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Electricity, Gas, Water, Waste Services

Overview

Snapshot

Employed
163,400
Past Growth
5.3%
Future Growth
1.9%
Weekly Earnings
$1,855
Workforce Share
1.2%
Full-Time Share
90.1%
Female Share
23.7%
Average Age
43
About this data

Summary

Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services is a small employing industry. Around 1.2% of workers have their main job in this industry.

This industry includes:

  • electricity generation, transmission and distribution
  • gas supply through mains systems
  • water storage, treatment, supply and drainage
  • sewerage and waste collection, treatment and disposal.

Many workers have a VET qualification, although around a third of workers do not have any post-school qualifications.

Most people with their main job in this industry work full-time.

Average earnings are $1,855 per week, higher the all industries average of $1,250.

Employment

Employment in the Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services industry grew over the 20 years to February 2023.

The number of workers:

  • fell by 1,700 (or 1.0%) over the last quarter
  • fell by 3,500 (or 2.1%) over the last year.

Quarterly employment, Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services

Source: ABS, Labour Force Survey, Detailed, February 2023, seasonally adjusted.


Outlook

Employment in Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services is projected to grow by 2,600 (or 1.9%) over the five years to November 2026.

Employment levels, past and projected, Electricity, Gas, Water, Waste

Source: ABS, Labour Force Survey, Detailed, November 2021, seasonally adjusted and Jobs and Skills Australia, 2021 Employment projections for the five years to 2026.


Sectors

Water Supply, Sewerage and Drainage Services is the largest sector in the Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services industry, employing 25.7% of workers.

Employment by sector, Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services

Source: ABS, Labour Force Survey, Detailed, F, seasonally adjusted.


Occupations

Largest employing occupations

Truck Drivers is the largest employing occupation in the Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services industry.

The 10 largest employing occupations are shown below. The table shows:

  • the number employed in all industries
  • the number employed in this industry
  • the proportion employed in this industry.

Some occupations are common across a number of industries.

Largest employing occupations, Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services industry

ANZSCO Code Occupation title

Employment
(all industries)

 Employment
(this industry)		 Proportion employed in this industry
7331 Truck Drivers 170,300 10,700 6%
3411 Electricians 159,100 8,900 6%
2333 Electrical Engineers 29,300 6,200 21%
3422 Electrical Distribution Trades Workers 8,200 4,700 57%
5111 Contract, Program and Project Administrators 121,500 4,000 3%
8399 Other Factory Process Workers 15,400 3,900 25%
7129 Other Stationary Plant Operators 20,100 3,800 19%
8211 Building and Plumbing Labourers 59,200 3,500 6%
3992 Chemical, Gas, Petroleum & Power Plant Operators 8,700 3,400 39%
1399 Other Specialist Managers 60,800 3,100 5%

Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, four quarter average, 2021.

Related occupations

The Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services industry employs workers in a range of occupations.

The table below shows related occupations by ANZSCO Skill Level (Skill Level 1 is the highest skill level). This includes occupations that:

  • contribute a large share of industry employment (account for at least 3% of industry employment)
  • have a large share of workers in this industry (at least 5% of workers in an occupation).

These thresholds were used as a guide only and a number refinements were made to the list of occupations included.

The table shows the total number of people employed in each occupation as well as the number and proportion employed in this industry at the time of the 2016 ABS Census.

  • In most cases, 6-digit ANZSCO occupations are shown. This is the most detailed level of ANZSCO.
  • 4-digit occupations are shown where the ANZSCO classification system only has one valid 6-digit occupation.
  • The 4-digit employment figures will differ from the figures shown in the Largest employment occupations table above because the figures have come from different data sources.

Expand or collapse each Skill Level button to view related occupations.

Occupations related to Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services industry, by skill level

ANZSCO code Occupation title Employment
(all industries)		 Employed
(this industry)		 Proportion employed in this industry
2333 Electrical Engineer 13,087 2,931 22%
139999 Specialist Managers nec 25,668 2,283 9%
233211 Civil Engineer 20,730 1,301 6%
1332 Engineering Manager 14,407 805 6%
251312 Occupational Health and Safety Adviser 15,640 611 4%
233512 Mechanical Engineer 13,143 498 4%
233111 Chemical Engineer 2,274 346 15%
234313 Environmental Research Scientist 4,103 345 8%
224712 Organisation and Methods Analyst 6,889 319 5%
233513 Production or Plant Engineer 3,077 258 8%
232214 Other Spatial Scientist 2,764 236 9%
234311 Conservation Officer 4,103 218 5%
233915 Environmental Engineer 1,270 194 15%
139912 Environmental Manager 2,137 177 8%
234399 Environmental Scientists nec 1,215 150 12%
234312 Environmental Consultant 3,474 148 4%
233612 Petroleum Engineer 2,391 113 5%
234413 Hydrogeologist 538 36 7%

Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report.

ANZSCO code Occupation title Employment
(all industries)		 Employed
(this industry)		 Proportion employed in this industry
511112 Program or Project Administrator 85,106 2,741 3%
312312 Electrical Engineering Technician 5,929 1,311 22%
511111 Contract Administrator 17,579 864 5%
312311 Electrical Engineering Draftsperson 1,878 549 29%
312911 Maintenance Planner 6,191 520 8%
311415 Hydrographer 570 225 39%
311413 Life Science Technician 2,300 193 8%
222111 Commodities Trader 2,105 162 8%
312113 Building Inspector 5,190 150 3%
3126 Safety Inspector 3,280 131 4%
312116 Surveying or Spatial Science Technician 1,172 44 4%
312115 Plumbing Inspector 327 18 6%

Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report.

ANZSCO code Occupation title Employment
(all industries)		 Employed
(this industry)		 Proportion employed in this industry
341111 Electrician (General) 106,814 6,585 6%
342211 Electrical Linesworker 6,549 4,730 72%
399213 Power Generation Plant Operator 2,142 1,702 79%
334114 Gasfitter 6,587 477 7%
399999 Technicians and Trades Workers nec 3,780 433 11%
342212 Technical Cable Jointer 567 362 64%
323212 Fitter and Turner 8,642 346 4%
399212 Gas or Petroleum Operator 3,850 336 9%
323314 Precision Instrument Maker and Repairer 1,702 143 8%
541111 Call or Contact Centre Team Leader 2,228 118 5%
342314 Electronic Instrument Trades Worker (General) 1,388 74 5%
341112 Electrician (Special Class) 76 10 13%

Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report.

ANZSCO code Occupation title Employment
(all industries)		 Employed
(this industry)		 Proportion employed in this industry
733111 Truck Driver (General) 129,332 8,261 6%
712921 Waste Water or Water Plant Operator 4,120 2,889 70%
5412 Information Officer 53,555 2,326 4%
541112 Call or Contact Centre Operator 28,112 1,438 5%
711999 Machine Operators nec 3,864 799 21%
599599 Inspectors and Regulatory Officers nec 10,587 450 4%
721214 Excavator Operator 9,151 283 3%
712922 Weighbridge Operator 781 251 32%
733114 Tanker Driver 2,748 241 9%
721216 Loader Operator 4,855 235 5%
733115 Tow Truck Driver 2,171 125 6%
599521 Water Inspector 175 89 51%
721213 Bulldozer Operator 1,437 51 4%
721212 Backhoe Operator 615 23 4%

Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report.

ANZSCO code Occupation title Employment
(all industries)		 Employed
(this industry)		 Proportion employed in this industry
821112 Drainage, Sewerage and Stormwater Labourer 3,160 1,733 55%
8996 Recycling or Rubbish Collector 2,109 1,174 56%
839918 Recycling Worker 1,800 912 51%
561912 Meter Reader 1,860 482 26%
621911 Materials Recycler 2,157 474 22%
811699 Cleaners nec 4,672 310 7%
899914 Electrical or Telecommunications Trades Assistant 2,194 233 11%

Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report.


Data Downloads

Industry profile data

This file contains data for all 19 industries to make comparing industry data easy. Information available includes:

  • Industry snapshot data
  • Industry employment (20-year time series)
  • Industry employment projections
  • Industry sector employment
  • Top employing occupations by industry
Excel document
Industry Profile Data February 2023

(95 Kb)

Download

Occupations related to each Industry, by Skill Level

This spreadsheet lists occupations that are related to each industry by ANZSCO Skill Level.

Excel document
Related Occupations By Skill Level

(251 Kb)

Download

Useful links

Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) 

The ANZSIC provides a basis for the standardised collection, analysis and dissemination of economic data on an industry basis for Australia and New Zealand. The ANZSIC is a hierarchical industry classification with four levels, namely Divisions (the broadest level), Subdivisions, Groups and Classes (the finest level).

There are 19 Division level industries, most industry data on LMI are displayed at this level. Division level industries provide a broad overall picture of the economy and this level is most suitable for the publication of summary tables in official statistics. 

The Subdivision, Group and Class levels provide increasingly detailed dissections of these categories for the compilation of more specific and detailed statistics. The sector data on LMI is at the Group level. 

For more information on the ANZSIC visit the ABS website. 


Industry links

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