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AustraliaCommunity profile

Regional Australia

Industry sector of employment

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

Regional 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
Regional Australia - Employed persons (Usual residence)20212016Change
Industry sectorNumber%Victoria %Number%Victoria %2016 to 2021
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing224,8426.02.1215,6016.52.2+9,241
Mining112,4103.00.3102,6393.10.3+9,771
Manufacturing225,6516.07.0212,6266.47.8+13,025
Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services47,3061.31.142,4081.31.1+4,898
Construction351,2029.49.4292,2798.88.3+58,923
Wholesale trade78,2882.12.872,6372.23.2+5,651
Retail Trade352,1989.49.4341,19010.310.2+11,008
Accommodation and Food Services276,8267.46.2253,5017.66.6+23,325
Transport, Postal and Warehousing147,7763.94.7139,9194.24.8+7,857
Information Media and Telecommunications27,6460.71.630,0160.91.9-2,370
Financial and Insurance Services66,0571.84.160,6291.83.9+5,428
Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services49,8181.31.549,7201.51.6+98
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services169,3814.58.4142,1334.37.9+27,248
Administrative and Support Services117,6613.13.1107,8143.23.4+9,847
Public Administration and Safety236,4026.35.6214,3566.45.3+22,046
Education and Training332,2138.98.8291,9028.88.6+40,311
Health Care and Social Assistance581,60015.514.1445,08713.412.5+136,513
Arts and Recreation Services51,7431.41.746,6401.41.9+5,103
Other Services144,1013.83.5129,5133.93.6+14,588
Inadequately described or not stated150,7324.04.6133,5444.04.7+17,188
Total employed persons aged 15+3,743,853100.0100.03,324,154100.0100.0+419,699
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 resident population in Regional Australia in 2021 shows the three most popular industry sectors were:

  • Health Care and Social Assistance (581,600 people or 15.5%)
  • Retail Trade (352,198 people or 9.4%)
  • Construction (351,202 people or 9.4%)

In combination, these three industries employed 1,285,000 people in total or 34.3% of the total employed resident population.

In comparison, Victoria employed 14.1% in Health Care and Social Assistance; 9.4% in Retail Trade; and 9.4% in Construction.

The major differences between the jobs held by the population of Regional Australia and Victoria were:

  • A larger percentage of persons employed in agriculture, forestry and fishing (6.0% compared to 2.1%)
  • A larger percentage of persons employed in mining (3.0% compared to 0.3%)
  • A smaller percentage of persons employed in professional, scientific and technical services (4.5% compared to 8.4%)
  • A smaller percentage of persons employed in financial and insurance services (1.8% compared to 4.1%)

Emerging groups

The number of employed people in Regional Australia increased by 419,699 between 2016 and 2021.

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

  • Health Care and Social Assistance (+136,513 persons)
  • Construction (+58,923 persons)
  • Education and Training (+40,311 persons)
  • Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (+27,248 persons)

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