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LEARN MORE ABOUT .idMore Sunshine Coast residents worked in health care and social assistance than any other industry in 2021.
Sunshine Coast'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 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunshine Coast - Employed persons (Usual residence) | 2021 | 2016 | Change | ||||
| Industry sector | Number | % | South East Queensland % | Number | % | South East Queensland % | 2016 to 2021 |
| Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing | 2,457 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 2,299 | 1.8 | 1.0 | +158 |
| Mining | 2,506 | 1.6 | 1.1 | 1,882 | 1.5 | 1.1 | +624 |
| Manufacturing | 7,436 | 4.6 | 5.8 | 6,269 | 4.8 | 6.1 | +1,167 |
| Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services | 1,543 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 1,244 | 1.0 | 1.0 | +299 |
| Construction | 19,438 | 12.1 | 9.4 | 15,762 | 12.2 | 9.5 | +3,676 |
| Wholesale trade | 3,046 | 1.9 | 2.5 | 2,729 | 2.1 | 2.8 | +317 |
| Retail Trade | 15,697 | 9.8 | 9.3 | 14,176 | 10.9 | 10.0 | +1,521 |
| Accommodation and Food Services | 13,273 | 8.3 | 7.1 | 10,929 | 8.4 | 7.3 | +2,344 |
| Transport, Postal and Warehousing | 4,974 | 3.1 | 4.8 | 4,398 | 3.4 | 5.1 | +576 |
| Information Media and Telecommunications | 1,425 | 0.9 | 1.1 | 1,399 | 1.1 | 1.4 | +26 |
| Financial and Insurance Services | 4,588 | 2.9 | 3.1 | 3,562 | 2.7 | 3.0 | +1,026 |
| Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services | 3,122 | 1.9 | 1.9 | 2,926 | 2.3 | 2.2 | +196 |
| Professional, Scientific and Technical Services | 9,846 | 6.1 | 7.9 | 7,278 | 5.6 | 7.3 | +2,568 |
| Administrative and Support Services | 5,562 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 4,995 | 3.9 | 3.7 | +567 |
| Public Administration and Safety | 6,264 | 3.9 | 5.9 | 5,479 | 4.2 | 6.3 | +785 |
| Education and Training | 14,175 | 8.8 | 8.8 | 11,631 | 9.0 | 9.0 | +2,544 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 28,814 | 18.0 | 15.5 | 19,406 | 15.0 | 13.1 | +9,408 |
| Arts and Recreation Services | 2,841 | 1.8 | 1.8 | 2,404 | 1.9 | 1.8 | +437 |
| Other Services | 6,346 | 4.0 | 3.9 | 5,134 | 4.0 | 3.9 | +1,212 |
| Inadequately described or not stated | 6,934 | 4.3 | 4.6 | 5,730 | 4.4 | 4.4 | +1,204 |
| Total employed persons aged 15+ | 160,287 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 129,632 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +30,655 |
Dominant groups
An analysis of the jobs held by the resident population in Sunshine Coast in 2021 shows the three most popular industry sectors were:
- Health Care and Social Assistance (28,814 people or 18.0%)
- Construction (19,438 people or 12.1%)
- Retail Trade (15,697 people or 9.8%)
In combination, these three industries employed 63,949 people in total or 39.9% of the total employed resident population.
In comparison, South East Queensland employed 15.5% in Health Care and Social Assistance; 9.4% in Construction; and 9.3% in Retail Trade.
The major differences between the jobs held by the population of Sunshine Coast and South East Queensland were:
- A larger percentage of persons employed in construction (12.1% compared to 9.4%)
- A larger percentage of persons employed in health care and social assistance (18.0% compared to 15.5%)
- A smaller percentage of persons employed in public administration and safety (3.9% compared to 5.9%)
- A smaller percentage of persons employed in professional, scientific and technical services (6.1% compared to 7.9%)
Emerging groups
The number of employed people in Sunshine Coast increased by 30,655 between 2016 and 2021.
The largest changes in the jobs held by the resident population between 2016 and 2021 in Sunshine Coast were for those employed in:
- Health Care and Social Assistance (+9,408 persons)
- Construction (+3,676 persons)
- Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (+2,568 persons)
- Education and Training (+2,544 persons)
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