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AustraliaCommunity profile

Greater Brisbane

Industry sector of employment

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

Greater Brisbane'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
Greater Brisbane - Employed persons (Usual residence)20212006Change
Industry sectorNumber%Greater Sydney %Number%Greater Sydney %2006 to 2021
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing10,5740.80.48,4600.90.4+2,114
Mining14,0231.10.25,4300.60.2+8,593
Manufacturing75,9126.15.499,79411.19.7-23,882
Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services14,7861.20.89,0321.00.8+5,754
Construction106,8268.68.272,9108.17.1+33,916
Wholesale trade32,5802.63.241,2334.65.6-8,653
Retail Trade111,6289.08.8100,63811.210.5+10,990
Accommodation and Food Services80,1906.45.552,6075.86.0+27,583
Transport, Postal and Warehousing66,6945.45.149,8195.55.4+16,875
Information Media and Telecommunications14,1291.12.414,8961.73.0-767
Financial and Insurance Services40,5643.37.032,3513.66.4+8,213
Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services22,0811.81.918,3522.01.9+3,729
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services106,2018.510.964,8757.28.9+41,326
Administrative and Support Services41,9543.43.229,0253.23.4+12,929
Public Administration and Safety82,7806.75.563,9457.15.6+18,835
Education and Training111,7149.08.570,8337.97.2+40,881
Health Care and Social Assistance190,85415.313.496,77310.810.0+94,081
Arts and Recreation Services18,5171.51.511,4771.31.4+7,040
Other Services47,0483.83.233,6913.73.7+13,357
Inadequately described or not stated55,7244.54.923,2952.62.8+32,429
Total employed persons aged 15+1,244,779100.0100.0899,436100.0100.0+345,343
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 Greater Brisbane in 2021 shows the three most popular industry sectors were:

  • Health Care and Social Assistance (190,854 people or 15.3%)
  • Education and Training (111,714 people or 9.0%)
  • Retail Trade (111,628 people or 9.0%)

In combination, these three industries employed 414,196 people in total or 33.3% of the total employed resident population.

In comparison, Greater Sydney employed 13.4% in Health Care and Social Assistance; 8.5% in Education and Training; and 8.8% in Retail Trade.

The major differences between the jobs held by the population of Greater Brisbane and Greater Sydney were:

  • A larger percentage of persons employed in health care and social assistance (15.3% compared to 13.4%)
  • A smaller percentage of persons employed in financial and insurance services (3.3% compared to 7.0%)
  • A smaller percentage of persons employed in professional, scientific and technical services (8.5% compared to 10.9%)
  • A smaller percentage of persons employed in information media and telecommunications (1.1% compared to 2.4%)

Emerging groups

The number of employed people in Greater Brisbane increased by 345,343 between 2006 and 2021.

The largest changes in the jobs held by the resident population between 2006 and 2021 in Greater Brisbane were for those employed in:

  • Health Care and Social Assistance (+94,081 persons)
  • Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (+41,326 persons)
  • Education and Training (+40,881 persons)
  • Construction (+33,916 persons)

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