Biggest Industries by Employment in Australia in 2021

1. Professional Services in Australia

Employment number for 2020: 839,856

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 drove growth across the subdivision. Over the three years through 2018-19, accounting and management consultants benefited from downstream businesses looking to improve efficiencies as increased globalisation constrained profit margins. The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected the subdivision's largest industries, including the Engineering Consulting industry, the Management Consulting industry and Accounting Services industry. The subdivision is... 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: 787,720

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 receive $61.4 billion in 2020-21 from government funding, donations and private income. Subdivision revenue is expected to increase at an annualised 2.7% over the five years through 2020-21. Favourable demographic trends at both ends of the age spectrum, supported by ongoing government funding have contributed to revenue... Learn More

4. Consumer Goods Retailing in Australia

Employment number for 2020: 656,435

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 rising popularity of 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 growing competition from online-only retailers, as consumers have become increasingly comfortable... Learn More

5. Public General Hospitals in Australia

Employment number for 2020: 390,322

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 2020-21. Demand for public general hospitals has surged over the past five years, primarily due to Australia's ageing population and the rising incidence of chronic illness among adults. Industry revenue is expected to increase at an annualised 1.8% over the five years through 2020-21, to $77.7 billion. This includes anticipated revenue growth of 2.1% in the current year.

The... Learn More

6. Supermarkets and Grocery Stores in Australia

Employment number for 2020: 361,340

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 three years. Nevertheless, the continued expansion of ALDI and Costco has forced the two established industry giants, Woolworths and Coles, to remain price-competitive. In response, Coles and Woolworths have further expanded their private-label product ranges. Smaller supermarket chains have struggled to compete in an increasingly price-competitive industry. Industry profit margins have fallen over the past five years as operators have recorded rising capital investment and wage costs, in an attempt to gain an advantage... Learn More

7. Temporary Staff Services in Australia

Employment number for 2020: 361,269

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 increased strongly over the three years through 2018-19, before declining significantly in... Learn More

8. Government Schools in Australia

Employment number for 2020: 315,494

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, driving growth in revenue. Overall, industry revenue is forecast to rise at an annualised 1.8% over the five years through 2024-25, to a total of $52.7 billion. This includes an expected increase... Learn More

9. Aged Care Residential Services in Australia

Employment number for 2020: 308,975

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 funding for aged-care, has supported revenue growth over the period.

However, a challenging operating environment has limited the industry's growth over the past five years. Industry revenue is expected to rise at an annualised 1.4% over the five... Learn More

10. Personal Welfare Services in Australia

Employment number for 2020: 276,258

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 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, including the new National Disability Insurance... Learn More