Wholesale trade skills and workforce snapshot
Workforce overview
Victoria’s 13th largest employing industry:
- 102,000 people employed
- 2.7% of the Victorian workforce.
Top employing jobs in the industry:
- Storepersons
- General sales assistants.
Workforce profile
- The wholesale trade workforce is older and predominately male, with more culturally diverse workers
- Fewer workers aged 15 to 24 years and more aged 50+ compared to statewide average
- 30 per cent of the workforce holds a VET qualification, while 33% possess a higher-education qualification.
Projections
Moderate employment growth projected:
- The industry expects +6,000 new workers by 2028
- Most new workers are expected in machinery and equipment wholesaling (+2,700), followed by other goods wholesaling (+1,900).
Top growing jobs in the industry are:
- Storepersons, +690 new workers by 2028
- Auctioneers, and stock and station agents, +460 new workers by 2028.
Regional outlook
Regions expecting the highest share of new workers:
- Melbourne: Southern and western metropolitan, both expecting +1,200 new workers by 2028
- Regional: Barwon, +280 new workers by 2028.
Skills demand
The top growing jobs in the industry range in skill level requirements:
- Higher-skilled roles within this industry tend to offer better wages and stronger retention rates.
Most in-demand industry specific skills:
- General sales practices
- Inventory and warehousing.
Skills supply
Popular vocational education and training courses:
- Certificate III in Rural Operations
- Certificate IV in Agribusiness.
Popular university study areas:
- Business management
- Management and commerce.
Updated