Australia in the Emerging Global Knowledge Economy: Changing Employment Patterns 1986-7 to 1999-00. Working Paper.

Australian employment patterns for 1986-2000 are depicted in this report using a framework of nine occupational categories classified in terms of level/nature of skills and degree/nature of exposure to globalization. The categories are as follows: symbolic analytical services (conceptual, technical), in-person services (professional, intermediate, elementary), and routine production services (advanced skill, white collar, blue collar, low skill). By category, 31 tables and 43 figures depict the following: (1) current employment patterns; (2) overall occupational change, 1986-2000; (3) occupational change by hours worked; (4) change by gender; (5) change by age; (6) change for 15-19 year-olds; and (7) change for 20-24 year-olds. Major findings summarized in the report are as follows: (1) substantial growth in symbolic analytical services (conceptual), which are most in demand in the knowledge economy; (2) low participation of young people in this category; (3) other areas of greatest growth in occupations that are most vulnerable to the global economy; (4) youth employment increasing in part-time, casual, low skilled occupations; and (5) stagnating growth in routine production services (advanced skill), a major area served by vocational education. Appendices contain the four-digit occupational codes from the Australian Standard Classification of Occupations for occupations in the nine categories. (SK)