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Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Community Insights
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Adults

25–49 years

Social and economic determinants

Social and economic circumstances are important determinants of health and wellbeing of Indigenous Australians. This section outlines some of the main social and economic factors for Indigenous Australians aged 25–49.

Education

Increasing the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (aged 25–34) who have completed a tertiary qualification (Certificate III and above) to 70% by 2031 is a target in the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.

In 2016, among Indigenous Australians aged 25–49:

  • 25% (41,664) held a Certificate III or IV
  • 9% (15,264) held a Bachelor degree or above
  • 9% (14,017) held an Advanced diploma or diploma (Figure AD 14).
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Employment

Increasing the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (aged 25–64) who are employed to 62% by 2031 is a target in the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.

Labour force status

In the labour force: Those who are currently employed, or unemployed but actively looking for and available to start working.

Not in the labour force: Those who are not actively looking for work, or are looking but unavailable to start working.

Employment rate: The percentage of the population who are employed.

Unemployment rate: The percentage of the labour force who are unemployed.

In 2016, among Indigenous Australians aged 25–49:

  • 63% (119,132) were in the labour force (Figure AD 15a).
  • 53% (100,004) were employed, with those living in Major cities more likely to be employed (61% or 44,624) than those living in Very remote areas (35% or 8,779) (Figure AD 15b).
  • The unemployment rate was 16% (19,128). The unemployment rate was higher in Very remote areas (28% or 3,465) and lowest in Major cities (12% or 5,845) (Figure AD 15c).
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Household income

Equivalised household incomes are incomes that have been adjusted to make it possible to compare the incomes of households of different sizes and compositions. They reflect that larger households need more money to achieve the same standard of living than smaller households.

In 2016, among Indigenous Australians aged 25–49:

  • 37% (54,304) lived in households with a weekly equivalised household income of $499 or less.
  • Those living in remote areas were more likely to live in households with a weekly equivalised income of $499 or less (61% or 16,672) than those in non-remote areas (31% or 37,628) (Figure AD 16).
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Housing

In 2016, among Indigenous Australians aged 25–49:

  • 34% (55,246) lived in a home that was owner occupied (owned outright or with a mortgage).
  • 31% (50,279) lived in social housing (homes rented through a state or territory housing authority or community housing).
  • 35% (58,229) lived in other homes being rented (Figure AD 17a).

On Census night in 2016, 4% (8,102) of Indigenous Australians aged 25–49 were homeless. Of this group:

  • 64% (5,149) lived in severely crowded homes (requiring 4 or more additional bedrooms).
  • 15% (1,213) lived in improvised dwellings.
  • 11% (896) lived in supported accommodation for the homeless (Figure AD 17b).
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Financial stress and food security

In 2018–19, among Indigenous Australians aged 25–49:

  • 53% (123,800) lived in households that could not raise $2,000 in a week in an emergency.
  • Those living in non-remote areas (53% or 97,500) were more likely to live in households that could raise $2,000 in a week in an emergency than those living in remote areas (25% or 12,000) (Figure AD 18).
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