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AustraliaCommunity profile

Canberra

Industry sector of employment

More Canberra male residents worked in public administration and safety than any other industry in 2021.

Canberra'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
Canberra - Employed males (Usual residence)20212016Change
Industry sectorNumber%Australia %Number%Australia %2016 to 2021
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing4150.33.13740.43.3+41
Mining1220.12.81000.12.7+22
Manufacturing2,9612.48.12,4092.38.8+552
Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services1,3271.11.61,0441.01.6+283
Construction14,54811.614.710,76710.314.1+3,781
Wholesale trade1,4491.23.31,5241.53.6-75
Retail Trade7,7576.27.86,9506.68.1+807
Accommodation and Food Services8,3696.75.87,1096.86.0+1,260
Transport, Postal and Warehousing4,2593.46.73,6343.56.8+625
Information Media and Telecommunications2,2501.81.62,1552.11.9+95
Financial and Insurance Services1,6751.33.51,4861.43.3+189
Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services1,4441.21.51,2921.21.6+152
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services15,71712.58.311,40210.97.6+4,315
Administrative and Support Services3,1942.53.02,6592.53.1+535
Public Administration and Safety36,50129.16.831,79430.46.8+4,707
Education and Training7,7056.14.76,7476.44.7+958
Health Care and Social Assistance7,4866.06.35,2455.05.2+2,241
Arts and Recreation Services2,0841.71.51,7331.71.7+351
Other Services3,3572.73.72,9522.83.8+405
Inadequately described or not stated2,9292.35.23,2423.15.3-313
Total employed persons aged 15+125,549100.0100.0104,618100.0100.0+20,931
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 male resident population in Canberra in 2021 shows the three most popular industry sectors were:

  • Public Administration and Safety (36,501 males or 29.1%)
  • Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (15,717 males or 12.5%)
  • Construction (14,548 males or 11.6%)

In combination, these three industries employed 66,766 males in total or 53.2% of the total employed male resident population.

In comparison, Australia employed 6.8% in Public Administration and Safety; 8.3% in Professional, Scientific and Technical Services; and 14.7% in Construction.

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

  • A larger percentage of males employed in public administration and safety (29.1% compared to 6.8%)
  • A larger percentage of males employed in professional, scientific and technical services (12.5% compared to 8.3%)
  • A smaller percentage of males employed in manufacturing (2.4% compared to 8.1%)
  • A smaller percentage of males employed in transport, postal and warehousing (3.4% compared to 6.7%)

Emerging groups

The number of employed males in Canberra increased by 20,931 between 2016 and 2021.

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

  • Public Administration and Safety (+4,707 males)
  • Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (+4,315 males)
  • Construction (+3,781 males)
  • Health Care and Social Assistance (+2,241 males)

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