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AustraliaCommunity profile

Greater Melbourne

Occupation of employment

There were more professionals in Greater Melbourne in 2021 than any other occupation.

Greater Melbourne'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 Greater Melbourne'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
Greater Melbourne - Employed persons (Usual residence)20212006Change
OccupationNumber%Greater Capital Cities %Number%Greater Capital Cities %2006 to 2021
Managers337,82913.813.6213,86912.512.3+123,960
Professionals656,33326.826.5384,59722.522.0+271,736
Technicians and Trades Workers296,02112.112.1233,13713.613.8+62,884
Community and Personal Service Workers256,19910.510.8139,6508.28.5+116,549
Clerical and Administrative Workers314,57012.913.2271,51515.916.2+43,055
Sales Workers202,0498.38.1174,24710.29.9+27,802
Machinery Operators And Drivers142,2885.85.9109,4406.46.2+32,848
Labourers191,2397.87.9149,6838.79.1+41,556
Not stated or inadequately described48,4542.01.934,9882.01.9+13,466
Total employed persons aged 15+2,444,991100.0100.01,711,126100.0100.0+733,865
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2006 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 Melbourne in 2021 shows the three most popular occupations were:

  • Professionals (656,333 people or 26.8%)
  • Managers (337,829 people or 13.8%)
  • Clerical and Administrative Workers (314,570 people or 12.9%)

In combination these three occupations accounted for 1,308,732 people in total or 53.5% of the employed resident population.

In comparison, Greater Capital Cities employed 26.5% in Professionals; 13.6% in Managers; and 13.2% in Clerical and Administrative Workers.

There were no major differences between Greater Melbourne and Greater Capital Cities in 2021.

Emerging groups

The number of employed people in Greater Melbourne increased by 733,865 between 2006 and 2021.

The largest changes in the occupations of residents between 2006 and 2021 in Greater Melbourne were for those employed as:

  • Professionals (+271,736 persons)
  • Managers (+123,960 persons)
  • Community and Personal Service Workers (+116,549 persons)
  • Technicians and Trades Workers (+62,884 persons)

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