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LEARN MORE ABOUT .idThere are more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people employed as community and personal service workers in Australia than any other occupation.
Occupation statistics quantify the occupations in which the first nations residents work. The work locations may be within the local area or elsewhere. Only the employed population are counted in the occupation table (those unemployed or not in the labour force don’t have an occupation).
Occupations are broadly classified by education/skill level, with the more highly skilled managerial and professional occupations being at the top of the list, while labourers form the lowest level of the list.
The occupations of the first nations population 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 Highest Education Attainment and Employment Status, Occupation is a key measure for evaluating 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 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples - Australia | 2021 | 2016 | Change | ||||
| Occupation | Number | % | Greater Capital Cities % | Number | % | Greater Capital Cities % | 2016 to 2021 |
| Managers | 21,212 | 8.2 | 9.1 | 12,849 | 7.1 | 7.8 | +8,363 |
| Professionals | 36,013 | 13.9 | 15.8 | 24,339 | 13.4 | 14.7 | +11,674 |
| Technicians and Trades Workers | 35,340 | 13.6 | 13.7 | 24,410 | 13.4 | 14.0 | +10,930 |
| Community and Personal Service Workers | 45,217 | 17.4 | 15.6 | 30,988 | 17.0 | 15.3 | +14,229 |
| Clerical and Administrative Workers | 30,726 | 11.8 | 13.9 | 23,178 | 12.7 | 15.0 | +7,548 |
| Sales Workers | 22,368 | 8.6 | 8.3 | 15,794 | 8.7 | 9.1 | +6,574 |
| Machinery Operators And Drivers | 23,289 | 9.0 | 8.5 | 16,769 | 9.2 | 8.7 | +6,520 |
| Labourers | 37,004 | 14.2 | 11.9 | 27,802 | 15.3 | 12.4 | +9,202 |
| Not stated or inadequately described | 8,589 | 3.3 | 3.1 | 6,032 | 3.3 | 3.1 | +2,557 |
| Total employed people aged 15+ | 259,758 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 182,161 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +77,597 |
Dominant groups
An analysis of the jobs held by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander resident population in Australia in 2021 shows the three most popular occupations were:
- Community and Personal Service Workers (45,217 people or 17.4%)
- Labourers (37,004 people or 14.2%)
- Professionals (36,013 people or 13.9%)
In combination these three occupations accounted for 118,234 people in total or 45.5% of the employed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander resident population.
The major differences between the occupations held by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population of Australia and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander of Greater Capital Cities were:
- A larger percentage of people employed as Labourers (14.2% compared to 11.9%)
- A larger percentage of people employed as Community and Personal Service Workers (17.4% compared to 15.6%)
- A smaller percentage of people employed as Clerical and Administrative Workers (11.8% compared to 13.9%)
- A smaller percentage of people employed as Professionals (13.9% compared to 15.8%)
Emerging groups
The number of employed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia increased by 77,597 between 2016 and 2021.
The largest changes in the occupations held by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander residents between 2016 and 2021 in Australia were for those employed as:
- Community and Personal Service Workers (+14,229 people)
- Professionals (+11,674 people)
- Technicians and Trades Workers (+10,930 people)
- Labourers (+9,202 people)
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