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AustraliaCommunity profile

Greater Adelaide

Industry sector of employment

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

Greater Adelaide'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 Adelaide - Employed persons (Usual residence)20212016Change
Industry sectorNumber%Australia %Number%Australia %2016 to 2021
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing8,1331.22.36,8701.22.5+1,263
Mining6,3180.91.84,7550.81.7+1,563
Manufacturing45,3526.85.944,5917.66.4+761
Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services8,8861.31.17,4651.31.1+1,421
Construction56,3938.48.945,5007.88.5+10,893
Wholesale trade16,1272.42.616,9882.92.9-861
Retail Trade65,1349.79.163,20010.89.9+1,934
Accommodation and Food Services44,0446.66.539,0716.76.9+4,973
Transport, Postal and Warehousing27,7014.14.524,3564.14.7+3,345
Information Media and Telecommunications7,8081.21.48,6801.51.7-872
Financial and Insurance Services21,2233.23.718,2913.13.6+2,932
Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services8,6951.31.68,4051.41.7+290
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services47,5297.17.837,3336.47.3+10,196
Administrative and Support Services25,6783.83.221,5253.73.4+4,153
Public Administration and Safety47,9017.16.645,0157.76.7+2,886
Education and Training60,6879.08.852,4268.98.7+8,261
Health Care and Social Assistance114,65217.114.591,29915.612.6+23,353
Arts and Recreation Services10,1851.51.68,8081.51.7+1,377
Other Services26,7444.03.623,3574.03.7+3,387
Inadequately described or not stated21,7713.24.419,1323.34.4+2,639
Total employed persons aged 15+670,961100.0100.0587,067100.0100.0+83,894
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 Greater Adelaide in 2021 shows the three most popular industry sectors were:

  • Health Care and Social Assistance (114,652 people or 17.1%)
  • Retail Trade (65,134 people or 9.7%)
  • Education and Training (60,687 people or 9.0%)

In combination, these three industries employed 240,473 people in total or 35.8% of the total employed resident population.

In comparison, Australia employed 14.5% in Health Care and Social Assistance; 9.1% in Retail Trade; and 8.8% in Education and Training.

The major differences between the jobs held by the population of Greater Adelaide and Australia were:

  • A larger percentage of persons employed in health care and social assistance (17.1% compared to 14.5%)
  • A smaller percentage of persons employed in agriculture, forestry and fishing (1.2% compared to 2.3%)

Emerging groups

The number of employed people in Greater Adelaide increased by 83,894 between 2016 and 2021.

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

  • Health Care and Social Assistance (+23,353 persons)
  • Construction (+10,893 persons)
  • Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (+10,196 persons)
  • Education and Training (+8,261 persons)

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