Industry sector data identifies the industries in which the residents of an area work either within the residing area or elsewhere. Comparing the industry sectors in which Australia residents are employed in the industry sectors that are located in Australia, indicates whether an economy draws on the skills offered by its own residents, or on a different set of skills imported from elsewhere in the region.
Industry sector statistics in Australia are influenced by a range of factors including:
- The economic base and employment opportunities available within commuting distance;
- The educational levels of the local population; and
- The working and social aspirations of the local population.
Industry sector data should be viewed in conjunction with Residents place of work.
Data source
Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) – Census 2016 and 2021 – by usual residence
Current area:
Current benchmark:
Sex:
| Resident workers industry of employment | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia - Persons | 2021 | 2016 | Change | ||||||
| Industry (Click rows to view sub-categories) | Number | % | Australia BM | Number | % | Australia BM | 2016 - 2021 | ||
| Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing | 282,222 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 266,943 | 2.5 | 2.5 | +15,279 | ||
| Mining | 214,767 | 1.8 | 1.8 | 177,649 | 1.7 | 1.7 | +37,118 | ||
| Manufacturing | 714,751 | 5.9 | 5.9 | 683,688 | 6.4 | 6.4 | +31,063 | ||
| Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services | 134,357 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 115,767 | 1.1 | 1.1 | +18,590 | ||
| Construction | 1,067,624 | 8.9 | 8.9 | 911,057 | 8.5 | 8.5 | +156,567 | ||
| Wholesale Trade | 311,856 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 307,742 | 2.9 | 2.9 | +4,114 | ||
| Retail Trade | 1,099,600 | 9.1 | 9.1 | 1,053,819 | 9.9 | 9.9 | +45,781 | ||
| Accommodation and Food Services | 783,710 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 738,234 | 6.9 | 6.9 | +45,476 | ||
| Transport, Postal and Warehousing | 546,357 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 499,485 | 4.7 | 4.7 | +46,872 | ||
| Information Media and Telecommunications | 166,865 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 179,534 | 1.7 | 1.7 | -12,669 | ||
| Financial and Insurance Services | 445,127 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 384,603 | 3.6 | 3.6 | +60,524 | ||
| Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services | 187,629 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 182,142 | 1.7 | 1.7 | +5,487 | ||
| Professional, Scientific and Technical Services | 945,088 | 7.8 | 7.8 | 775,985 | 7.3 | 7.3 | +169,103 | ||
| Administrative and Support Services | 388,413 | 3.2 | 3.2 | 365,735 | 3.4 | 3.4 | +22,678 | ||
| Public Administration and Safety | 796,991 | 6.6 | 6.6 | 713,141 | 6.7 | 6.7 | +83,850 | ||
| Education and Training | 1,061,314 | 8.8 | 8.8 | 925,893 | 8.7 | 8.7 | +135,421 | ||
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 1,751,693 | 14.5 | 14.5 | 1,351,023 | 12.6 | 12.6 | +400,670 | ||
| Arts and Recreation Services | 188,471 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 176,659 | 1.7 | 1.7 | +11,812 | ||
| Other Services | 435,440 | 3.6 | 3.6 | 399,629 | 3.7 | 3.7 | +35,811 | ||
| Industry not classified | 526,936 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 475,144 | 4.4 | 4.4 | +51,792 | ||
| Total Persons | 12,049,211 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 10,683,872 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +1,365,339 | ||
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2016 and 2021. Compiled and presented by .id (informed decisions) | |||||||||
Dominant groups
Analysis of the jobs held by the resident workforce in Australia in 2021shows the three most popular industry sectors were:
- Health Care and Social Assistance (1,751,693 people or 14.5%)
- Retail Trade (1,099,600 people or 9.1%)
- Construction (1,067,624 people or 8.9%)
In combination these three industries employed 3,918,917 people in total or 32.5% of the total resident workforce.
In comparison, Australia BM employed 14.5% in Health Care and Social Assistance; 9.1% in Retail Trade and 8.9% in Construction.
The major differences between the jobs held by the resident workforce of Australia and Australia BM were:
- A smaller percentage of resident workforce employed in Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing (2.3% compared to 2.3%)
- A smaller percentage of resident workforce employed in Mining (1.8% compared to 1.8%)
- A smaller percentage of resident workforce employed in Manufacturing (5.9% compared to 5.9%)
- A smaller percentage of resident workforce employed in Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services (1.1% compared to 1.1%)
Emerging groups
The largest changes in the jobs held by the resident workforce between 2016 and 2021 in Australia were for those employed in:
- Health Care and Social Assistance (+400,670 resident workforce)
- Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (+169,103 resident workforce)
- Construction (+156,567 resident workforce)
- Education and Training (+135,421 resident workforce)