Demography and the Northern Territory: Australia's Indigenous Population: A Demographic Gift?

Abstract

The Indigenous population is young compared to the population of the rest of Australia. This young age profile means Indigenous people will have significant demands on the education and health sectors, as well as increasing demand on housing and the labour market. Because the many young people born in recent years will be at the age of entering the job market at the same time as many non-Indigenous Australians are reaching retirement age there is a significant opportunity for Indigenous Australians to fill these 'job gaps' in the labour market. This seminar explores the population age profile of the Indigenous population in Australia as well as key characteristics that indicate where demographic opportunities lie, and the challenges for exploiting these opportunities.