Transport & Storage
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 Transport & Storage industry is 33.4 years. This
represents the youngest industry across all sectors. The chart below displays
the age distribution of workers in Transport & Storage. The largest proportion of
workers are in the 15 to 19 year age group (21.3 per cent), followed 20 to 24
years (14.9 per cent).
AGE BY INDUSTRY
Transport & Storage
Age grouping
ABS (2001) Labour Force Australia
The average age (mean) of the Transport and Storage industry is 41.6 years. The chart below displays the age distribution of workers in Transport and Storage. Transport and Storage is the third oldest industry across all sectors. The largest proportion of workers are in the 40 to 44 year age group (14.3 per cent), followed 45 to 49 years (13.4 per cent).
Transport & Storage
Workforce Population Age Profile Year 2004
Age by Occupation
The oldest employees within Transport and Storage are Associate Professional
(44.5 years). This is followed by Intermediate Production and Transport Workers,
whose average age is 43.9 years. The youngest groups are Intermediate Clerical,
Sales and Service Workers (37.3 years) and Labourers and Related Workers (38.3
years).
AGE BY OCCUPATION
Transport & Storage
Occupation
ABS (2001) Labour Force Australia
Age by Education
Fifty-five per cent of all workers in Transport and Storage have not post-secondary education. The majority of the workers, who do hold a post-secondary qualification, have a certificate level qualification (23 per cent). Younger people aged 15 to 44 years, have a greater proportion of workers who have obtained post-certificate level qualifications (for every two workers aged 45 years and over, there are three workers aged 15 to 44 years with post-certificate level qualifications). Seven-three 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, 42 per cent had completed their qualification prior to 1990.
| Highest Qualification | 15 to 44yrs | 45yrs and over | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Postgraduate Degree Level | 0.7% | 1.0% | 0.8% |
| Graduate Diploma and Graduate Certificate Level | 0.7% | 0.4% | 0.6% |
| Bachelor Degree Level | 8.9% | 4.1% | 6.9% |
| Advanced Diploma and Diploma Level | 8.6% | 6.8% | 7.9% |
| Certificate Level | 22.8% | 23.2% | 23.0% |
| No Post-secondary Education | 52.8% | 57.8% | 54.9% |
| Other | 5.5% | 6.7% | 6.0% |
| Total | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| Year completed qualification | 15 to 44yrs | 45yrs and over | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Before 1971 | 38.7% | 14.8% | |
| 1971-1980 | 10.8% | 33.8% | 19.6% |
| 1981-1985 | 13.5% | 5.8% | 10.5% |
| 1986-1990 | 17.7% | 5.0% | 12.9% |
| 1991-1995 | 24.4% | 6.1% | 17.4% |
| 1996-1997 | 10.4% | 3.0% | 7.5% |
| 1998-1999 | 13.1% | 3.3% | 9.4% |
| 2000-2001 | 10.0% | 4.3% | 7.8% |
| Total | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% |
Age by Working Arrangements
The working arrangements of employees within Transport and Storage are variable, with only one in five workers employed on a standard 40 hour week basis. The level of part-time employment within Transport and Storage is comparably low with only one in nine workers aged 15 to 44 years and one in eight workers aged 45 years and over employed for under 25 hours a week. Flexible work options are important across people’s working lives. To sustain supply of labour within Transport and Storage in the future, it will be necessary to address work arrangement options for workers of all ages.
| Hours worked | 15 to 44yrs | 45yrs and over | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-15 hours | 5.8% | 6.3% | 6.0% |
| 16-24 hours | 5.7% | 7.1% | 6.3% |
| 25-34 hours | 7.5% | 8.3% | 7.8% |
| 35-39 hours | 16.1% | 11.7% | 14.3% |
| 40 hours | 21.0% | 18.9% | 20.1% |
| 41-48 hours | 15.4% | 14.4% | 15.0% |
| 49 or more hours | 28.5% | 33.2% | 30.4% |
| Total | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% |
Age by Industry Trends
Competing for skilled labour will continue to be a challenge for the Transport and Storage industry, due to the low paid and conditions offered; the unattractive image of the industry and the often remote workplace locations for the sector. Succession planning and semi-retirement options will be critical for the Transport and Storage industry as they seek to manage the loss of experience and corporate knowledge as older workers retire. Retention strategies such as recognition of current competencies, up-skilling and job diversification, will also assist in retaining the experience and skills of the industry.
Like many other industry sectors, technological innovation within Transport and Storage has required workers to enhance their technology, literacy and numeracy skill levels. Skill development at the line management and executive level has also been critical in terms of change management and supervision in a new technology driven environment. To facilitate ongoing learning and development within the industry a stronger learning culture is required and clearer vocational pathways need to be sort.
Sources:
ABS (1999) Household Expenditure Survey, ABS Cat. No. 6530.0
TDT Australia (2003) Strategic Industry VET Plan for the Transport and Distribution Industry, 2003 to 2008.
