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AustraliaCommunity profile

Western Australia

Occupation of employment

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

Western 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 Western 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
Western Australia - Employed persons (Usual residence)20212016Change
OccupationNumber%Greater Capital Cities %Number%Greater Capital Cities %2016 to 2021
Managers160,68712.313.6139,35012.012.8+21,337
Professionals287,00922.026.5237,22920.524.4+49,780
Technicians and Trades Workers199,37915.312.1187,39816.212.9+11,981
Community and Personal Service Workers154,34111.810.8122,89010.610.4+31,451
Clerical and Administrative Workers157,61012.113.2150,40613.014.2+7,204
Sales Workers101,6707.88.1102,3348.89.3-664
Machinery Operators And Drivers100,3927.75.986,3927.55.8+14,000
Labourers122,9619.47.9112,5999.78.4+10,362
Not stated or inadequately described22,2051.71.919,1321.71.8+3,073
Total employed persons aged 15+1,306,249100.0100.01,157,730100.0100.0+148,519
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 Western Australia in 2021 shows the three most popular occupations were:

  • Professionals (287,009 people or 22.0%)
  • Technicians and Trades Workers (199,379 people or 15.3%)
  • Managers (160,687 people or 12.3%)

In combination these three occupations accounted for 647,075 people in total or 49.5% of the employed resident population.

In comparison, Greater Capital Cities employed 26.5% in Professionals; 12.1% in Technicians and Trades Workers; and 13.6% in Managers.

The major differences between the jobs held by the population of Western Australia and Greater Capital Cities were:

  • A larger percentage of persons employed as Technicians and Trades Workers (15.3% compared to 12.1%)
  • A larger percentage of persons employed as Machinery Operators And Drivers (7.7% compared to 5.9%)
  • A larger percentage of persons employed as Labourers (9.4% compared to 7.9%)
  • A smaller percentage of persons employed as Professionals (22.0% compared to 26.5%)

Emerging groups

The number of employed people in Western Australia increased by 148,519 between 2016 and 2021.

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

  • Professionals (+49,780 persons)
  • Community and Personal Service Workers (+31,451 persons)
  • Managers (+21,337 persons)
  • Machinery Operators And Drivers (+14,000 persons)

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