About the retail trade industry
About these reports
These reports provide a point in time, data-driven overview of the workforce and skills for each industry.
The report does not provide a complete view of workforce dynamics within the industry. Its purpose is to support ongoing efforts to address workforce and skilling demands and to identify opportunities within the retail trade industry.
Report coverage
This report focuses on the retail trade industry and the occupations relevant to the industry, categorised using the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) classification of industries (ANZSIC) and occupations (ANZSCO).
Coverage in this report is limited to employment in the industry and sectors as defined by the ABS, noting some occupations are almost exclusively associated with an industry, such as surgeons in the health services sector, while others, such as accountants, are associated with many industries.
Furthermore, industry classifications rarely encompass the full nature of the work (and therefore skills) associated with a given industry. Therefore, ABS definitions of industries or sectors may not align with the definitions used by an industry association.
Key sectors of the industry
The retail trade industry sells goods and selected services directly to consumers through stores, online channels or other outlets.
The key sectors within the retail trade industry are:
- Food retailing – includes supermarkets, grocery stores, butchers, bakeries and specialty food retailers
- Fuel retailing – includes petrol stations and fuel outlets with or without convenience stores
- Motor vehicle and parts – includes dealerships, used car sales, motorcycle shops and auto parts stores
- Household goods – includes furniture, electrical appliances, hardware, garden supplies and floor coverings
- Clothing, footwear and accessories – includes clothing, footwear, jewellery, handbag and accessory stores
- Other store-based retailing – includes newsagents, pharmacies, recreational goods, books and department stores
- Non-store retailing – includes online retail, direct selling and vending machine sales.
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