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  4. The Changing Face of the Australian Job Market: Queensland
Published 5 Jun 2018

The Changing Face of the Australian Job Market: Queensland

Claudia Reiners

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According to the Australian Government’s Department of Employment, Queensland is the third largest employing state.

The Australian Jobs Report is an annual publication that reflects the changes in the Australian Labour Market; providing some great information around industries, regions and career paths that are booming in Australia.

If you are looking to find out more information about which industries are growing in Queensland, this article can provide you with all of the information you will need to make an informed decision on you career future.

Type of Workforce

Workforce Qualification

From the data collected, employment is generally regionally diverse. However, it is shown that majority of Queensland’s state employment is found in Brisbane, with 51% of jobs in the city.

Up next is Gold Coast area, making up 13% of employment within the state.

In the five years leading up to November 2018, employment in Queensland rose by 7.6% (or 173,100), which is slightly below the national average.

It was also found, when compared to national data, employed Queenslanders are less likely to have post-school qualification – there are relative few of those in the QLD workforce who hold a bachelor degree or higher.

However amongst this same group, the most common post-school qualification held is the certificate III or higher Vocational Educational and Training (VET) qualification, with 35%. This tops the national average of 32%.

In Queensland, most jobs can be found in:


  • Greater Brisbane
  • Gold Coast
  • Cairns
  • Wide Bay
  • Fitzroy

Largest Employing Industries in QLD

In Queensland, the top five employing industries are:


Health Care & Social Assistance - 14%
Retail Trade - 11%
Construction - 10%
Education and Training - 8%
Accommodation and Food Services - 8%

These five industries when combined, make up approximately one third of overall employment within Queensland.

Health Care and Social Assistance is the largest employing industry in Queensland with 341,300, and has increased by 60,100 or 21.4% in five years leading up to November 2017.

The Accommodation and Food Services industry follows closely behind with an increase of 14.6% (or 14,100 jobs).

Notable employment decreases were found in five of the 19 industries where data was collected, with the largest fall in Mining (down by 15,100). Around 26% of total Mining employment is in Queensland, although this industry accounts for just 2% of employment across the state.

QLD Industry Breakdown

Health Care and Social Assistance

Top 5 Occupations

  • Registered Nurses
  • Aged & Disability Carers
  • Child Carers
  • Receptionists
  • Nursing Support & Personal Care Workers

341,0
Employed
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Retail Trade

Top 5 Occupations

  • General Sales Assistants
  • Retail Managers
  • Checkout Operators & Office Cashiers
  • Shelf Fillers
  • Pharmacy Sales Assistants

258,0
Employed
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Construction

Top 5 Occupations

  • Carpenters & Joiners
  • Electricians
  • Construction Managers
  • Plumbers
  • Painting Trades Workers

243,0
Employed
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Education & Training

Top 5 Occupations

  • Primary School Teachers
  • Secondary School Teachers
  • Education Aides
  • University Lecturers & Tutors
  • Private Tutors & Teachers

197,0
Employed
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Accommodation & Food Services

Top 5 Occupations

  • Waiters
  • Kitchenhands
  • Bar Attendants and Baristas
  • General Sales Assistants
  • Chefs

187,0
Employed
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19,0

Employment circumstances for youth in Queensland have increased over the past year, with 19,600 new jobs (or 5.1%).


13.0%

The youth unemployment rate has declined by 0.1% to 13.3% in the last year.

Youth Employment Share

According to the Australian Jobs Report 2018, although there are a few hiccups across the economic conditions of Queensland, the short-term outlook is reasonable positive.

There is an expected 1.5% employment growth in 2018-19, while the unemployment rate is forecast to average 6% in the June quarter 2019.

From this data, we can see that these five largest employing industry areas will continue to thrive in the near future. If you’d like to learn more about which career pathway you’d like to explore, browse are large range of courses today.

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Browse Results in Queensland

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Bachelor of Cyber Security (VIC, NSW, QLD and WA Only) CRS1401441

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Diploma of Youth Work CHC50421

Pursue a Future in Youth Work with the CHC50421 Diploma of Youth Work! Dream of a fulfilling career that truly makes a difference? Dive into the CHC50421 Diploma of Youth Work and position yourself at the forefront of community betterment. With the Aus...

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Diploma of Mental Health CHC53315

Make a difference in your community and enjoy a rewarding career. The past decade has seen a vast increase in the number of people needed for employment in the community and mental health services. One in three Australians will experience mental health...

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Diploma of Community Services CHC52021

Elevate your passion for community betterment into a fulfilling career by enrolling in the CHC52021 Diploma of Community Services – a transformative educational experience. As a testament to the growing importance of this sector, the Australian Governm...

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Job Outcomes Community services worker +6
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