Occupations are a key component in evaluating the knowledge, experience and skill-levels that industry can draw upon locally. It should be viewed with other indicators, such as Age structure, Qualifications, and Income for a comprehensive analysis of Sunshine Coast's local resident workers.
When comparing the occupations of local resident workers with local workers, Occupation data indicates whether an economy draws on the skills offered by its own residents or relies on a different set of skills imported from elsewhere in the region.
Data source
Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) – Census 2016 and 2021 – by usual residence
Select industry:
Current benchmark:
Sex:
| Resident workers occupations | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunshine Coast | 2021 | 2016 | Change | ||||||
| Occupations (Click rows to view sub-categories) | Number | % | Queensland | Number | % | Queensland | 2016 - 2021 | ||
| Managers | 19,747 | 12.3 | 12.5 | 15,112 | 11.7 | 12.1 | +4,635 | ||
| Professionals | 33,789 | 21.1 | 21.4 | 24,811 | 19.1 | 19.8 | +8,978 | ||
| Technicians and Trades Workers | 24,290 | 15.2 | 13.7 | 20,976 | 16.2 | 14.3 | +3,314 | ||
| Community and Personal Service Workers | 21,525 | 13.4 | 12.3 | 15,680 | 12.1 | 11.3 | +5,845 | ||
| Clerical and Administrative Workers | 19,410 | 12.1 | 12.7 | 16,738 | 12.9 | 13.6 | +2,672 | ||
| Sales Workers | 15,288 | 9.5 | 8.7 | 14,427 | 11.1 | 9.7 | +861 | ||
| Machinery Operators And Drivers | 7,863 | 4.9 | 6.8 | 6,546 | 5.0 | 6.9 | +1,317 | ||
| Labourers | 15,619 | 9.7 | 10.1 | 13,403 | 10.3 | 10.5 | +2,216 | ||
| Inadequately described or not stated | 2,766 | 1.7 | 1.9 | 1,944 | 1.5 | 1.6 | +822 | ||
| Total Persons | 160,297 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 129,637 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +30,660 | ||
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2016 and 2021. Compiled and presented by .id (informed decisions) | |||||||||
Dominant groups
An analysis of the jobs held by the resident workers in Sunshine Coast in 2021shows the three most popular occupations were:
- Professionals (33,789 people or 21.1%)
- Technicians and Trades Workers (24,290 people or 15.2%)
- Community and Personal Service Workers (21,525 people or 13.4%)
In combination these three occupations accounted for 79,604 people in total or 49.6% of the resident workers (All industries).
In comparison, Queensland employed 21.4% in Professionals; 13.7% in Technicians and Trades Workers and 12.3% in Community and Personal Service Workers.
The major differences between the jobs held by the resident workers (All industries) of Sunshine Coast and Queensland were:
- A smaller percentage of resident workers (All industries) employed as Machinery Operators And Drivers (4.9% compared to 6.8%)
- A larger percentage of resident workers (All industries) employed as Technicians and Trades Workers (15.2% compared to 13.7%)
- A larger percentage of resident workers (All industries) employed as Community and Personal Service Workers (13.4% compared to 12.3%)
- A larger percentage of resident workers (All industries) employed as Sales Workers (9.5% compared to 8.7%)
Emerging groups
The number of resident workers (All industries) in Sunshine Coast increased by 30,660 between 2016 and 2021.
The largest change in the occupations of the resident workers between 2016 and 2021 in Sunshine Coast were those employed as:
- Professionals (+8,978 persons)
- Community and Personal Service Workers (+5,845 persons)
- Managers (+4,635 persons)
- Technicians and Trades Workers (+3,314 persons)