Employees without paid leave entitlements rose as a proportion of total employment from 17 per cent in 1992 to 20 per cent in 1998. Since then, the proportion has remained relatively stable at 20 per cent.37 Casual employees are more likely to be female, young and employed part-time.38
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) (2006), the industries with the highest percentages of casual workers were:
accommodation, cafes and restaurants industry (59 per cent);
agriculture, forestry and fishing sector (49 per cent);
retail trade sector (45 per cent); and
cultural and recreational services sector (45 per cent).
