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 the Canberra Region will be influenced by factors including:
- The economic base and employment opportunities available in the Canberra Region;
- 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 the Canberra Region, 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
Current area:
Select industry:
Current benchmark:
Sex:
| Local workers occupations | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canberra Region - All industries | 2021 | 2016 | Change | ||||||
| Occupations (Click rows to view sub-categories) | Number | % | NSW | Number | % | NSW | 2016 - 2021 | ||
| Managers | 17,244 | 15.5 | 14.6 | 15,135 | 15.6 | 13.5 | +2,109 | ||
| Professionals | 18,255 | 16.4 | 25.9 | 15,013 | 15.5 | 23.6 | +3,242 | ||
| Technicians and Trades Workers | 16,392 | 14.7 | 11.8 | 13,916 | 14.3 | 12.7 | +2,476 | ||
| Community and Personal Service Workers | 14,693 | 13.2 | 10.6 | 12,213 | 12.6 | 10.4 | +2,480 | ||
| Clerical and Administrative Workers | 12,217 | 11.0 | 13.0 | 11,303 | 11.7 | 13.8 | +914 | ||
| Sales Workers | 10,205 | 9.2 | 8.0 | 9,961 | 10.3 | 9.2 | +244 | ||
| Machinery Operators And Drivers | 7,537 | 6.8 | 6.0 | 6,438 | 6.6 | 6.1 | +1,099 | ||
| Labourers | 12,853 | 11.5 | 8.2 | 11,425 | 11.8 | 8.8 | +1,428 | ||
| Inadequately described or not stated | 2,060 | 1.8 | 1.9 | 1,589 | 1.6 | 1.8 | +471 | ||
| Total Persons | 111,456 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 96,993 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +14,463 | ||
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 the Canberra Region in 2021shows the three most popular occupations were:
- Professionals (18,255 local workers or 16.4%)
- Managers (17,244 local workers or 15.5%)
- Technicians and Trades Workers (16,392 local workers or 14.7%)
In combination these three occupations accounted for 51,891 people in total or 46.5% of the All industries local workers.
In comparison, NSW employed 25.9% as Professionals; 14.6% as Managers and 11.8% as Technicians and Trades Workers.
The major differences between the jobs held by the workforce in the Canberra Region and NSW were:
- A smaller percentage of local workers employed as Professionals (16.4% compared to 25.9%)
- A larger percentage of local workers employed as Labourers (11.5% compared to 8.2%)
- A larger percentage of local workers employed as Technicians and Trades Workers (14.7% compared to 11.8%)
- A larger percentage of local workers employed as Community and Personal Service Workers (13.2% compared to 10.6%)
Emerging groups
The largest changes in the jobs held by the workforce in the Canberra Region between2016 and 2021 were those employed as:
- Professionals (+3,242 local workers)
- Community and Personal Service Workers (+2,480 local workers)
- Technicians and Trades Workers (+2,476 local workers)
- Managers (+2,109 local workers)