Employment
Industry sector of employment
About this topic
Industry sector of employment shows the industry in which employed residents work, based on the main business activity of their employer. It describes the sectors residents are connected to through work, whether they work locally or commute elsewhere.
This topic helps explain the economic profile and skill base of a resident workforce. It is best read together with occupations, employment status, and travel to work, because it reflects resident employment rather than the number of jobs located in the area.
Interpretation notes
- Industry describes the main business activity of the employer in a person's main job, not the occupation they perform.
- It applies to employed people aged 15 years and over and reflects resident workers, not the number of jobs located in the area.
Key insight
In 2021, Health Care And Social Assistance was the most common industry of employment among employed residents in Toowoomba (R), accounting for 18.4% (14,649 people). This share was higher than Regional Qld (15.4%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Health Care And Social Assistance, which increased by 4,148 people and 3.6 percentage points.
Section overview
Industry sector of employment
Toowoomba (R) - Employed persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises industry sector of employment for Toowoomba (R) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Qld and change since 2016.
Industry sector of employment snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Toowoomba (R), with comparison markers for Regional Qld.
Agriculture Forestry And Fishing
2021 count
4,670
% of total
5.9%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
4,670
5.9%
-0.5pp
Mining
2021 count
1,175
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
1,175
1.5%
-0.3pp
Manufacturing
2021 count
5,405
% of total
6.8%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
5,405
6.8%
0.0pp
Electricity Gas Water And Waste Services
2021 count
977
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
977
1.2%
0.0pp
Construction
2021 count
6,686
% of total
8.4%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
6,686
8.4%
-0.1pp
Wholesale Trade
2021 count
1,873
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
1,873
2.4%
-0.6pp
Retail Trade
2021 count
7,269
% of total
9.1%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
7,269
9.1%
-0.4pp
Accommodation And Food Services
2021 count
4,739
% of total
6.0%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
4,739
6.0%
+0.1pp
Transport Postal And Warehousing
2021 count
3,086
% of total
3.9%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
3,086
3.9%
-0.3pp
Information Media And Telecommunications
2021 count
450
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
450
0.6%
-0.1pp
Financial And Insurance Services
2021 count
1,886
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
1,886
2.4%
-0.2pp
Rental Hiring And Real Estate Services
2021 count
921
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
921
1.2%
-0.3pp
Professional Scientific And Technical Services
2021 count
3,635
% of total
4.6%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
3,635
4.6%
+0.2pp
Administrative And Support Services
2021 count
1,878
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
1,878
2.4%
0.0pp
Public Administration And Safety
2021 count
4,642
% of total
5.8%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
4,642
5.8%
-0.8pp
Education And Training
2021 count
8,571
% of total
10.8%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
8,571
10.8%
-0.2pp
Health Care And Social Assistance
2021 count
14,649
% of total
18.4%
Change from 2016
+3.6pp
14,649
18.4%
+3.6pp
Arts And Recreation Services
2021 count
769
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
769
1.0%
+0.1pp
Other Services
2021 count
3,264
% of total
4.1%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
3,264
4.1%
0.0pp
Inadequately Described Not Stated
2021 count
2,962
% of total
3.7%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
2,962
3.7%
+0.1pp
Chart view
Industry sector of employment change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Agriculture Forestry And Fishing
+137
-0.5pp
Mining
-110
-0.3pp
Manufacturing
+565
0.0pp
Electricity Gas Water And Waste Services
+142
0.0pp
Construction
+630
-0.1pp
Wholesale Trade
-264
-0.6pp
Retail Trade
+513
-0.4pp
Accommodation And Food Services
+513
+0.1pp
Transport Postal And Warehousing
+84
-0.3pp
Information Media And Telecommunications
-44
-0.1pp
Financial And Insurance Services
+10
-0.2pp
Rental Hiring And Real Estate Services
-112
-0.3pp
Professional Scientific And Technical Services
+470
+0.2pp
Administrative And Support Services
+144
0.0pp
Public Administration And Safety
-92
-0.8pp
Education And Training
+765
-0.2pp
Health Care And Social Assistance
+4,148
+3.6pp
Arts And Recreation Services
+102
+0.1pp
Other Services
+353
0.0pp
Inadequately Described Not Stated
+369
+0.1pp
Data table
Industry sector of employment for Toowoomba (R). Industry sector of employment. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Qld.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Qld% | Count | % | Regional Qld% | Count | pp | |
| Agriculture Forestry And Fishing | 4,670 | 5.9% | 4.3% | 4,533 | 6.4% | 4.7% | +137 | -0.5pp |
| Mining | 1,175 | 1.5% | 3.5% | 1,285 | 1.8% | 3.5% | -110 | -0.3pp |
| Manufacturing | 5,405 | 6.8% | 5.4% | 4,840 | 6.8% | 5.5% | +565 | 0.0pp |
| Electricity Gas Water And Waste Services | 977 | 1.2% | 1.2% | 835 | 1.2% | 1.1% | +142 | 0.0pp |
| Construction | 6,686 | 8.4% | 9.6% | 6,056 | 8.5% | 9.3% | +630 | -0.1pp |
| Wholesale Trade | 1,873 | 2.4% | 2.1% | 2,137 | 3.0% | 2.3% | -264 | -0.6pp |
| Retail Trade | 7,269 | 9.1% | 9.6% | 6,756 | 9.5% | 10.3% | +513 | -0.4pp |
| Accommodation And Food Services | 4,739 | 6.0% | 8.0% | 4,226 | 5.9% | 8.2% | +513 | +0.1pp |
| Transport Postal And Warehousing | 3,086 | 3.9% | 4.1% | 3,002 | 4.2% | 4.5% | +84 | -0.3pp |
| Information Media And Telecommunications | 450 | 0.6% | 0.8% | 494 | 0.7% | 1.0% | -44 | -0.1pp |
| Financial And Insurance Services | 1,886 | 2.4% | 1.8% | 1,876 | 2.6% | 1.9% | +10 | -0.2pp |
| Rental Hiring And Real Estate Services | 921 | 1.2% | 1.7% | 1,033 | 1.5% | 2.0% | -112 | -0.3pp |
| Professional Scientific And Technical Services | 3,635 | 4.6% | 4.8% | 3,165 | 4.4% | 4.6% | +470 | +0.2pp |
| Administrative And Support Services | 1,878 | 2.4% | 3.3% | 1,734 | 2.4% | 3.5% | +144 | 0.0pp |
| Public Administration And Safety | 4,642 | 5.8% | 5.6% | 4,734 | 6.6% | 6.0% | -92 | -0.8pp |
| Education And Training | 8,571 | 10.8% | 8.7% | 7,806 | 11.0% | 8.8% | +765 | -0.2pp |
| Health Care And Social Assistance | 14,649 | 18.4% | 15.4% | 10,501 | 14.8% | 12.8% | +4,148 | +3.6pp |
| Arts And Recreation Services | 769 | 1.0% | 1.6% | 667 | 0.9% | 1.6% | +102 | +0.1pp |
| Other Services | 3,264 | 4.1% | 4.1% | 2,911 | 4.1% | 4.0% | +353 | 0.0pp |
| Inadequately Described Not Stated | 2,962 | 3.7% | 4.4% | 2,593 | 3.6% | 4.3% | +369 | +0.1pp |
| Total | 79,508 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 71,188 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +8,320 | 0.0pp |