Characteristic | Observations at baseline wave | Per cent | Mean MCS | Observations at final wave | Per cent | Mean MCS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Age in years | ||||||
29 or under | 7841 | 42.57 | 47.80 | 6075 | 32.98 | 47.60 |
30–44 | 5841 | 31.71 | 48.25 | 5347 | 29.03 | 48.30 |
45–59 | 3913 | 21.24 | 49.91 | 5147 | 27.94 | 49.49 |
60 and over | 825 | 4.48 | 53.42 | 1851 | 10.05 | 52.80 |
Gender | ||||||
Male | 9306 | 50.52 | 49.76 | 9306 | 50.52 | 49.80 |
Female | 9114 | 49.48 | 47.50 | 9114 | 49.48 | 47.89 |
Household structure | ||||||
Couple without dependents | 7703 | 41.82 | 48.97 | 6682 | 36.28 | 49.00 |
Couple with dependents | 6156 | 33.42 | 49.52 | 6878 | 37.34 | 49.84 |
Lone | 2044 | 11.1 | 47.20 | 2731 | 14.83 | 47.66 |
Group/multihousehold | 1243 | 6.75 | 47.48 | 985 | 5.35 | 47.45 |
Lone with dependents | 1274 | 6.92 | 45.86 | 1144 | 6.21 | 45.90 |
Occupational skill level | ||||||
Low | 6006 | 32.61 | 48.43 | 4953 | 26.89 | 48.26 |
Medium | 6971 | 37.84 | 48.45 | 7249 | 39.35 | 48.67 |
High | 5443 | 29.55 | 49.13 | 6218 | 33.76 | 49.54 |
Usual hours worked | ||||||
34 or under | 7811 | 42.4 | 48.03 | 6990 | 37.95 | 48.15 |
35–40 | 5576 | 30.27 | 48.87 | 6383 | 34.65 | 49.10 |
41–48 | 2196 | 11.92 | 49.28 | 2123 | 11.53 | 49.54 |
49–59 | 1721 | 9.34 | 49.22 | 1827 | 9.92 | 49.47 |
60 and over | 1116 | 6.06 | 49.67 | 1097 | 5.96 | 49.55 |
Employment arrangement | ||||||
Permanent | 8715 | 47.31 | 48.92 | 9939 | 53.96 | 49.12 |
Casual/labour hire | 5824 | 31.62 | 47.86 | 4274 | 23.2 | 47.68 |
Fixed term contract | 1310 | 7.11 | 48.24 | 1413 | 7.67 | 48.93 |
Self-employed | 2571 | 13.96 | 49.69 | 2794 | 15.17 | 49.66 |
MCS, Mental Component Summary.