Compensation Statistics, 2000-01, http://www.nohsc.gov.au
