Powered by .id (informed decisions) for RDA Darling Downs and South West Region
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LEARN MORE ABOUT .idMore Western Downs Regional Council area residents worked in agriculture, forestry and fishing than any other industry in 2021.
Western Downs Regional Council area'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 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Downs Regional Council area - Employed persons (Usual residence) | 2021 | 2016 | Change | ||||
| Industry sector | Number | % | RDA Darling Downs and South West Region % | Number | % | RDA Darling Downs and South West Region % | 2016 to 2021 |
| Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing | 2,780 | 18.4 | 10.6 | 2,789 | 19.3 | 11.5 | -9 |
| Mining | 581 | 3.8 | 1.8 | 598 | 4.1 | 2.0 | -17 |
| Manufacturing | 726 | 4.8 | 6.3 | 727 | 5.0 | 6.3 | -1 |
| Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services | 457 | 3.0 | 1.4 | 409 | 2.8 | 1.4 | +48 |
| Construction | 1,295 | 8.6 | 8.1 | 1,311 | 9.1 | 8.1 | -16 |
| Wholesale trade | 388 | 2.6 | 2.4 | 416 | 2.9 | 2.8 | -28 |
| Retail Trade | 1,435 | 9.5 | 9.2 | 1,335 | 9.2 | 9.5 | +100 |
| Accommodation and Food Services | 891 | 5.9 | 6.1 | 850 | 5.9 | 6.0 | +41 |
| Transport, Postal and Warehousing | 625 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 573 | 4.0 | 4.4 | +52 |
| Information Media and Telecommunications | 29 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 56 | 0.4 | 0.6 | -27 |
| Financial and Insurance Services | 142 | 0.9 | 1.9 | 170 | 1.2 | 2.0 | -28 |
| Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services | 163 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 165 | 1.1 | 1.3 | -2 |
| Professional, Scientific and Technical Services | 448 | 3.0 | 3.9 | 462 | 3.2 | 3.8 | -14 |
| Administrative and Support Services | 371 | 2.5 | 2.3 | 324 | 2.2 | 2.3 | +47 |
| Public Administration and Safety | 790 | 5.2 | 5.7 | 797 | 5.5 | 6.4 | -7 |
| Education and Training | 1,229 | 8.1 | 9.9 | 1,178 | 8.2 | 10.0 | +51 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 1,348 | 8.9 | 15.8 | 1,078 | 7.5 | 12.8 | +270 |
| Arts and Recreation Services | 83 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 71 | 0.5 | 0.8 | +12 |
| Other Services | 573 | 3.8 | 4.0 | 519 | 3.6 | 3.9 | +54 |
| Inadequately described or not stated | 750 | 5.0 | 4.2 | 606 | 4.2 | 3.9 | +144 |
| Total employed persons aged 15+ | 15,104 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 14,434 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +670 |
Dominant groups
An analysis of the jobs held by the resident population in Western Downs Regional Council area in 2021 shows the three most popular industry sectors were:
- Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing (2,780 people or 18.4%)
- Retail Trade (1,435 people or 9.5%)
- Health Care and Social Assistance (1,348 people or 8.9%)
In combination, these three industries employed 5,563 people in total or 36.8% of the total employed resident population.
In comparison, the RDA Darling Downs and South West Region employed 10.6% in Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing; 9.2% in Retail Trade; and 15.8% in Health Care and Social Assistance.
The major differences between the jobs held by the population of Western Downs Regional Council area and the RDA Darling Downs and South West Region were:
- A larger percentage of persons employed in agriculture, forestry and fishing (18.4% compared to 10.6%)
- A larger percentage of persons employed in mining (3.8% compared to 1.8%)
- A smaller percentage of persons employed in health care and social assistance (8.9% compared to 15.8%)
- A smaller percentage of persons employed in education and training (8.1% compared to 9.9%)
Emerging groups
The number of employed people in Western Downs Regional Council area increased by 670 between 2016 and 2021.
The largest changes in the jobs held by the resident population between 2016 and 2021 in Western Downs Regional Council area were for those employed in:
- Health Care and Social Assistance (+270 persons)
- Retail Trade (+100 persons)
- Other Services (+54 persons)
- Transport, Postal and Warehousing (+52 persons)
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