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AustraliaCommunity profile

Australia

Occupation of employment

There were more professionals in Australia in 2021 than any other occupation.

Australia's occupation statistics quantify the occupations in which the residents work (which may be within the residing area or elsewhere). This will be influenced by the economic base and employment opportunities available in the area, education levels, and the working and social aspirations of the population. When viewed with other indicators, such as Educational Qualifications and Individual Income, Occupation is a key measure for evaluating Australia's socio-economic status and skill base.

Q:

Derived from the two Census questions:

'In the main job held last week, what was the person's occupation?' and 'What are the main tasks that the person himself/herself usually performs in that occupation?'

Occupation of employment
Australia - Employed persons (Usual residence)20212016Change
OccupationNumber%Greater Hobart %Number%Greater Hobart %2016 to 2021
Managers1,645,77613.712.31,390,04413.011.3+255,732
Professionals2,886,92024.024.02,370,96522.222.6+515,955
Technicians and Trades Workers1,554,31512.913.21,447,40413.513.3+106,911
Community and Personal Service Workers1,382,21011.514.01,157,01010.812.8+225,200
Clerical and Administrative Workers1,525,30412.712.91,449,67213.614.7+75,632
Sales Workers986,4378.28.41,000,9589.49.7-14,521
Machinery Operators And Drivers755,8686.34.5670,1116.34.5+85,757
Labourers1,086,1289.09.01,011,5239.59.2+74,605
Not stated or inadequately described226,4761.91.8186,1611.71.7+40,315
Total employed persons aged 15+12,049,415100.0100.010,683,848100.0100.0+1,365,567
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 Australia in 2021 shows the three most popular occupations were:

  • Professionals (2,886,920 people or 24.0%)
  • Managers (1,645,776 people or 13.7%)
  • Technicians and Trades Workers (1,554,315 people or 12.9%)

In combination these three occupations accounted for 6,087,011 people in total or 50.5% of the employed resident population.

In comparison, Greater Hobart employed 24.0% in Professionals; 12.3% in Managers; and 13.2% in Technicians and Trades Workers.

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

  • A larger percentage of persons employed as Machinery Operators And Drivers (6.3% compared to 4.5%)
  • A larger percentage of persons employed as Managers (13.7% compared to 12.3%)
  • A smaller percentage of persons employed as Community and Personal Service Workers (11.5% compared to 14.0%)

Emerging groups

The number of employed people in Australia increased by 1,365,567 between 2016 and 2021.

The largest changes in the occupations of residents between 2016 and 2021 in Australia were for those employed as:

  • Professionals (+515,955 persons)
  • Managers (+255,732 persons)
  • Community and Personal Service Workers (+225,200 persons)
  • Technicians and Trades Workers (+106,911 persons)

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