Occupation is a key component for evaluating the socio-economic status of the local workers and the skills required to work in each industry sector.
The occupations of the local workers in Sunshine Coast will be influenced by factors including:
- The economic base and employment opportunities available in Sunshine Coast;
- The age of the workforce;
- The skill and qualification level required to enter an industry; and
- The working and social aspirations of the population.
For a complete local workers analysis for Sunshine Coast, view Occupations in conjunction with other indicators, such as Educational qualifications and Income.
Data source
Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) – Census 2016 & 2021 – by place of work
Select industry:
Current benchmark:
Sex:
| Local workers occupations | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunshine Coast - All industries | 2021 | 2016 | Change | ||||||
| Occupations (Click rows to view sub-categories) | Number | % | Queensland | Number | % | Queensland | 2016 - 2021 | ||
| Managers | 16,404 | 12.0 | 12.4 | 12,916 | 11.7 | 12.1 | +3,488 | ||
| Professionals | 28,594 | 21.0 | 21.4 | 21,889 | 19.7 | 19.9 | +6,705 | ||
| Technicians and Trades Workers | 18,871 | 13.8 | 13.7 | 15,545 | 14.0 | 14.2 | +3,326 | ||
| Community and Personal Service Workers | 18,899 | 13.9 | 12.4 | 13,983 | 12.6 | 11.4 | +4,916 | ||
| Clerical and Administrative Workers | 17,674 | 13.0 | 12.7 | 15,689 | 14.2 | 13.7 | +1,985 | ||
| Sales Workers | 13,957 | 10.2 | 8.7 | 13,291 | 12.0 | 9.7 | +666 | ||
| Machinery Operators And Drivers | 6,193 | 4.5 | 6.8 | 4,956 | 4.5 | 6.9 | +1,237 | ||
| Labourers | 13,405 | 9.8 | 10.1 | 10,977 | 9.9 | 10.6 | +2,428 | ||
| Inadequately described or not stated | 2,271 | 1.7 | 1.9 | 1,596 | 1.4 | 1.6 | +675 | ||
| Total Persons | 136,268 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 110,842 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +25,426 | ||
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 All industries workforce in Sunshine Coast in 2021shows the three most popular occupations were:
- Professionals (28,594 local workers or 21.0%)
- Community and Personal Service Workers (18,899 local workers or 13.9%)
- Technicians and Trades Workers (18,871 local workers or 13.8%)
In combination these three occupations accounted for 66,364 people in total or 48.7% of the All industries local workers.
In comparison, Queensland employed 21.4% as Professionals; 12.4% as Community and Personal Service Workers and 13.7% as Technicians and Trades Workers.
The major differences between the jobs held by the workforce in Sunshine Coast and Queensland were:
- A smaller percentage of local workers employed as Machinery Operators And Drivers (4.5% compared to 6.8%)
- A larger percentage of local workers employed as Sales Workers (10.2% compared to 8.7%)
- A larger percentage of local workers employed as Community and Personal Service Workers (13.9% compared to 12.4%)
- A smaller percentage of local workers employed as Managers (12.0% compared to 12.4%)
Emerging groups
The largest changes in the jobs held by the workforce in Sunshine Coast between2016 and 2021 were those employed as:
- Professionals (+6,705 local workers)
- Community and Personal Service Workers (+4,916 local workers)
- Managers (+3,488 local workers)
- Technicians and Trades Workers (+3,326 local workers)