- Date:
- 19 Aug 2026
1 Industry snapshot
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.
2 Introduction
About the wholesale 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 wholesale trade industry.
Report coverage
This report focuses on the wholesale 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 wholesale trade industry purchases and resells goods in bulk to retailers, businesses, and institutions without significant transformation.
The key sectors within the wholesale trade industry are:
- Agricultural products – includes bulk trading of grains, seeds, fertilisers, livestock feed and other agricultural inputs
- Mineral, metal and industrial products – includes trade in building materials, fuels, chemicals, machinery and industrial equipment
- Motor vehicle and parts – includes wholesaling of cars, trucks, motorcycles, trailers and spare parts
- Household and personal goods – includes distribution of appliances, electronics, furniture, clothing, footwear, cosmetics and recreational goods.
3 Workforce profile
The wholesale trade industry workforce is older and predominately male, with more culturally diverse workers.
Employment
Employment by industry in 2025
- 102,000 employed1
- 2.7% Victorian employment share
- 13th share rank.
Employment by industry subdivision in 2025
Industry subdivision | Number of workers |
|---|---|
Other goods wholesaling | 28,000 |
Basic material wholesaling | 24,200 |
Machinery and equipment wholesaling | 22,900 |
Grocery, liquor and tobacco product wholesaling | 16,400 |
Motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts wholesaling | 8,300 |
Workforce profile
Note: Percentages may not add up to exactly 100% due to rounding.
Age distribution in 2021
Age profile – industry
Age | Percentage of workers |
|---|---|
15 to 24 years | 8% |
25 to 49 years | 56% |
50 years and over | 36% |
Age profile – all industries
Age | Percentage of workers |
|---|---|
15 to 24 years | 14% |
25 to 49 years | 57% |
50 years and over | 29% |
Sex distribution² in 2021
Sex distribution – industry
Sex | Percentage of workers |
|---|---|
Female | 35% |
Male | 65% |
Sex distribution – all industries
Sex | Percentage of workers |
|---|---|
Female | 49% |
Male | 51% |
Highest level of education in 2021
Highest level of education – industry
Education | Percentage of workers |
|---|---|
VET | 30% |
Higher education | 33% |
No post-school qualifications | 37% |
Highest level of education – all industries
Education | Percentage of workers |
|---|---|
VET | 30% |
Higher education | 41% |
No post-school qualifications | 29% |
Workforce diversity
First Nations employment in 2021
Group | Percentage identifying as First Nations |
|---|---|
Industry | 0.5% |
All industries | 0.7% |
Working age population | 0.9% |
Speaks a language other than English³ in 2021
Group | Percentage speaking a language other than English at home |
|---|---|
Industry | 28.3% |
All industries | 27.4% |
Working age population | 34.4% |
Needs assistance with core activities⁴ in 2021
Group | Percentage needing assistance with core activities |
|---|---|
Industry | 0.8% |
All industries | 0.9% |
Working age population | 3.2% |
4 Top employing occupations
Storepersons and sales-related are the largest employing occupations in this industry; with a mostly male, full-time employed, school 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
Storepersons | 5,900 | 76% | 24% |
Sales assistants (general) | 4,800 | 58% | 42% |
Advertising, public relations and sales managers | 4,400 | 70% | 30% |
Sales representatives | 4,300 | 70% | 30% |
Purchasing and supply logistics clerks | 3,500 | 61% | 39% |
Importers, exporters and wholesalers | 3,300 | 75% | 25% |
Technical sales representatives | 2,800 | 68% | 32% |
Accounting clerks | 2,300 | 16% | 84% |
Forklift drivers | 2,100 | 96% | 4% |
Retail managers | 2,000 | 69% | 31% |
Percentage working part-time in 2021
Occupation | Percentage working part-time |
|---|---|
Storepersons | 28% |
Sales assistants (general) | 41% |
Advertising, public relations and sales managers | 9% |
Sales representatives | 15% |
Purchasing and supply logistics clerks | 15% |
Importers, exporters and wholesalers | 27% |
Technical sales representatives | 8% |
Accounting clerks | 30% |
Forklift drivers | 14% |
Retail managers | 18% |
Highest educational attainment in 2021
Occupation | Percentage VET | Percentage higher education | Percentage no post-school qualification |
|---|---|---|---|
Storepersons | 28% | 15% | 57% |
Sales assistants (general) | 28% | 17% | 55% |
Advertising, public relations and sales managers | 26% | 49% | 25% |
Sales representatives | 32% | 26% | 42% |
Purchasing and supply logistics clerks | 31% | 26% | 43% |
Importers, exporters and wholesalers | 25% | 35% | 40% |
Technical sales representatives | 26% | 49% | 25% |
Accounting clerks | 30% | 29% | 41% |
Forklift drivers | 27% | 7% | 66% |
Retail managers | 31% | 27% | 42% |
5 Workforce projections
By 2028, 6,000 new workers are expected to enter the wholesale trade industry.
Workforce projections: 3-year and 10-year outlook
Workforce projections – industry
Time period | Employment growth | Retirements | New workers expected5 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | Share | No. | Share | ||
2025 to 2028 | -340 | -6% | 6,300 | 106% | 6,000 |
2025 to 2035 | -90 | 0% | 20,900 | 100% | 20,800 |
Workforce projections – Victoria
Time period | Employment growth | Retirements | New workers expected5 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | Share | No. | Share | ||
2025 to 2028 | 143,000 | 38% | 230,000 | 62% | 373,000 |
2025 to 2035 | 650,000 | 45% | 804,000 | 55% | 1,454,000 |
Note: Totals may not sum exactly due to rounding.
New workers expected⁵ by industry subdivision from 2025 to 2028
Industry subdivision | Number of workers | VET | Higher education | No post-school qualifications |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Machinery and equipment | 2,700 | 32% | 42% | 26% |
Other goods wholesaling | 1,900 | 24% | 40% | 36% |
Basic material wholesaling | 1,200 | 32% | 23% | 45% |
Commission-based wholesaling | 650 | 30% | 26% | 44% |
Grocery, liquor and tobacco | 530 | 26% | 29% | 45% |
Occupations with high new workers expected⁵ with direct TAFE study pathways⁶ from 2025 to 2028
Occupation | New workers expected5 | TAFE pathways into occupation6 | Available under Free TAFE7 |
|---|---|---|---|
Storepersons | 690 | No qualification required | - |
Auctioneers, and stock and station agents | 460 | No direct course pathways | - |
Importers, exporters and wholesalers | 360 | Higher education qualification required | - |
Advertising, public relations and sales managers | 320 | Higher education qualification required | - |
Accounting clerks | 250 | Certificate III in Business | - |
Certificate III in Accounts Administration | - |
Southern metropolitan (within metropolitan Melbourne) and Barwon (within regional Victoria) are expecting the highest share of new workers
New workers expected⁵ for wholesale trade, by region⁸, from 2025 to 2028
New workers expected – industry
| Employment growth | Retirements | New workers expected 2028 | Share of total new workers expected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Industry | -340 | 6,300 | 6,000 | 2% |
New workers expected – Metropolitan Melbourne
| Employment growth | Retirements | New workers expected 2028 | Share of total new workers expected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Metropolitan Melbourne | -260 | 5,300 | 5,000 | 85% |
Southern metropolitan | -140 | 1,300 | 1,200 | 23% |
Western metropolitan | 260 | 900 | 1,200 | 23% |
Eastern metropolitan | -180 | 1,300 | 1,100 | 21% |
Inner metropolitan | 20 | 780 | 800 | 16% |
Northern metropolitan | -120 | 750 | 630 | 13% |
Inner south-east metropolitan | -90 | 280 | 190 | 4% |
New workers expected – Regional Victoria
| Employment growth | Retirements | New workers expected 2028 | Share of total new workers expected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Regional Victoria | -80 | 990 | 910 | 15% |
Barwon | 30 | 260 | 280 | 31% |
Gippsland | 30 | 140 | 170 | 19% |
Ovens Murray | 40 | 80 | 120 | 13% |
Loddon Campaspe | -20 | 120 | 100 | 11% |
Great South Coast | -10 | 80 | 70 | 8% |
Central Highlands | -50 | 110 | 60 | 7% |
Goulburn | -20 | 70 | 60 | 6% |
Wimmera Southern Mallee | -20 | 40 | 20 | 2% |
Mallee | -70 | 90 | 20 | 2% |
Note: Totals may not sum exactly due to rounding.
- 85 per cent of new workers expected for the industry will be located within metropolitan Melbourne, with Southern metropolitan and Western metropolitan with the highest share of new workers
- 15 per cent of new workers expected for the industry will be located within regional Victoria, with Barwon and Gippsland with the highest share of new workers.
6 Top growing occupations
Higher-skilled roles within this industry tend to offer better wages and stronger retention rates.
Occupations with the highest new workers expected within the wholesale trade industry
Occupations with highest new workers expected5 | New workers expected5 | Skill level9 | Annual median earnings10 | Retention rate11 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Storepersons | 690 | 4 | $61,303 | 78.7% |
Auctioneers, and stock and station agents | 460 | 3 | Not available | 86.0% |
Importers, exporters and wholesalers | 360 | 1 | $86,159 | 82.6% |
Advertising, public relations and sales managers | 320 | 1 | $120,838 | 86.1% |
Accounting clerks | 250 | 4 | $71,833 | 84.2% |
Purchasing and supply logistics clerks | 250 | 4 | $73,076 | 79.9% |
General clerks | 250 | 4 | $67,860 | 79.1% |
Sales assistants (general) | 230 | 5 | $56,212 | 74.9% |
Forklift drivers | 220 | 4 | $68,094 | 80.8% |
Delivery drivers | 190 | 4 | $59,379 | 69.1% |
7 Skills needs
General sales practices are the most sought-after skill, while process improvement and optimisation skills are growing fastest in job advertisement mentions.
Industry-specific skill demand
The most in-demand skills are general sales practices, inventory and warehousing and merchandising. Communication, initiative and leadership, and personal attributes (e.g. right attitude/mindset) are also important, with over 80 per cent of job advertisements within the industry mentioning one or more of these skills.
Most mentioned industry-specific skills in 2024 as a share of job advertisements
Industry-specific skill | Share of job ads |
|---|---|
General sales practices | 49.4% |
Inventory and warehousing | 20.1% |
Merchandising | 12.7% |
Retail sales | 10.0% |
Sales management | 9.3% |
Heavy equipment operation | 7.5% |
Market analysis | 7.4% |
Supply chain management | 7.1% |
Brand management | 5.7% |
Accounts payable and | 5.4% |
Growing skills mentions within the industry
Skills increasingly being mentioned in job advertisements in the wholesale trade industry are process improvements and optimisation, business analysis, and project management.
Note: these exclude industry-specific skills already identified as being in high demand.
Growing skills as a percentage point difference in job advertisement mentions from 2019 to 2024
Industry-specific skill | Percentage of job ad mentions in 2019 | Percentage of job ad mentions in 2024 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
Process improvement and optimisation | 9.2% | 23.8% | 14.6% |
Business analysis | 2.9% | 8.6% | 5.7% |
Project management | 4.3% | 9.5% | 5.2% |
Occupational health and safety | 0.8% | 5.9% | 5.2% |
Customer relationship management (CRM) | 5.1% | 10.1% | 5.0% |
General finance | 4.3% | 8.3% | 4.0% |
Billing and invoicing | 2.5% | 5.6% | 3.0% |
Procurement | 4.2% | 7.0% | 2.8% |
Data analysis | 3.3% | 5.5% | 2.2% |
Marketing strategy and techniques | 17.2% | 19.3% | 2.1% |
8 Training activity
Popular courses and study areas linked to this industry include the Certificate III in Rural Operations (VET) and Business management (HE).
Government-funded VET courses⁶
The Certificate III in Rural Operations, Certificate IV in Agribusiness and Advanced Diploma of Supply Chain Management are among the most popular VET courses in the industry.
Course code | Course name | Available under Free TAFE7 |
|---|---|---|
AHC32822 | - | |
AHC41024 | Certificate IV in Agribusiness | - |
TLI60222 | Advanced Diploma of Supply Chain Management | - |
AHC20724 | Certificate II in Nursery Operations | - |
AHC31124 | - | |
AHC30624 | ✓ | |
AHC32724 | Certificate III in Rural Merchandising | - |
FWP30622 | Certificate III in Timber Building Products Supply | - |
AHC40624 | Certificate IV in Nursery Operations | - |
AHC50820 | Diploma of Nursery Management | - |
Clicking the link will take you to the Victorian Skills Gateway(opens in a new window), where you can find further information about the course, entry requirements, training providers and financial supports available.
University study areas
Popular university study areas aligned with this industry include business management, business and management, not elsewhere classified (n.e.c.) and management and commerce.
Field of education (FoE) | FoE |
|---|---|
080301 | Business management |
080399 | Business and management, n.e.c. |
080000 | Management and commerce |
080505 | Marketing |
089901 | Purchasing, warehousing and distribution |
080503 | Real estate |
080599 | Sales and marketing, n.e.c. |
080509 | Public relations |
080501 | Sales |
080507 | Advertising |
9 Appendix 1: Data notes
1. Employed: Refers to the estimated number of workers in the industry (working one or more paid hours per week) at the close of the financial year. The estimate is derived using the average of past observations.
2. Sex distribution: In the 2021 Census, respondents could select 1 of 3 options for the sex question: male, female or non-binary sex. Census data is only available for responses recorded as male or female.
3. Speaks a language other than English: Refers to individuals who use a non-English language in their household. The ABS collects this data through the Census.
4. Workers who need assistance with core activities: Are workers with a profound or severe core activity limitation in one or more areas of self-care, mobility and communication.
5. New workers expected: Refers to the estimated number of people needed to enter the workforce in each industry, occupation or region over a specified timeframe. It combines 2 elements:
- Employment growth – new jobs created as businesses and services expand
- Retirements – workers aged over 50 who are expected to permanently leave the workforce, based on patterns observed in tax and census data.
This figure shows how many new workers may be needed to both fill new roles and replace people exiting due to retirement. These are projections – informed estimates based on past trends, government policy and population forecasts.
6. TAFE study pathways: Refers to government-funded Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses that upon completion, provide a pathway into occupations.These pathways include courses at the same or lower skill level than the related ANZSCO 4-digit occupation or courses at a higher skill level with no barriers to entry such as prior qualifications or prerequisites. VET course pathways reflect funding as of November 2025 and the courses included in the 2026 Training Needs List. Funding for VET courses is regularly updated and is subject to change.
7. Free TAFE: Refers to Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses for which the Victorian Government provides free tuition for eligible students. The Free TAFE list reflects funding as of November 2025 and courses included in the 2026 Training Needs List. Funding for VET courses is regularly updated and is subject to change.
8. Regions: Are groupings of local government areas (LGAs) that align to the Victorian Government’s regional partnerships and former metropolitan partnerships.
9. Skill level: Reflects the level of educational attainment, training or experience needed to perform an occupation’s tasks. Skill levels:
- Skill level 1: Occupations typically require a bachelor’s degree or higher
- Skill level 2: Occupations typically require an associate degree, Advanced Diploma or Diploma
- Skill level 3: Occupations typically require a Certificate III (including apprenticeship) or a Certificate IV
- Skill level 4: Occupations typically require a Certificate III (non-apprenticeship pathway) or a Certificate II
- Skill level 5: Occupations typically require a Certificate I or compulsory secondary education.
10. Median earnings: Is the estimated annual median earnings of full-time non-managerial employees in a selected occupation across Australia, based on ABS data from May 2023.
11. Retention rate: Measures the proportion of workers who remain in the same occupation from one financial year to the next, based on ATO data from 2021 to 2022.
9 Appendix 2: Data sources
Industry snapshot
Workforce overview
Victorian Skills Authority, Total new workers expected modelling, based on DJSIR employment projections, 2025.
Workforce profile
- Victorian Skills Authority, Total new workers expected modelling, based on DJSIR employment projections, 2025
- ABS, Census, Age in five-year groups by sex, ANZSIC1, 2021
- ABS, Census, Level of highest educational attainment, ANZSIC1, 2021.
Projections
Victorian Skills Authority, Total new workers expected modelling, based on DJSIR employment projections, 2025.
Regional outlook
Victorian Skills Authority, Total new workers expected modelling, based on DJSIR employment projections, 2025.
Skills demand
Lightcast, ANZ Postings, Victorian Skills Authority's analysis, 2024.
Skills supply
- NCVER, Total VET Activity (TVA) program enrolments, government-funded courses in Victoria, 2015 to 2023, VOCSTATS
- Australian Government Department of Education, higher education student enrolment by 6-digit ASCED Field of Education, 2024.
Workforce profile
Employment
Victorian Skills Authority, Total new workers expected modelling, based on DJSIR employment projections, 2025.
Workforce profile
- ABS, Census, Age in five-year groups by sex, ANZSIC1, 2021
- ABS, Census, Level of highest educational attainment, ANZSIC1, 2021.
Workforce diversity
- ABS, Census, Indigenous status ANZSIC1, 2021
- ABS, Census, Language used at home, ANZSIC1, 2021
- ABS, Census, Indigenous status ANZSIC1, 2021.
Top employing occupations
- ABS, Census, Age in five-year groups by sex, ANZSIC1, 2021
- ABS, Census, Industry of employment and labour force status by state, ANZSIC1, ANZSCO4, 2021
- ABS, Census, Level of highest educational attainment, ANZSIC1, 2021.
Workforce projections
- Victorian Skills Authority, Total new workers expected modelling, based on DJSIR employment projections, 2025.
Top growing occupations
Employment
Victorian Skills Authority, Total new workers expected modelling, based on DJSIR employment projections, 2025.
Skill level
ABS, Census, Occupation skill level (OCSKP), ANZSCO4, 2021.
Annual median earnings
ABS, Survey of employee earnings and hours, May 2023.
Retention rate
Australian Taxation Office, Occupation transition 2010 to 2011 to 2021 to 2022 income years.
Skills needs
- Lightcast, ANZ Postings, Victorian Skills Authority's analysis, 2024 and 2019 to 2024.
Training activity
- NCVER, Total VET Activity (TVA) program enrolments, government-funded courses in Victoria, 2015 to 2023, VOCSTATS
- Australian Government Department of Education, Higher education student enrolment by 6-digit ASCED Field of Education, 2024.