Department of Regional NSW
Reliable data is crucial for driving meaningful change in employment and economic outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
SGS Economics and Planning has developed detailed workforce estimates of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in NSW. This nationally significant research enriches the evidence base to support tailored policy and program design.
Data gaps are widely recognised as a key barrier to improving life outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. While Census data on the Indigenous workforce is collected every five years, the Labour Force Survey—the official source of employment, unemployment, and labour force participation data—does not provide breakdowns by Indigenous status.
These data limitations have serious implications for public policy. Indigenous Australians continue to face social and economic disparities, contributing to preventable societal costs in health, education and the criminal justice system.
In partnership with the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, SGS combined various Australian Bureau of Statistics data sources to estimate the Aboriginal workforce by employment category, occupation, labour market region, and quarter. Additionally, SGS developed a model to allow future Labour Force survey data to be disaggregated by Indigenous status.
Potential future applications of this research include the ability to:
- Better tailor employment and training programs to the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
- Inform advocacy around the need for quality and granular data to support the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.
- Support stronger economic participation and development of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and their communities.
