Shire of Northam

Employment by industry (Census)

Health Care and Social Assistance is the largest employer in the Shire of Northam, making up 16.7% of total employment.

Census employment data presents the number of persons employed in each industry sector (full-time and part-time) in the Shire of Northam regardless of where they live. By comparing the number of jobs in each industry sector to a regional benchmark, you can clearly see local economic strengths and weaknesses. By looking at how the number of jobs in each industry is changing over time, you can track how the structure of the local economy is changing. Go to the Employment locations page to see where employment is taking place across the Shire of Northam.

Note: Census employment figures are known to undercount employment by varying amounts depending on the Census year. All Census counts are an undercount of total population, and in addition, some people don’t state their workforce status or industry. Also counts by place of work exclude those with no fixed workplace address. For this reason, it is recommended that for total job numbers, users look at the Employment by industry (Total) modelled estimates which are updated on an annual basis, and based on the ABS Labour Force survey, less prone to undercount. The Census counts by industry are included here for a greater level of industry detail (3-digit ANZSIC).

Data source

Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) – Census 2016 & 2021 – by place of work

Current benchmark:
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Employment (Census) by industry sector
Shire of Northam20212016Change
IndustryNumber%. Western AustraliaNumber%. Western Australia2016 - 2021
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing2595.42.32445.62.5+15
Mining240.57.7380.96.6-14
Manufacturing3437.15.32345.45.6+109
Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services1022.11.21092.51.2-7
Construction2886.08.83197.39.9-31
Wholesale Trade1573.32.41112.52.5+46
Retail Trade48710.18.74069.39.5+81
Accommodation and Food Services2755.76.51984.56.4+77
Transport, Postal and Warehousing2014.24.52004.64.6+1
Information Media and Telecommunications130.30.8240.51.0-11
Financial and Insurance Services461.02.1611.42.3-15
Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services531.11.4691.61.7-16
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services1292.76.91423.36.4-13
Administrative and Support Services982.03.11252.93.3-27
Public Administration and Safety61712.85.957213.16.2+45
Education and Training50010.48.744510.28.7+55
Health Care and Social Assistance80816.713.667915.511.7+129
Arts and Recreation Services330.71.6320.71.6+1
Other Services1893.93.91593.63.9+30
Industry not classified2254.74.62014.64.6+24
Total persons4,828100.0100.04,368100.0100.0+460

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
Did you know? By clicking/tapping on a category in the chart below you will be able to drilldown to the sub categories.
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Dominant groups

An analysis of the jobs held by the local workers in the Shire of Northam in 2021 shows the three most popular industry sectors were:

  • Health Care and Social Assistance (808 people or 16.7%)
  • Public Administration and Safety (617 people or 12.8%)
  • Education and Training (500 people or 10.4%)

In combination these three fields accounted for 1,925 people in total or 39.9% of the local workers.

In comparison, Western Australia employed 13.6% in Health Care and Social Assistance; 5.9% in Public Administration and Safety and 8.7% in Education and Training.

The major differences between the jobs held by local workers of the Shire of Northam and Western Australia were:

  • A smaller percentage of local workers employed in the field of Mining (0.5% compared to 7.7%)
  • A larger percentage of local workers employed in the field of Public Administration and Safety (12.8% compared to 5.9%)
  • A smaller percentage of local workers employed in the field of Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (2.7% compared to 6.9%)
  • A larger percentage of local workers employed in the field of Health Care and Social Assistance (16.7% compared to 13.6%)

Emerging groups

The largest changes in the jobs held by local workers between 2016 and 2021 in the Shire of Northam were for those employed in:

  • Health Care and Social Assistance (+129 local workers)
  • Manufacturing (+109 local workers)
  • Retail Trade (+81 local workers)
  • Accommodation and Food Services (+77 local workers)

Shire of Northam

economic profile