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AustraliaCommunity profile

Regional Australia

Industry sector of employment

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

Regional 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
Regional Australia - Employed persons (Usual residence)20212011Change
Industry sectorNumber%Australian Capital Territory %Number%Australian Capital Territory %2011 to 2021
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing224,8426.00.3210,5026.50.2+14,340
Mining112,4103.00.1106,8293.30.0+5,581
Manufacturing225,6516.01.7278,5838.62.1-52,932
Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services47,3061.30.844,2881.40.8+3,018
Construction351,2029.46.7285,9948.86.1+65,208
Wholesale trade78,2882.10.896,9533.01.2-18,665
Retail Trade352,1989.46.4362,17311.17.6-9,975
Accommodation and Food Services276,8267.46.3240,3957.45.8+36,431
Transport, Postal and Warehousing147,7763.92.1144,4874.42.2+3,289
Information Media and Telecommunications27,6460.71.531,8111.01.9-4,165
Financial and Insurance Services66,0571.81.463,1761.91.8+2,881
Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services49,8181.31.247,8411.51.2+1,977
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services169,3814.510.9138,0414.29.8+31,340
Administrative and Support Services117,6613.12.692,6622.92.4+24,999
Public Administration and Safety236,4026.329.8210,8626.532.7+25,540
Education and Training332,2138.99.4263,7558.18.8+68,458
Health Care and Social Assistance581,60015.511.5390,93012.09.2+190,670
Arts and Recreation Services51,7431.41.841,3821.31.7+10,361
Other Services144,1013.82.9126,3353.93.2+17,766
Inadequately described or not stated150,7324.01.973,2352.31.4+77,497
Total employed persons aged 15+3,743,853100.0100.03,250,234100.0100.0+493,619
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2011 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 Regional Australia in 2021 shows the three most popular industry sectors were:

  • Health Care and Social Assistance (581,600 people or 15.5%)
  • Retail Trade (352,198 people or 9.4%)
  • Construction (351,202 people or 9.4%)

In combination, these three industries employed 1,285,000 people in total or 34.3% of the total employed resident population.

In comparison, Australian Capital Territory employed 11.5% in Health Care and Social Assistance; 6.4% in Retail Trade; and 6.7% in Construction.

The major differences between the jobs held by the population of Regional Australia and Australian Capital Territory were:

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

Emerging groups

The number of employed people in Regional Australia increased by 493,619 between 2011 and 2021.

The largest changes in the jobs held by the resident population between 2011 and 2021 in Regional Australia were for those employed in:

  • Health Care and Social Assistance (+190,670 persons)
  • Education and Training (+68,458 persons)
  • Construction (+65,208 persons)
  • Manufacturing (-52,932 persons)

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