The availablity of the initial labour force estimates for the 1996 Census allows us to take stock of the long-run changes in the Australian workforce. For the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations, the census estimates represent the only reliable yardstick for progress, or lack of progress, in improving employment outcomes. This paper presents cohort analysis of changes in labour force status over the last three censuses for the indiegenous and non-indegenous populations
