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LEARN MORE ABOUT .idMore Greater Melbourne residents worked in health care and social assistance than any other industry in 2021.
Greater Melbourne'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 Melbourne - Employed persons (Usual residence) | 2021 | 2011 | Change | ||||
| Industry sector | Number | % | Australia % | Number | % | Australia % | 2011 to 2021 |
| Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing | 15,845 | 0.6 | 2.3 | 9,931 | 0.5 | 2.5 | +5,914 |
| Mining | 4,318 | 0.2 | 1.8 | 4,292 | 0.2 | 1.8 | +26 |
| Manufacturing | 167,996 | 6.9 | 5.9 | 208,629 | 10.8 | 9.0 | -40,633 |
| Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services | 25,636 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 18,466 | 1.0 | 1.1 | +7,170 |
| Construction | 226,505 | 9.3 | 8.9 | 157,568 | 8.2 | 8.2 | +68,937 |
| Wholesale trade | 73,670 | 3.0 | 2.6 | 95,692 | 5.0 | 4.0 | -22,022 |
| Retail Trade | 229,046 | 9.4 | 9.1 | 203,760 | 10.6 | 10.5 | +25,286 |
| Accommodation and Food Services | 148,723 | 6.1 | 6.5 | 112,973 | 5.9 | 6.5 | +35,750 |
| Transport, Postal and Warehousing | 120,096 | 4.9 | 4.5 | 93,194 | 4.8 | 4.8 | +26,902 |
| Information Media and Telecommunications | 43,676 | 1.8 | 1.4 | 43,630 | 2.3 | 1.8 | +46 |
| Financial and Insurance Services | 114,791 | 4.7 | 3.7 | 92,560 | 4.8 | 3.8 | +22,231 |
| Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services | 38,863 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 28,751 | 1.5 | 1.6 | +10,112 |
| Professional, Scientific and Technical Services | 234,512 | 9.6 | 7.8 | 172,251 | 8.9 | 7.3 | +62,261 |
| Administrative and Support Services | 79,444 | 3.2 | 3.2 | 67,632 | 3.5 | 3.2 | +11,812 |
| Public Administration and Safety | 132,958 | 5.4 | 6.6 | 98,237 | 5.1 | 6.9 | +34,721 |
| Education and Training | 214,082 | 8.8 | 8.8 | 153,117 | 7.9 | 8.0 | +60,965 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 329,874 | 13.5 | 14.5 | 213,499 | 11.1 | 11.6 | +116,375 |
| Arts and Recreation Services | 44,020 | 1.8 | 1.6 | 35,640 | 1.8 | 1.5 | +8,380 |
| Other Services | 83,780 | 3.4 | 3.6 | 69,742 | 3.6 | 3.8 | +14,038 |
| Inadequately described or not stated | 117,170 | 4.8 | 4.4 | 48,367 | 2.5 | 2.3 | +68,803 |
| Total employed persons aged 15+ | 2,445,005 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 1,927,931 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +517,074 |
Dominant groups
An analysis of the jobs held by the resident population in Greater Melbourne in 2021 shows the three most popular industry sectors were:
- Health Care and Social Assistance (329,874 people or 13.5%)
- Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (234,512 people or 9.6%)
- Retail Trade (229,046 people or 9.4%)
In combination, these three industries employed 793,432 people in total or 32.5% of the total employed resident population.
In comparison, Australia employed 14.5% in Health Care and Social Assistance; 7.8% in Professional, Scientific and Technical Services; and 9.1% in Retail Trade.
The major differences between the jobs held by the population of Greater Melbourne and Australia were:
- A larger percentage of persons employed in professional, scientific and technical services (9.6% compared to 7.8%)
- A smaller percentage of persons employed in agriculture, forestry and fishing (0.6% compared to 2.3%)
- A smaller percentage of persons employed in mining (0.2% compared to 1.8%)
- A smaller percentage of persons employed in public administration and safety (5.4% compared to 6.6%)
Emerging groups
The number of employed people in Greater Melbourne increased by 517,074 between 2011 and 2021.
The largest changes in the jobs held by the resident population between 2011 and 2021 in Greater Melbourne were for those employed in:
- Health Care and Social Assistance (+116,375 persons)
- Construction (+68,937 persons)
- Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (+62,261 persons)
- Education and Training (+60,965 persons)
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