Index
The Labour Force - 1
Birth And Death Rates - 2
Migration And Age Distribution - 3
Other Factors Effecting The Labour Force - 4
Attitudes To Work And Leisure- 5
Australia's Population - Statistical Analysis - 6
Population Centres In Australia - 7
Trends In Employment - 8
The Supply And Demand For Labour - 9
Geographical Mobility And Taxation - 10
The Unemployment Rate - 11
Defining ''Employment'' - 12
The Labour Force Reviewed - 13
The Hidden Unemployed - 14
Changes In Employment And Unemployment - 15
Economic Growth And Employment - 16
The Demand For Labour - 17
The Impact Of The Global Economy - 18
Legal Requirements - 19
The ''Casualisation'' Of The Labour Force - 20
Types of Unemployment - 21
Types of Unemployment (continued) - 22
The Labour Force Participation Rate - 23
The LFPR (continued) - 24
The Effects Of Unemployment - 25
Income Inequality - 26
The Distribution Of Household Income - 27
Income Distribution In Australia - 28
Income Distribution (continued) - 29
Income Distribution (continued) - 30
Changes In The Workforce - 31
Net Overseas Migration - 32
Sources Of Migrant Intake - 33
Changes In The Workforce (continued) - 34
Youth Unemployment - 35
''Mature'' Unemployment - 36
Supply Side Economics - 37
Revision Exercise - 1 - 38
Revision Exercise - 2 - 39

The Effects of Unemployment - 25
Unemployment effects the whole economy, not just those unfortunate to be unemployed.

The unemployed have skills and training that are not being utilised in production. National income and production could grow, if these people were gainfully working. Most of the unemployed receive transfer payments from the Federal government (the ''dole''). With approximately 800,000 people unemployed, this represents a large outlay from the Federal Budget, money that could be utilised elsewhere. Unemployment represents a private cost to those directly effected by it; a loss of income, and if unemployment is long term, a potential loss of skills as well. Unemployment is also a social cost to our community. Unemployment is associated with higher levels of family breakdowns, alcohol and drug abuse, and suicide.

High levels of unemployment increases the level of income inequality in Australia. Many social commentators are concerned that an underclass of long term unemployed is developing in this country. These people, who also include those who are employed on a short-term, casual basis in poorly paying jobs (the ''working poor'') are critical of the wealth of the elite, professional groups in our society, who are in the richest 10% of all income earners.