Industry sector data identifies the industries in which the residents of an area work either within the residing area or elsewhere. Comparing the industry sectors in which the Northern Rivers Region residents are employed in the industry sectors that are located in the Northern Rivers Region, indicates whether an economy draws on the skills offered by its own residents, or on a different set of skills imported from elsewhere in the region.
Industry sector statistics in the Northern Rivers Region are influenced by a range of factors including:
- The economic base and employment opportunities available within commuting distance;
- The educational levels of the local population; and
- The working and social aspirations of the local population.
Industry sector data should be viewed in conjunction with Residents place of work.
Data source
Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) – Census 2016 and 2021 – by usual residence
Current area:
Current benchmark:
Sex:
| Resident workers industry of employment | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Rivers Region - Persons | 2021 | 2016 | Change | ||||||
| Industry (Click rows to view sub-categories) | Number | % | NSW | Number | % | NSW | 2016 - 2021 | ||
| Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing | 6,129 | 4.7 | 2.0 | 5,709 | 5.0 | 2.1 | +420 | ||
| Mining | 756 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 674 | 0.6 | 0.9 | +82 | ||
| Manufacturing | 6,612 | 5.1 | 5.5 | 6,423 | 5.6 | 5.8 | +189 | ||
| Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services | 1,203 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 1,000 | 0.9 | 0.9 | +203 | ||
| Construction | 12,760 | 9.8 | 8.6 | 10,284 | 9.0 | 8.4 | +2,476 | ||
| Wholesale Trade | 2,242 | 1.7 | 2.8 | 2,073 | 1.8 | 3.1 | +169 | ||
| Retail Trade | 13,551 | 10.4 | 9.0 | 12,911 | 11.3 | 9.7 | +640 | ||
| Accommodation and Food Services | 11,657 | 8.9 | 6.2 | 10,449 | 9.2 | 7.1 | +1,208 | ||
| Transport, Postal and Warehousing | 4,072 | 3.1 | 4.6 | 4,070 | 3.6 | 4.7 | +2 | ||
| Information Media and Telecommunications | 1,187 | 0.9 | 1.8 | 1,136 | 1.0 | 2.2 | +51 | ||
| Financial and Insurance Services | 2,003 | 1.5 | 5.3 | 1,751 | 1.5 | 4.9 | +252 | ||
| Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services | 1,951 | 1.5 | 1.7 | 1,706 | 1.5 | 1.8 | +245 | ||
| Professional, Scientific and Technical Services | 6,860 | 5.3 | 8.9 | 5,318 | 4.7 | 8.1 | +1,542 | ||
| Administrative and Support Services | 4,505 | 3.4 | 3.2 | 4,084 | 3.6 | 3.5 | +421 | ||
| Public Administration and Safety | 6,837 | 5.2 | 6.1 | 6,178 | 5.4 | 6.0 | +659 | ||
| Education and Training | 12,455 | 9.5 | 8.7 | 10,712 | 9.4 | 8.4 | +1,743 | ||
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 22,893 | 17.5 | 14.4 | 18,245 | 16.0 | 12.5 | +4,648 | ||
| Arts and Recreation Services | 2,038 | 1.6 | 1.4 | 1,757 | 1.5 | 1.5 | +281 | ||
| Other Services | 4,933 | 3.8 | 3.4 | 4,266 | 3.7 | 3.7 | +667 | ||
| Industry not classified | 5,983 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4,994 | 4.4 | 4.7 | +989 | ||
| Total Persons | 130,627 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 113,740 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +16,887 | ||
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2016 and 2021. Compiled and presented by .id (informed decisions) | |||||||||
Dominant groups
Analysis of the jobs held by the resident workforce in the Northern Rivers Region in 2021shows the three most popular industry sectors were:
- Health Care and Social Assistance (22,893 people or 17.5%)
- Retail Trade (13,551 people or 10.4%)
- Construction (12,760 people or 9.8%)
In combination these three industries employed 49,204 people in total or 37.7% of the total resident workforce.
In comparison, NSW employed 14.4% in Health Care and Social Assistance; 9.0% in Retail Trade and 8.6% in Construction.
The major differences between the jobs held by the resident workforce of the Northern Rivers Region and NSW were:
- A smaller percentage of resident workforce employed in Financial and Insurance Services (1.5% compared to 5.3%)
- A smaller percentage of resident workforce employed in Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (5.3% compared to 8.9%)
- A larger percentage of resident workforce employed in Health Care and Social Assistance (17.5% compared to 14.4%)
- A larger percentage of resident workforce employed in Accommodation and Food Services (8.9% compared to 6.2%)
Emerging groups
The largest changes in the jobs held by the resident workforce between 2016 and 2021 in the Northern Rivers Region were for those employed in:
- Health Care and Social Assistance (+4,648 resident workforce)
- Construction (+2,476 resident workforce)
- Education and Training (+1,743 resident workforce)
- Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (+1,542 resident workforce)