Occupation is a key component for evaluating the socio-economic status of the local workers and the skills required to work in each industry sector.
The occupations of the local workers in Australia will be influenced by factors including:
- The economic base and employment opportunities available in Australia;
- The age of the workforce;
- The skill and qualification level required to enter an industry; and
- The working and social aspirations of the population.
For a complete local workers analysis for Australia, view Occupations in conjunction with other indicators, such as Educational qualifications and Income.
Data source
Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) – Census 2016 & 2021 – by place of work
Current area:
Select industry:
Current benchmark:
Sex:
| Local workers occupations | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia - All industries | 2021 | 2016 | Change | ||||||
| Occupations (Click rows to view sub-categories) | Number | % | Australia BM | Number | % | Australia BM | 2016 - 2021 | ||
| Managers | 1,645,766 | 13.7 | 13.7 | 1,390,045 | 13.0 | 13.0 | +255,721 | ||
| Professionals | 2,886,915 | 24.0 | 24.0 | 2,370,979 | 22.2 | 22.2 | +515,936 | ||
| Technicians and Trades Workers | 1,554,310 | 12.9 | 12.9 | 1,447,400 | 13.5 | 13.5 | +106,910 | ||
| Community and Personal Service Workers | 1,382,205 | 11.5 | 11.5 | 1,156,999 | 10.8 | 10.8 | +225,206 | ||
| Clerical and Administrative Workers | 1,525,320 | 12.7 | 12.7 | 1,449,670 | 13.6 | 13.6 | +75,650 | ||
| Sales Workers | 986,430 | 8.2 | 8.2 | 1,000,942 | 9.4 | 9.4 | -14,512 | ||
| Machinery Operators And Drivers | 755,877 | 6.3 | 6.3 | 670,097 | 6.3 | 6.3 | +85,780 | ||
| Labourers | 1,086,120 | 9.0 | 9.0 | 1,011,516 | 9.5 | 9.5 | +74,604 | ||
| Inadequately described or not stated | 226,478 | 1.9 | 1.9 | 186,155 | 1.7 | 1.7 | +40,323 | ||
| Total Persons | 12,049,421 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 10,683,803 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +1,365,618 | ||
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2016 and 2021. Compiled and presented by .id (informed decisions) Please refer to specific data notes for more information | |||||||||
Dominant groups
An analysis of the jobs held by the All industries workforce in Australia in 2021shows the three most popular occupations were:
- Professionals (2,886,915 local workers or 24.0%)
- Managers (1,645,766 local workers or 13.7%)
- Technicians and Trades Workers (1,554,310 local workers or 12.9%)
In combination these three occupations accounted for 6,086,991 people in total or 50.5% of the All industries local workers.
In comparison, Australia BM employed 24.0% as Professionals; 13.7% as Managers and 12.9% as Technicians and Trades Workers.
The major differences between the jobs held by the workforce in Australia and Australia BM were:
- A smaller percentage of local workers employed as Managers (13.7% compared to 13.7%)
- A smaller percentage of local workers employed as Professionals (24.0% compared to 24.0%)
- A smaller percentage of local workers employed as Technicians and Trades Workers (12.9% compared to 12.9%)
- A smaller percentage of local workers employed as Community and Personal Service Workers (11.5% compared to 11.5%)
Emerging groups
The largest changes in the jobs held by the workforce in Australia between2016 and 2021 were those employed as:
- Professionals (+515,936 local workers)
- Managers (+255,721 local workers)
- Community and Personal Service Workers (+225,206 local workers)
- Technicians and Trades Workers (+106,910 local workers)