Occupations are a key component in evaluating the knowledge, experience and skill-levels that industry can draw upon locally. It should be viewed with other indicators, such as Age structure, Qualifications, and Income for a comprehensive analysis of Australia's local resident workers.
When comparing the occupations of local resident workers with local workers, Occupation data indicates whether an economy draws on the skills offered by its own residents or relies on a different set of skills imported from elsewhere in the region.
Data source
Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) – Census 2016 and 2021 – by usual residence
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Sex:
| Resident workers occupations | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 2021 | 2016 | Change | ||||||
| Occupations (Click rows to view sub-categories) | Number | % | Australia BM | Number | % | Australia BM | 2016 - 2021 | ||
| Managers | 1,645,776 | 13.7 | 13.7 | 1,390,044 | 13.0 | 13.0 | +255,732 | ||
| Professionals | 2,886,920 | 24.0 | 24.0 | 2,370,965 | 22.2 | 22.2 | +515,955 | ||
| Technicians and Trades Workers | 1,554,315 | 12.9 | 12.9 | 1,447,404 | 13.5 | 13.5 | +106,911 | ||
| Community and Personal Service Workers | 1,382,210 | 11.5 | 11.5 | 1,157,010 | 10.8 | 10.8 | +225,200 | ||
| Clerical and Administrative Workers | 1,525,304 | 12.7 | 12.7 | 1,449,672 | 13.6 | 13.6 | +75,632 | ||
| Sales Workers | 986,437 | 8.2 | 8.2 | 1,000,958 | 9.4 | 9.4 | -14,521 | ||
| Machinery Operators And Drivers | 755,868 | 6.3 | 6.3 | 670,111 | 6.3 | 6.3 | +85,757 | ||
| Labourers | 1,086,128 | 9.0 | 9.0 | 1,011,523 | 9.5 | 9.5 | +74,605 | ||
| Inadequately described or not stated | 226,476 | 1.9 | 1.9 | 186,158 | 1.7 | 1.7 | +40,318 | ||
| Total Persons | 12,049,434 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 10,683,845 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +1,365,589 | ||
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2016 and 2021. Compiled and presented by .id (informed decisions) | |||||||||
Dominant groups
An analysis of the jobs held by the resident workers in Australia in 2021shows the three most popular occupations were:
- Professionals (2,886,920 people or 24.0%)
- Managers (1,645,776 people or 13.7%)
- Technicians and Trades Workers (1,554,315 people or 12.9%)
In combination these three occupations accounted for 6,087,011 people in total or 50.5% of the resident workers (All industries).
In comparison, Australia BM employed 24.0% in Professionals; 13.7% in Managers and 12.9% in Technicians and Trades Workers.
The major differences between the jobs held by the resident workers (All industries) of Australia and Australia BM were:
- A smaller percentage of resident workers (All industries) employed as Managers (13.7% compared to 13.7%)
- A smaller percentage of resident workers (All industries) employed as Professionals (24.0% compared to 24.0%)
- A smaller percentage of resident workers (All industries) employed as Technicians and Trades Workers (12.9% compared to 12.9%)
- A smaller percentage of resident workers (All industries) employed as Community and Personal Service Workers (11.5% compared to 11.5%)
Emerging groups
The number of resident workers (All industries) in Australia increased by 1,365,589 between 2016 and 2021.
The largest change in the occupations of the resident workers between 2016 and 2021 in Australia were those employed as:
- Professionals (+515,955 persons)
- Managers (+255,732 persons)
- Community and Personal Service Workers (+225,200 persons)
- Technicians and Trades Workers (+106,911 persons)