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, Agriculture Forestry And Fishing was the most common industry of employment among employed residents in Western Downs (R), accounting for 18.4% (2,780 people). This share was higher than Regional Qld (4.3%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Health Care And Social Assistance, which increased by 273 people and 1.4 percentage points.
Section overview
Industry sector of employment
Western Downs (R) - Employed persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises industry sector of employment for Western Downs (R) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Qld and change since 2016.
Industry sector of employment snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Western Downs (R), with comparison markers for Regional Qld.
Agriculture Forestry And Fishing
2021 count
2,780
% of total
18.4%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
2,780
18.4%
-0.9pp
Mining
2021 count
581
% of total
3.8%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
581
3.8%
-0.3pp
Manufacturing
2021 count
726
% of total
4.8%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
726
4.8%
-0.2pp
Electricity Gas Water And Waste Services
2021 count
457
% of total
3.0%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
457
3.0%
+0.2pp
Construction
2021 count
1,295
% of total
8.6%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
1,295
8.6%
-0.5pp
Wholesale Trade
2021 count
388
% of total
2.6%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
388
2.6%
-0.2pp
Retail Trade
2021 count
1,435
% of total
9.5%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
1,435
9.5%
+0.3pp
Accommodation And Food Services
2021 count
891
% of total
5.9%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
891
5.9%
0.0pp
Transport Postal And Warehousing
2021 count
625
% of total
4.1%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
625
4.1%
+0.2pp
Information Media And Telecommunications
2021 count
29
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
29
0.2%
-0.2pp
Financial And Insurance Services
2021 count
142
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
142
0.9%
-0.3pp
Rental Hiring And Real Estate Services
2021 count
163
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
163
1.1%
0.0pp
Professional Scientific And Technical Services
2021 count
448
% of total
3.0%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
448
3.0%
-0.2pp
Administrative And Support Services
2021 count
371
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
371
2.5%
+0.3pp
Public Administration And Safety
2021 count
790
% of total
5.2%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
790
5.2%
-0.4pp
Education And Training
2021 count
1,229
% of total
8.1%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
1,229
8.1%
-0.1pp
Health Care And Social Assistance
2021 count
1,348
% of total
8.9%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
1,348
8.9%
+1.4pp
Arts And Recreation Services
2021 count
83
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
83
0.5%
0.0pp
Other Services
2021 count
573
% of total
3.8%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
573
3.8%
+0.2pp
Inadequately Described Not Stated
2021 count
748
% of total
5.0%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
748
5.0%
+0.8pp
Chart view
Industry sector of employment change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Agriculture Forestry And Fishing
-8
-0.9pp
Mining
-14
-0.3pp
Manufacturing
-1
-0.2pp
Electricity Gas Water And Waste Services
+47
+0.2pp
Construction
-14
-0.5pp
Wholesale Trade
-22
-0.2pp
Retail Trade
+103
+0.3pp
Accommodation And Food Services
+47
0.0pp
Transport Postal And Warehousing
+56
+0.2pp
Information Media And Telecommunications
-28
-0.2pp
Financial And Insurance Services
-32
-0.3pp
Rental Hiring And Real Estate Services
-1
0.0pp
Professional Scientific And Technical Services
-16
-0.2pp
Administrative And Support Services
+47
+0.3pp
Public Administration And Safety
-11
-0.4pp
Education And Training
+53
-0.1pp
Health Care And Social Assistance
+273
+1.4pp
Arts And Recreation Services
+11
0.0pp
Other Services
+52
+0.2pp
Inadequately Described Not Stated
+136
+0.8pp
Data table
Industry sector of employment for Western Downs (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 | 2,780 | 18.4% | 4.3% | 2,788 | 19.3% | 4.7% | -8 | -0.9pp |
| Mining | 581 | 3.8% | 3.5% | 595 | 4.1% | 3.5% | -14 | -0.3pp |
| Manufacturing | 726 | 4.8% | 5.4% | 727 | 5.0% | 5.5% | -1 | -0.2pp |
| Electricity Gas Water And Waste Services | 457 | 3.0% | 1.2% | 410 | 2.8% | 1.1% | +47 | +0.2pp |
| Construction | 1,295 | 8.6% | 9.6% | 1,309 | 9.1% | 9.3% | -14 | -0.5pp |
| Wholesale Trade | 388 | 2.6% | 2.1% | 410 | 2.8% | 2.3% | -22 | -0.2pp |
| Retail Trade | 1,435 | 9.5% | 9.6% | 1,332 | 9.2% | 10.3% | +103 | +0.3pp |
| Accommodation And Food Services | 891 | 5.9% | 8.0% | 844 | 5.9% | 8.2% | +47 | 0.0pp |
| Transport Postal And Warehousing | 625 | 4.1% | 4.1% | 569 | 3.9% | 4.5% | +56 | +0.2pp |
| Information Media And Telecommunications | 29 | 0.2% | 0.8% | 57 | 0.4% | 1.0% | -28 | -0.2pp |
| Financial And Insurance Services | 142 | 0.9% | 1.8% | 174 | 1.2% | 1.9% | -32 | -0.3pp |
| Rental Hiring And Real Estate Services | 163 | 1.1% | 1.7% | 164 | 1.1% | 2.0% | -1 | 0.0pp |
| Professional Scientific And Technical Services | 448 | 3.0% | 4.8% | 464 | 3.2% | 4.6% | -16 | -0.2pp |
| Administrative And Support Services | 371 | 2.5% | 3.3% | 324 | 2.2% | 3.5% | +47 | +0.3pp |
| Public Administration And Safety | 790 | 5.2% | 5.6% | 801 | 5.6% | 6.0% | -11 | -0.4pp |
| Education And Training | 1,229 | 8.1% | 8.7% | 1,176 | 8.2% | 8.8% | +53 | -0.1pp |
| Health Care And Social Assistance | 1,348 | 8.9% | 15.4% | 1,075 | 7.5% | 12.8% | +273 | +1.4pp |
| Arts And Recreation Services | 83 | 0.5% | 1.6% | 72 | 0.5% | 1.6% | +11 | 0.0pp |
| Other Services | 573 | 3.8% | 4.1% | 521 | 3.6% | 4.0% | +52 | +0.2pp |
| Inadequately Described Not Stated | 748 | 5.0% | 4.4% | 612 | 4.2% | 4.3% | +136 | +0.8pp |
| Total | 15,105 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 14,418 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +687 | 0.0pp |