Biggest Industries by Employment in Australia in 2020

1. Professional Services in Australia

Employment number for 2020: 903,000

The Professional Services subdivision provides various professional, scientific and technical services to a range of markets. The subdivision's performance is largely linked to overall economic conditions, which often determine business confidence and capital expenditure. Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, technology development and greater business profit have driven the subdivision's growth. Earlier in the five-year period, accounting and management consultants have benefited from downstream businesses looking to improve efficiencies as increased globalisation have constrained profit margins. Overall, the subdivision revenue is expected to grow at an annualised 2.1% over the past five years through 2019-20 to $179.3 billion. However, the subdivision's... Learn More

2. Health Services in Australia

Employment number for 2020: 797,180

The Health Services subdivision includes a range of health services and facilities. General hospitals are the subdivision's largest revenue driver, accounting over half of Australia's health services revenue. General practitioners, clinical specialists and dentists also represent significant revenue streams for the subdivision. Australia's growing and ageing population is expected to generate strong demand for health services over the five years through 2019-20. However, the outbreak of COVID-19 in early 2020 has limited subdivision expansion, as health services have redirected resources to containing the virus. Consequently, subdivision revenue is expected to grow at an annualised 1.4% over the five years through... Learn More

3. Community Services in Australia

Employment number for 2020: 710,250

Community services organisations play an important role in supporting Australia's welfare system. Subdivision operators help to arrange care and counsel for individuals in need, including the economically disadvantaged and other vulnerable members of society, such as children and the elderly. Not-for-profit organisations and private enterprises in the Community Services subdivision are expected to earn $56.9 billion in 2019-20 from government funding, donations and private income. Subdivision revenue is expected to increase at an annualised 3.9% over the five years through 2019-20. This trend includes expected growth of 3.9% in the current year. Favourable demographic trends at both ends of the... Learn More

4. Consumer Goods Retailing in Australia

Employment number for 2020: 657,214

The Consumer Goods Retailing subdivision has been subject to difficult retail conditions over the past five years. Weak disposable income growth and volatile consumer sentiment due to unstable economic conditions have resulted in a poor trading landscape, as households have scaled back their expenditure on non-essential goods. In addition, the rise in online shopping has contributed to a fall in retail demand for many consumer goods over the period, such as photographic equipment, video games and recorded music, newspapers and books, and stationery goods.

Subdivision operators have struggled with intensifying competition from online-only retailers, as consumers have become increasingly comfortable with... Learn More

5. Public General Hospitals in Australia

Employment number for 2020: 386,867

The Public General Hospitals industry has grown over the past five years. Public hospitals are primarily funded through federal and state governments, with private health insurance and other non-public revenue sources expected to account for less than 10.0% of industry funding in 2019-20. Due to Australia's ageing population and the rising incidence of chronic illness among adults, demand for public general hospitals has surged over the past five years. Industry revenue is expected to increase at an annualised 2.9% over the five years through 2019-20, to $75.2 billion. This includes anticipated revenue growth of 1.7% in the current year.

Australia's ageing... Learn More

6. Supermarkets and Grocery Stores in Australia

Employment number for 2020: 364,395

The Supermarkets and Grocery Stores industry is one of the most fiercely competitive industries in Australia. However, price-based competition has begun to decrease over the past two years. The rapid expansion of ALDI has significantly altered the industry's operating landscape, with the popularity of its low-cost private-label products underpinning strong growth. ALDI's rise has forced the two established industry giants, Woolworths and Coles, to cut prices and expand their private-label product ranges in response. Smaller supermarket chains have struggled to compete in an increasingly price-competitive industry. Industry profit margins have fallen over the past five years as players have reduced... Learn More

7. Temporary Staff Services in Australia

Employment number for 2020: 362,800

The Temporary Staff Services industry provides skilled and unskilled labour to client companies, typically on a short-term basis. Various factors influence demand for staffing services. For example, the national unemployment rate affects industry demand, with lower unemployment generally contributing to greater demand for temporary staff. Additionally, greater business outsourcing positively affects industry demand and growth. Performance trends in client markets also affect industry operators. Strong demand from several downstream markets has benefited industry firms over the past five years, including professional services, financial services and healthcare sectors.

Industry revenue has increased in each of the past five years, although the growth... Learn More

8. Government Schools in Australia

Employment number for 2020: 324,817

The Government Schools industry has grown over the past five years due to rising student numbers and government funding. The industry receives most of its income from the federal, state and territory governments, with state and territory funding providing approximately 80% of revenue. Political debate surrounding school funding has introduced volatility to industry revenue over the past five years. However, student enrolment numbers have increased over the period, lifting revenue. Growth in discretionary incomes has allowed parents and guardians to contribute more to school fees, despite also increasing the affordability of competing private schools. Overall, industry revenue is expected to... Learn More

9. Personal Welfare Services in Australia

Employment number for 2020: 259,420

The Personal Welfare Services industry provides community and welfare services to disadvantaged individuals, including children and the elderly. Many individuals using industry services have long-term disabilities or are experiencing economic hardship. Welfare services include those designed to assist the frail and disabled in community settings, thereby circumventing the need for institutional care. The industry also provides early intervention, prevention and counselling services. Most industry operators are small, non-profit social service organisations that rely on government funding and volunteers to operate.

Welfare providers in Australia have benefited from high and increasing government funding over the past decade. Industry revenue is expected to... Learn More

10. Aged Care Residential Services in Australia

Employment number for 2020: 255,375

As Australia’s population ages, demand for age-appropriate housing increases. Older individuals are more susceptible to a range of age-related ailments and need more assistance with everyday activities and personal care. As aged-care requirements have changed over the past five years, the Aged Care Residential Services industry has expanded, offering different lifestyle accommodation options. This expansion, combined with more flexible pricing and ongoing government aged-care funding, has supported revenue growth over the period. Industry revenue is expected to rise at an annualised 2.8% over the five years through 2019-20, to $22.6 billion.Revenue growth has occurred against a backdrop of structural reform,... Learn More