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AustraliaCommunity profile

Western Australia

Industry sector of employment

More Western Australia male residents worked in construction than any other industry in 2021.

Western Australia'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 Australia - Employed males (Usual residence)20212006Change
Industry sectorNumber%Greater Capital Cities %Number%Greater Capital Cities %2006 to 2021
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing20,0292.90.821,3624.20.8-1,333
Mining77,27611.31.932,5386.31.0+44,738
Manufacturing50,0297.38.167,86713.214.9-17,838
Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services10,9721.61.57,4681.51.2+3,504
Construction96,83814.214.272,78414.212.1+24,054
Wholesale trade22,1833.33.624,7454.86.0-2,562
Retail Trade46,9756.98.042,6458.39.1+4,330
Accommodation and Food Services37,2405.55.622,0864.35.0+15,154
Transport, Postal and Warehousing44,9766.67.230,2735.97.0+14,703
Information Media and Telecommunications6,1700.92.07,1791.42.5-1,009
Financial and Insurance Services12,5181.84.611,4092.24.2+1,109
Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services8,5981.31.68,7561.71.6-158
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services50,7397.410.033,7196.68.2+17,020
Administrative and Support Services18,8352.83.114,2632.83.0+4,572
Public Administration and Safety40,6756.06.133,9656.66.3+6,710
Education and Training28,4794.24.820,9254.14.4+7,554
Health Care and Social Assistance35,7585.26.419,9603.94.4+15,798
Arts and Recreation Services10,0791.51.65,7571.11.4+4,322
Other Services25,3893.73.520,1143.93.9+5,275
Inadequately described or not stated37,7695.55.415,6953.12.9+22,074
Total employed persons aged 15+681,527100.0100.0513,510100.0100.0+168,017
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2006 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 male resident population in Western Australia in 2021 shows the three most popular industry sectors were:

  • Construction (96,838 males or 14.2%)
  • Mining (77,276 males or 11.3%)
  • Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (50,739 males or 7.4%)

In combination, these three industries employed 224,853 males in total or 33.0% of the total employed male resident population.

In comparison, Greater Capital Cities employed 14.2% in Construction; 1.9% in Mining; and 10.0% in Professional, Scientific and Technical Services.

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

  • A larger percentage of males employed in mining (11.3% compared to 1.9%)
  • A larger percentage of males employed in agriculture, forestry and fishing (2.9% compared to 0.8%)
  • A smaller percentage of males employed in financial and insurance services (1.8% compared to 4.6%)
  • A smaller percentage of males employed in professional, scientific and technical services (7.4% compared to 10.0%)

Emerging groups

The number of employed males in Western Australia increased by 168,017 between 2006 and 2021.

The largest changes in the jobs held by the male resident population between 2006 and 2021 in Western Australia were for those employed in:

  • Mining (+44,738 males)
  • Construction (+24,054 males)
  • Manufacturing (-17,838 males)
  • Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (+17,020 males)

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