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AustraliaCommunity profile

Australia

Industry sector of employment

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

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
Australia - Employed persons (Usual residence)20212016Change
Industry sectorNumber%South Australia %Number%South Australia %2016 to 2021
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing282,2272.33.8266,9432.54.0+15,284
Mining214,7671.81.3177,6491.71.2+37,118
Manufacturing714,7555.97.2683,6886.48.0+31,067
Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services134,3571.11.3115,7671.11.2+18,590
Construction1,067,6458.98.3911,0578.57.6+156,588
Wholesale trade311,8562.62.4307,7422.92.8+4,114
Retail Trade1,099,6229.19.71,053,8199.910.7+45,803
Accommodation and Food Services783,7326.56.6738,2346.96.7+45,498
Transport, Postal and Warehousing546,3614.54.1499,4854.74.1+46,876
Information Media and Telecommunications166,8661.41.0179,5341.71.3-12,668
Financial and Insurance Services445,1303.72.8384,6033.62.7+60,527
Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services187,6251.61.2182,1421.71.3+5,483
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services945,1057.86.2775,9857.35.6+169,120
Administrative and Support Services388,4213.23.8365,7353.43.6+22,686
Public Administration and Safety797,0276.66.7713,1416.77.1+83,886
Education and Training1,061,3328.88.8925,8938.78.6+135,439
Health Care and Social Assistance1,751,72314.516.41,351,02312.614.8+400,700
Arts and Recreation Services188,4811.61.4176,6591.71.4+11,822
Other Services435,4503.63.9399,6293.73.9+35,821
Inadequately described or not stated526,9384.43.3475,1444.43.3+51,794
Total employed persons aged 15+12,049,420100.0100.010,683,872100.0100.0+1,365,548
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 Australia in 2021 shows the three most popular industry sectors were:

  • Health Care and Social Assistance (1,751,723 people or 14.5%)
  • Retail Trade (1,099,622 people or 9.1%)
  • Construction (1,067,645 people or 8.9%)

In combination, these three industries employed 3,918,990 people in total or 32.5% of the total employed resident population.

In comparison, South Australia employed 16.4% in Health Care and Social Assistance; 9.7% in Retail Trade; and 8.3% in Construction.

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

  • A larger percentage of persons employed in professional, scientific and technical services (7.8% compared to 6.2%)
  • A smaller percentage of persons employed in health care and social assistance (14.5% compared to 16.4%)
  • A smaller percentage of persons employed in agriculture, forestry and fishing (2.3% compared to 3.8%)
  • A smaller percentage of persons employed in manufacturing (5.9% compared to 7.2%)

Emerging groups

The number of employed people in Australia increased by 1,365,548 between 2016 and 2021.

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

  • Health Care and Social Assistance (+400,700 persons)
  • Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (+169,120 persons)
  • Construction (+156,588 persons)
  • Education and Training (+135,439 persons)

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