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AustraliaCommunity profile

New South Wales

Industry sector of employment

More New South Wales residents worked in health care and social assistance than any other industry in 2021.

New South Wales'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
New South Wales - Employed persons (Usual residence)20212006Change
Industry sectorNumber%Greater Sydney %Number%Greater Sydney %2006 to 2021
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing74,7282.00.478,6652.70.4-3,937
Mining35,4061.00.220,3170.70.2+15,089
Manufacturing201,6545.55.4277,9779.69.7-76,323
Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services35,5841.00.829,1771.00.8+6,407
Construction315,5208.68.2212,7277.37.1+102,793
Wholesale trade103,4662.83.2136,7614.75.6-33,295
Retail Trade331,4869.08.8323,93011.110.5+7,556
Accommodation and Food Services227,4666.25.5190,4526.56.0+37,014
Transport, Postal and Warehousing169,6084.65.1145,5245.05.4+24,084
Information Media and Telecommunications68,0681.82.468,9762.43.0-908
Financial and Insurance Services193,6795.37.0144,8705.06.4+48,809
Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services62,6331.71.950,5991.71.9+12,034
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services326,5958.910.9213,2597.38.9+113,336
Administrative and Support Services117,9883.23.290,4323.13.4+27,556
Public Administration and Safety222,9096.15.5174,9206.05.6+47,989
Education and Training322,2368.78.5219,6707.67.2+102,566
Health Care and Social Assistance529,17614.413.4304,32710.510.0+224,849
Arts and Recreation Services51,7891.41.539,5801.41.4+12,209
Other Services125,3803.43.2110,0873.83.7+15,293
Inadequately described or not stated168,7864.64.977,1862.72.8+91,600
Total employed persons aged 15+3,684,157100.0100.02,909,436100.0100.0+774,721
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2006 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 New South Wales in 2021 shows the three most popular industry sectors were:

  • Health Care and Social Assistance (529,176 people or 14.4%)
  • Retail Trade (331,486 people or 9.0%)
  • Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (326,595 people or 8.9%)

In combination, these three industries employed 1,187,257 people in total or 32.2% of the total employed resident population.

In comparison, Greater Sydney employed 13.4% in Health Care and Social Assistance; 8.8% in Retail Trade; and 10.9% in Professional, Scientific and Technical Services.

The major differences between the jobs held by the population of New South Wales and Greater Sydney were:

  • A larger percentage of persons employed in agriculture, forestry and fishing (2.0% compared to 0.4%)
  • A smaller percentage of persons employed in professional, scientific and technical services (8.9% compared to 10.9%)
  • A smaller percentage of persons employed in financial and insurance services (5.3% compared to 7.0%)

Emerging groups

The number of employed people in New South Wales increased by 774,721 between 2006 and 2021.

The largest changes in the jobs held by the resident population between 2006 and 2021 in New South Wales were for those employed in:

  • Health Care and Social Assistance (+224,849 persons)
  • Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (+113,336 persons)
  • Construction (+102,793 persons)
  • Education and Training (+102,566 persons)

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