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AustraliaCommunity profile

Regional WA

Industry sector of employment

More Regional WA residents worked in health care and social assistance than any other industry in 2021.

Regional WA'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
Regional WA - Employed persons (Usual residence)20212006Change
Industry sectorNumber%Australia %Number%Australia %2006 to 2021
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing21,9829.02.325,06712.13.1-3,085
Mining27,63611.31.816,5688.01.2+11,068
Manufacturing12,8155.25.916,0817.810.5-3,266
Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services3,3711.41.12,1791.11.0+1,192
Construction20,9598.58.918,9249.27.8+2,035
Wholesale trade5,2522.12.65,9852.94.4-733
Retail Trade20,2998.39.120,83810.111.3-539
Accommodation and Food Services16,6736.86.512,5946.16.3+4,079
Transport, Postal and Warehousing11,1894.64.58,9964.44.7+2,193
Information Media and Telecommunications1,0580.41.41,4690.71.9-411
Financial and Insurance Services2,3130.93.72,8701.43.8-557
Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services2,9291.21.63,4081.71.7-479
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services7,3543.07.85,9242.96.6+1,430
Administrative and Support Services7,1102.93.25,2692.63.1+1,841
Public Administration and Safety13,9565.76.612,7966.26.7+1,160
Education and Training21,0368.68.815,2197.47.7+5,817
Health Care and Social Assistance28,10011.414.517,4668.510.5+10,634
Arts and Recreation Services2,4751.01.61,4340.71.4+1,041
Other Services9,1133.73.67,5313.63.7+1,582
Inadequately described or not stated9,8674.04.45,8942.92.6+3,973
Total employed persons aged 15+245,487100.0100.0206,512100.0100.0+38,975
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 Regional WA in 2021 shows the three most popular industry sectors were:

  • Health Care and Social Assistance (28,100 people or 11.4%)
  • Mining (27,636 people or 11.3%)
  • Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing (21,982 people or 9.0%)

In combination, these three industries employed 77,718 people in total or 31.7% of the total employed resident population.

In comparison, Australia employed 14.5% in Health Care and Social Assistance; 1.8% in Mining; and 2.3% in Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing.

The major differences between the jobs held by the population of Regional WA and Australia were:

  • A larger percentage of persons employed in mining (11.3% compared to 1.8%)
  • A larger percentage of persons employed in agriculture, forestry and fishing (9.0% compared to 2.3%)
  • A smaller percentage of persons employed in professional, scientific and technical services (3.0% compared to 7.8%)
  • A smaller percentage of persons employed in health care and social assistance (11.4% compared to 14.5%)

Emerging groups

The number of employed people in Regional WA increased by 38,975 between 2006 and 2021.

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

  • Mining (+11,068 persons)
  • Health Care and Social Assistance (+10,634 persons)
  • Education and Training (+5,817 persons)
  • Accommodation and Food Services (+4,079 persons)

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