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South East QueenslandCommunity profile

South East Queensland

Occupation of employment

There were more professionals in South East Queensland in 2021 than any other occupation.

South East Queensland's occupation statistics quantify the occupations in which the residents work (which may be within the residing area or elsewhere). This 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 Educational Qualifications and Individual Income, Occupation is a key measure for evaluating South East Queensland'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
South East Queensland - Employed persons (Usual residence)20212016Change
OccupationNumber%Moreton Bay Region %Number%Moreton Bay Region %2016 to 2021
Managers231,74412.711.4188,53212.010.8+43,212
Professionals426,59623.317.9338,49621.516.4+88,100
Technicians and Trades Workers238,26413.014.7215,24713.715.4+23,017
Community and Personal Service Workers221,09712.113.3175,97411.212.2+45,123
Clerical and Administrative Workers240,58813.114.1224,43114.315.3+16,157
Sales Workers159,8258.79.1156,1139.910.2+3,712
Machinery Operators And Drivers109,4986.07.193,9206.07.2+15,578
Labourers169,3829.310.5153,6359.810.8+15,747
Not stated or inadequately described33,5921.81.825,3641.61.7+8,228
Total employed persons aged 15+1,830,581100.0100.01,571,712100.0100.0+258,869
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2016 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 South East Queensland in 2021 shows the three most popular occupations were:

  • Professionals (426,596 people or 23.3%)
  • Clerical and Administrative Workers (240,588 people or 13.1%)
  • Technicians and Trades Workers (238,264 people or 13.0%)

In combination these three occupations accounted for 905,448 people in total or 49.5% of the employed resident population.

In comparison, Moreton Bay Region employed 17.9% in Professionals; 14.1% in Clerical and Administrative Workers; and 14.7% in Technicians and Trades Workers.

The major differences between the jobs held by the population of South East Queensland and Moreton Bay Region were:

  • A larger percentage of persons employed as Professionals (23.3% compared to 17.9%)
  • A larger percentage of persons employed as Managers (12.7% compared to 11.4%)
  • A smaller percentage of persons employed as Technicians and Trades Workers (13.0% compared to 14.7%)
  • A smaller percentage of persons employed as Community and Personal Service Workers (12.1% compared to 13.3%)

Emerging groups

The number of employed people in South East Queensland increased by 258,869 between 2016 and 2021.

The largest changes in the occupations of residents between 2016 and 2021 in South East Queensland were for those employed as:

  • Professionals (+88,100 persons)
  • Community and Personal Service Workers (+45,123 persons)
  • Managers (+43,212 persons)
  • Technicians and Trades Workers (+23,017 persons)

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