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AustraliaCommunity profile

Western Australia

Industry sector of employment

More Western Australia residents worked in health care and social assistance than any other industry in 2021.

Western Australia's industry statistics identify the industry sectors in which the residents work (which may be within the residing area or elsewhere). This will be influenced by the skill base and socio-economic status of the residents as well as the industries and employment opportunities present in the region.

When viewed in conjunction with Residents Place of Work data and Method of Travel to Work, industry sector statistics provide insights into the relationship between the economic and residential role of the area.

Q:

Derived from the two Census questions:

'What best describes the business of your employer?' and 'What are the main goods produced or main services provided by your employers business?'

Industry sector of employment
Western Australia - Employed persons (Usual residence)20212016Change
Industry sectorNumber%Regional Australia %Number%Regional Australia %2016 to 2021
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing29,6412.36.028,6122.56.5+1,029
Mining98,0367.53.072,5426.33.1+25,494
Manufacturing68,7855.36.064,5435.66.4+4,242
Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services15,1351.21.313,3851.21.3+1,750
Construction115,0908.89.4113,4579.88.8+1,633
Wholesale trade32,2262.52.129,5002.52.2+2,726
Retail Trade114,6178.89.4110,4049.510.3+4,213
Accommodation and Food Services85,2416.57.474,6246.47.6+10,617
Transport, Postal and Warehousing59,1114.53.953,1334.64.2+5,978
Information Media and Telecommunications10,0870.80.711,4491.00.9-1,362
Financial and Insurance Services28,2512.21.827,2422.41.8+1,009
Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services18,6261.41.320,1421.71.5-1,516
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services90,1176.94.574,1446.44.3+15,973
Administrative and Support Services40,2923.13.137,9543.33.2+2,338
Public Administration and Safety77,4205.96.372,2786.26.4+5,142
Education and Training114,4158.88.9100,9528.78.8+13,463
Health Care and Social Assistance177,57013.615.5135,89811.713.4+41,672
Arts and Recreation Services21,1311.61.418,4641.61.4+2,667
Other Services50,5453.93.845,8554.03.9+4,690
Inadequately described or not stated59,9014.64.053,1424.64.0+6,759
Total employed persons aged 15+1,306,237100.0100.01,157,720100.0100.0+148,517
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 resident population in Western Australia in 2021 shows the three most popular industry sectors were:

  • Health Care and Social Assistance (177,570 people or 13.6%)
  • Construction (115,090 people or 8.8%)
  • Retail Trade (114,617 people or 8.8%)

In combination, these three industries employed 407,277 people in total or 31.2% of the total employed resident population.

In comparison, Regional Australia employed 15.5% in Health Care and Social Assistance; 9.4% in Construction; and 9.4% in Retail Trade.

The major differences between the jobs held by the population of Western Australia and Regional Australia were:

  • A larger percentage of persons employed in mining (7.5% compared to 3.0%)
  • A larger percentage of persons employed in professional, scientific and technical services (6.9% compared to 4.5%)
  • A smaller percentage of persons employed in agriculture, forestry and fishing (2.3% compared to 6.0%)
  • A smaller percentage of persons employed in health care and social assistance (13.6% compared to 15.5%)

Emerging groups

The number of employed people in Western Australia increased by 148,517 between 2016 and 2021.

The largest changes in the jobs held by the resident population between 2016 and 2021 in Western Australia were for those employed in:

  • Health Care and Social Assistance (+41,672 persons)
  • Mining (+25,494 persons)
  • Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (+15,973 persons)
  • Education and Training (+13,463 persons)

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