Originating in 2001, The Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey provides us with an intimate look at life in Australia by gathering data from within the home.
Each year, more than 17,000 Australian families are followed, and data is collected on a myriad of items including relationships, income and employment, and health and education.
HILDA is a one of a kind study in Australia; personal, rather than political. As such, it provides an honest, and otherwise unobtainable insight into life in Australia.
This week, Melbourne Institute has released the latest survey, inviting researches from Australia and abroad to access the data for their research. Here are 5 stats The Brag pulled from the recent survey that deserve special attention.
1 – All age groups have had a substantial increase in depression and anxiety diagnoses
Australia is facing nothing short of a mental health epidemic. Obesity was once our national health emergency, but now with 3.2 million Australians (13.1%) suffering from an anxiety-related condition, this is the new mountain before us.
That figure was pulled from the 2017-2018 statistics and shows a considerable increase from the year prior, which was 2.6 million people (or 11.2%).
In Australia, suicide is the leading cause of death among people aged 15–44 (35%). HILDA’s survey does show a marketed decrease in anxiety and depression for those who seek medical assistance, highlighting the importance of “providing everyone in Australia with access to mental health services and treatment.”
2 – Australians now spend 4.5 hours a week commuting to and from work, up from 3.7 hours in 2002
The commute time for Australians living in major cities has risen across the board and is the highest it’s been since 2002. Sydney has it the worst with an average Sydney-sider spending 71 minutes driving to and from work a day. Brisbane’s average commute has increased by 50% since the previous survey.
The survey has noted a direct correlation between time spend on the road and job satisfaction. That is, the longer you spend going to and from work, the more displeased you become with your job.
The survey has pointed the finger at low investment in infrastructure, long delays on updating public transport services as well as housing prices causing people to locate further and further from their place of business.
The survey also makes a connection between the amount of hours worked and the work-family conflict score. Despite growing work-family conflict scores with fathers, the survey suggests it’s mothers who feel it the most, with the amount of working mums increasing in Australia since 2001.
3 – Poverty has increased
You read that right – in 2019, poverty has risen in Australia. The difference is marginal, but there nonetheless.
In 2016, the survey revealed a poverty rate of 9.6%. In the years since, it’s risen to 10.4%. The survey suggests that 34.2% of children living outside a major city in Australia will experience at least a year of poverty within their first decade of life.
This is compared to the 25.8% of children within major cities who are now expected to experience at least a year of poverty within their first decade of life.
The survey shows a concerning disconnect between rural dwelling children and their urban peers. 3.4% of children born into a town with 100,000 people of fewer will experience more than seven years of poverty within their first decade of life.
4. 12% of Australians aged 15 years or older had used at least one illicit drug in the past 12 months
The survey has calculated that 15 is the age when illicit drug use begins on average. The next age group – the 20s – shows that more than a quarter of people within that age bracket used illicit drugs within the past 12 months. However, the use of illicit drugs does seem to decrease with age.
While marijuana/cannabis is by far the most common drug, with almost 35% of drug takers smoking it, the survey showed that most people who smoke marijuana/cannabis don’t do other drugs. Conversely, those who smoke meth (just over 5%) cocaine (8%) or ecstasy (11%) regularly combine other drugs.
The survey also showed that if your mother smoked marijuana/cannabis throughout her life time, there is a 1 in 3 chance that you also smoke marijuana/cannabis.
5. Childcare costs have risen 145%
Childcare costs in Australia have been the laughing stock of the developed world for some time now, but with the latest survey we can really see just how bad the situation is. Since 2002, childcare costs in Australia have risen 145%.
This puts the current median weekly childcare costs at $153. The survey states “The financial cost of child care is the main difficulty experienced by parents (whose youngest child is below five years).”
The survey isn’t all doom and gloom, however. It also reports that since 2001, there has been a 17% increase in parents being both employed. It also indicates that more women are employed than the previous survey, with an increase of 71% of women in the workforce.
It’s also deduced that one in four Australian couples include one person who was born overseas, indicative of the changing and largely inclusive Australian culture.
