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City of MelbourneCommunity profile

City of Melbourne

Industry sector of employment

More City of Melbourne residents worked in professional, scientific and technical services than any other industry in 2021.

The City of 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
City of Melbourne - Employed persons (Usual residence)20212016Change
Industry sectorNumber%Greater Melbourne %Number%Greater Melbourne %2016 to 2021
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing2410.30.61870.30.6+54
Mining1480.20.21790.30.2-31
Manufacturing2,8463.26.92,0023.17.7+844
Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services8190.91.06000.91.0+219
Construction3,2763.69.31,8042.88.2+1,472
Wholesale trade1,5941.83.01,4302.23.5+164
Retail Trade7,1567.99.44,9867.710.1+2,170
Accommodation and Food Services11,68312.96.19,03313.96.5+2,650
Transport, Postal and Warehousing2,7743.14.91,7682.75.0+1,006
Information Media and Telecommunications2,3392.61.82,1483.32.2+191
Financial and Insurance Services6,3607.04.74,5947.14.5+1,766
Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services1,5771.71.61,3412.11.7+236
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services15,93517.69.611,59917.89.0+4,336
Administrative and Support Services3,6814.13.22,3033.53.6+1,378
Public Administration and Safety4,5385.05.42,7844.35.0+1,754
Education and Training7,6368.58.85,7518.88.6+1,885
Health Care and Social Assistance9,36910.413.56,1299.412.0+3,240
Arts and Recreation Services2,3942.61.82,1693.32.1+225
Other Services2,2722.53.41,6252.53.6+647
Inadequately described or not stated3,7094.14.82,7164.24.9+993
Total employed persons aged 15+90,347100.0100.065,148100.0100.0+25,199
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 City of Melbourne in 2021 shows the three most popular industry sectors were:

  • Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (15,935 people or 17.6%)
  • Accommodation and Food Services (11,683 people or 12.9%)
  • Health Care and Social Assistance (9,369 people or 10.4%)

In combination, these three industries employed 36,987 people in total or 40.9% of the total employed resident population.

In comparison, Greater Melbourne employed 9.6% in Professional, Scientific and Technical Services; 6.1% in Accommodation and Food Services; and 13.5% in Health Care and Social Assistance.

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

  • A larger percentage of persons employed in professional, scientific and technical services (17.6% compared to 9.6%)
  • A larger percentage of persons employed in accommodation and food services (12.9% compared to 6.1%)
  • A smaller percentage of persons employed in construction (3.6% compared to 9.3%)
  • A smaller percentage of persons employed in manufacturing (3.2% compared to 6.9%)

Emerging groups

The number of employed people in City of Melbourne increased by 25,199 between 2016 and 2021.

The largest changes in the jobs held by the resident population between 2016 and 2021 in the City of Melbourne were for those employed in:

  • Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (+4,336 persons)
  • Health Care and Social Assistance (+3,240 persons)
  • Accommodation and Food Services (+2,650 persons)
  • Retail Trade (+2,170 persons)

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