Registered nurses is the top employing occupation in the industry, with a mostly female, part-time employed, higher education-qualified workforce.
Largest employing occupations within the industry by sex, employed part-time and highest education attainment
Note: Percentages may not add up to exactly 100% due to rounding.
Number employed by sex², ABS Census 2021
Occupation | Number of workers | Percentage male | Percentage female |
|---|---|---|---|
Registered nurses | 63,000 | 11% | 89% |
Ageing and disability carers | 48,000 | 23% | 77% |
Receptionists | 24,600 | 5% | 95% |
Nursing support and personal care workers | 22,500 | 18% | 82% |
Child carers and early childhood educators | 21,200 | 3% | 97% |
General practitioners and resident medical officers | 15,800 | 51% | 49% |
Enrolled and mothercraft nurses | 11,400 | 10% | 90% |
Welfare support workers | 11,400 | 21% | 79% |
General clerks | 8,400 | 10% | 90% |
Physiotherapists | 7,000 | 34% | 66% |
Percentage working part-time in 2021
Occupation | Percentage working part-time |
|---|---|
Registered nurses | 59% |
Ageing and disability carers | 69% |
Receptionists | 72% |
Nursing support and personal care workers | 67% |
Child carers and early childhood educators | 53% |
General practitioners and resident medical officers | 27% |
Enrolled and mothercraft nurses | 65% |
Welfare support workers | 42% |
General clerks | 59% |
Physiotherapists | 37% |
Highest educational attainment in 2021
Occupation | Percentage VET | Percentage higher education | Percentage no post-school qualification |
|---|---|---|---|
Registered nurses | 11% | 87% | 2% |
Ageing and disability carers | 58% | 22% | 20% |
Receptionists | 32% | 20% | 48% |
Nursing support and personal care workers | 57% | 23% | 20% |
Child carers and early childhood educators | 52% | 36% | 12% |
General practitioners and resident medical officers | 0% | 100% | 0% |
Enrolled and mothercraft nurses | 86% | 11% | 3% |
Welfare support workers | 46% | 44% | 10% |
General clerks | 36% | 27% | 37% |
Physiotherapists | 0% | 100% | 0% |
Updated