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AustraliaCommunity profile

Australia

Industry sector of employment

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

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
Australia - Employed females (Usual residence)20212016Change
Industry sectorNumber%Australia %Number%Australia %2016 to 2021
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing90,6481.51.581,7401.61.6+8,908
Mining40,0630.70.728,5800.60.6+11,483
Manufacturing211,0223.63.6190,5723.83.8+20,450
Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services34,5690.60.627,6430.50.5+6,926
Construction156,9802.72.7118,0062.32.3+38,974
Wholesale trade107,0321.81.8105,4132.12.1+1,619
Retail Trade618,58010.610.6600,56111.811.8+18,019
Accommodation and Food Services424,8917.37.3402,3597.97.9+22,532
Transport, Postal and Warehousing128,9252.22.2117,2212.32.3+11,704
Information Media and Telecommunications66,3011.11.171,2041.41.4-4,903
Financial and Insurance Services225,2833.93.9198,1243.93.9+27,159
Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services96,0901.61.693,4771.81.8+2,613
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services429,7677.37.3349,5646.96.9+80,203
Administrative and Support Services201,1783.43.4192,4143.83.8+8,764
Public Administration and Safety377,9226.56.5332,3626.56.5+45,560
Education and Training770,91613.213.2659,79013.013.0+111,126
Health Care and Social Assistance1,361,17723.323.31,061,04620.920.9+300,131
Arts and Recreation Services93,8191.61.684,0061.71.7+9,813
Other Services207,5933.53.5184,2263.63.6+23,367
Inadequately described or not stated206,4623.53.5177,7533.53.5+28,709
Total employed persons aged 15+5,849,218100.0100.05,076,061100.0100.0+773,157
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 female resident population in Australia in 2021 shows the three most popular industry sectors were:

  • Health Care and Social Assistance (1,361,177 females or 23.3%)
  • Education and Training (770,916 females or 13.2%)
  • Retail Trade (618,580 females or 10.6%)

In combination, these three industries employed 2,750,673 females in total or 47.0% of the total employed female resident population.

In comparison, Australia employed 23.3% in Health Care and Social Assistance; 13.2% in Education and Training; and 10.6% in Retail Trade.

There were no major differences between Australia and Australia in 2021.

Emerging groups

The number of employed females in Australia increased by 773,157 between 2016 and 2021.

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

  • Health Care and Social Assistance (+300,131 females)
  • Education and Training (+111,126 females)
  • Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (+80,203 females)
  • Public Administration and Safety (+45,560 females)

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