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AustraliaCommunity profile

Canberra

Occupation of employment

There were more female professionals in Canberra in 2021 than any other occupation.

Canberra'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 Canberra'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
Canberra - Employed females (Usual residence)20212016Change
OccupationNumber%Victoria %Number%Victoria %2016 to 2021
Managers20,48316.711.313,92113.810.3+6,562
Professionals40,56333.028.932,17431.926.9+8,389
Technicians and Trades Workers4,4073.64.43,3823.44.5+1,025
Community and Personal Service Workers17,05113.916.313,24613.115.7+3,805
Clerical and Administrative Workers25,03120.418.824,02023.820.7+1,011
Sales Workers8,5437.010.48,1918.112.4+352
Machinery Operators And Drivers4720.41.63600.41.4+112
Labourers3,8893.26.53,2193.26.6+670
Not stated or inadequately described2,4102.01.72,3062.31.5+104
Total employed persons aged 15+122,843100.0100.0100,819100.0100.0+22,024
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 female resident population in Canberra in 2021 shows the three most popular occupations were:

  • Professionals (40,563 females or 33.0%)
  • Clerical and Administrative Workers (25,031 females or 20.4%)
  • Managers (20,483 females or 16.7%)

In combination these three occupations accounted for 86,077 females in total or 70.1% of the employed female resident population.

In comparison, Victoria employed 28.9% in Professionals; 18.8% in Clerical and Administrative Workers; and 11.3% in Managers.

The major differences between the jobs held by the female population of Canberra and Victoria were:

  • A larger percentage of females employed as Managers (16.7% compared to 11.3%)
  • A larger percentage of females employed as Professionals (33.0% compared to 28.9%)
  • A smaller percentage of females employed as Sales Workers (7.0% compared to 10.4%)
  • A smaller percentage of females employed as Labourers (3.2% compared to 6.5%)

Emerging groups

The number of employed females in Canberra increased by 22,024 between 2016 and 2021.

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

  • Professionals (+8,389 females)
  • Managers (+6,562 females)
  • Community and Personal Service Workers (+3,805 females)
  • Technicians and Trades Workers (+1,025 females)

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