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AustraliaCommunity profile

Greater Melbourne

Industry sector of employment

More Greater Melbourne residents worked in health care and social assistance than any other industry in 2021.

Greater Melbourne'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
Greater Melbourne - Employed persons (Usual residence)20212006Change
Industry sectorNumber%Australia %Number%Australia %2006 to 2021
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing15,8450.62.310,0820.63.1+5,763
Mining4,3180.21.82,9490.21.2+1,369
Manufacturing167,9966.95.9220,61112.910.5-52,615
Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services25,6361.01.112,3540.71.0+13,282
Construction226,5059.38.9125,8817.47.8+100,624
Wholesale trade73,6703.02.693,9155.54.4-20,245
Retail Trade229,0469.49.1193,91311.311.3+35,133
Accommodation and Food Services148,7236.16.595,9385.66.3+52,785
Transport, Postal and Warehousing120,0964.94.580,8424.74.7+39,254
Information Media and Telecommunications43,6761.81.442,9352.51.9+741
Financial and Insurance Services114,7914.73.780,9324.73.8+33,859
Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services38,8631.61.624,7231.41.7+14,140
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services234,5129.67.8140,9538.26.6+93,559
Administrative and Support Services79,4443.23.260,3583.53.1+19,086
Public Administration and Safety132,9585.46.684,8555.06.7+48,103
Education and Training214,0828.88.8130,2017.67.7+83,881
Health Care and Social Assistance329,87413.514.5171,73110.010.5+158,143
Arts and Recreation Services44,0201.81.629,3341.71.4+14,686
Other Services83,7803.43.662,2483.63.7+21,532
Inadequately described or not stated117,1704.84.446,6182.72.6+70,552
Total employed persons aged 15+2,445,005100.0100.01,711,373100.0100.0+733,632
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 resident population in Greater Melbourne in 2021 shows the three most popular industry sectors were:

  • Health Care and Social Assistance (329,874 people or 13.5%)
  • Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (234,512 people or 9.6%)
  • Retail Trade (229,046 people or 9.4%)

In combination, these three industries employed 793,432 people in total or 32.5% of the total employed resident population.

In comparison, Australia employed 14.5% in Health Care and Social Assistance; 7.8% in Professional, Scientific and Technical Services; and 9.1% in Retail Trade.

The major differences between the jobs held by the population of Greater Melbourne and Australia were:

  • A larger percentage of persons employed in professional, scientific and technical services (9.6% compared to 7.8%)
  • A smaller percentage of persons employed in agriculture, forestry and fishing (0.6% compared to 2.3%)
  • A smaller percentage of persons employed in mining (0.2% compared to 1.8%)
  • A smaller percentage of persons employed in public administration and safety (5.4% compared to 6.6%)

Emerging groups

The number of employed people in Greater Melbourne increased by 733,632 between 2006 and 2021.

The largest changes in the jobs held by the resident population between 2006 and 2021 in Greater Melbourne were for those employed in:

  • Health Care and Social Assistance (+158,143 persons)
  • Construction (+100,624 persons)
  • Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (+93,559 persons)
  • Education and Training (+83,881 persons)

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