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AustraliaCommunity profile

Canberra

Industry sector of employment

More Canberra residents worked in public administration and safety than any other industry in 2021.

Canberra'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
Canberra - Employed persons (Usual residence)20212016Change
Industry sectorNumber%Regional Australia %Number%Regional Australia %2016 to 2021
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing6520.36.05910.36.5+61
Mining1500.13.01140.13.1+36
Manufacturing4,1201.76.03,3761.66.4+744
Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services1,8780.81.31,4490.71.3+429
Construction16,5236.79.412,0115.88.8+4,512
Wholesale trade1,9570.82.12,0441.02.2-87
Retail Trade16,0116.49.414,5857.110.3+1,426
Accommodation and Food Services15,7486.37.413,3856.57.6+2,363
Transport, Postal and Warehousing5,2522.13.94,7082.34.2+544
Information Media and Telecommunications3,7111.50.73,6251.80.9+86
Financial and Insurance Services3,5101.41.83,1641.51.8+346
Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services3,0121.21.32,6661.31.5+346
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services27,12010.94.519,2839.44.3+7,837
Administrative and Support Services6,4872.63.15,2272.53.2+1,260
Public Administration and Safety73,99129.86.363,23530.86.4+10,756
Education and Training23,3529.48.919,6349.68.8+3,718
Health Care and Social Assistance28,45911.515.521,29910.413.4+7,160
Arts and Recreation Services4,5331.81.43,5861.71.4+947
Other Services7,0972.93.86,0983.03.9+999
Inadequately described or not stated4,8261.94.05,3502.64.0-524
Total employed persons aged 15+248,389100.0100.0205,430100.0100.0+42,959
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 Canberra in 2021 shows the three most popular industry sectors were:

  • Public Administration and Safety (73,991 people or 29.8%)
  • Health Care and Social Assistance (28,459 people or 11.5%)
  • Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (27,120 people or 10.9%)

In combination, these three industries employed 129,570 people in total or 52.2% of the total employed resident population.

In comparison, Regional Australia employed 6.3% in Public Administration and Safety; 15.5% in Health Care and Social Assistance; and 4.5% in Professional, Scientific and Technical Services.

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

  • A larger percentage of persons employed in public administration and safety (29.8% compared to 6.3%)
  • A larger percentage of persons employed in professional, scientific and technical services (10.9% compared to 4.5%)
  • A smaller percentage of persons employed in agriculture, forestry and fishing (0.3% compared to 6.0%)
  • A smaller percentage of persons employed in manufacturing (1.7% compared to 6.0%)

Emerging groups

The number of employed people in Canberra increased by 42,959 between 2016 and 2021.

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

  • Public Administration and Safety (+10,756 persons)
  • Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (+7,837 persons)
  • Health Care and Social Assistance (+7,160 persons)
  • Construction (+4,512 persons)

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