Transport, Postal and Warehousing

Overview

Snapshot

Employed
683,300
Past Growth
6.5%
Future Growth
6.1%
Weekly Earnings
$1,355
Workforce Share
4.9%
Full-Time Share
78.6%
Female Share
23.2%
Average Age
44

Summary

Around 4.9% of workers have their main job in the Transport, Postal and Warehousing industry.

Businesses in this industry are involved in transport passengers and freight by road, rail, water or air. This includes scenic and sightseeing Transport.

Businesses involved in goods warehousing and storage activities are also included.

Over half of workers are employed in lower skilled jobs that do not need a post-school qualification. Although, around a third of workers have a VET qualification.

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

Average earnings are $1,355 per week, higher the all industries average of $1,250.

Employment

Employment in the Transport, Postal and Warehousing industry grew over the 20 years to February 2023.

The number of workers:

  • fell by 44,500 (or 6.1%) over the last quarter
  • grew by 8,400 (or 1.2%) over the last year.

Quarterly employment, Transport, Postal and Warehousing industry

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


Outlook

Employment in Transport, Postal and Warehousing is projected to grow by 39,900 (or 6.1%) over the five years to November 2026.

Employment levels, past and projected, Transport, Postal and Warehousing

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

Road Freight Transport is the largest sector in the Transport, Postal and Warehousing industry, employing 28.1% of workers.

Employment by sector, Transport, Postal and Warehousing industry

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


Occupations

Largest employing occupations

Truck Drivers is the largest employing occupation in the Transport, Postal and Warehousing 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, Transport, Postal and Warehousing industry

ANZSCO Code Occupation title

Employment
(all industries)

Employment
(this industry)
Proportion employed in this industry
7331 Truck Drivers 170,300 102,400 60%
7311 Automobile Drivers 48,500 46,600 96%
7411 Storepersons 155,000 43,800 28%
7312 Bus and Coach Drivers 47,400 40,700 86%
5612 Couriers and Postal Deliverers 44,300 37,100 84%
7321 Delivery Drivers 79,000 36,400 46%
7213 Forklift Drivers 63,900 24,700 39%
5912 Transport and Despatch Clerks 37,500 20,800 55%
1336 Supply, Distribution and Procurement Managers 44,500 15,700 35%
5614 Mail Sorters 17,100 15,600 91%

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

Related occupations

The Transport, Postal and Warehousing 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 Transport, Postal and Warehousing industry, by skill level

ANZSCO code Occupation title Employment
(all industries)
Employed
(this industry)
Proportion employed in this industry
133611 Supply and Distribution Manager 23,217 9,599 41%
231111 Aeroplane Pilot 7,915 5,941 75%
1323 Human Resource Manager 43,993 2,220 5%
139999 Specialist Managers nec 25,668 1,724 7%
231112 Air Traffic Controller 1,704 1,364 80%
251312 Occupational Health and Safety Adviser 15,640 1,026 7%
233215 Transport Engineer 3,804 792 21%
231114 Helicopter Pilot 1,088 573 53%
231199 Air Transport Professionals nec 1,133 573 51%
2326 Urban and Regional Planner 11,067 437 4%
133311 Importer or Exporter 3,585 345 10%
231113 Flying Instructor 878 294 33%
233911 Aeronautical Engineer 1,147 180 16%
139112 Commissioned Fire Officer 1,397 79 6%

Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report.

ANZSCO code Occupation title Employment
(all industries)
Employed
(this industry)
Proportion employed in this industry
149413 Transport Company Manager 11,420 8,767 77%
142115 Post Office Manager 3,032 2,833 93%
231213 Ship's Master 3,299 2,405 73%
149999 Hospitality, Retail and Service Managers nec 19,078 2,325 12%
231212 Ship's Engineer 1,759 890 51%
149411 Fleet Manager 2,985 764 26%
149412 Railway Station Manager 766 610 80%
312911 Maintenance Planner 6,191 460 7%
231214 Ship's Officer 567 322 57%
231299 Marine Transport Professionals nec 494 255 52%
142116 Travel Agency Manager 1,727 185 11%
231211 Master Fisher 586 79 13%
311313 Quarantine Officer 718 52 7%
231215 Marine Surveyor 437 51 12%

Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report.

ANZSCO code Occupation title Employment
(all industries)
Employed
(this industry)
Proportion employed in this industry
451711 Flight Attendant 8,413 8,072 96%
323211 Fitter (General) 58,558 3,105 5%
321212 Diesel Motor Mechanic 7,559 1,907 25%
451612 Travel Consultant 19,653 1,267 6%
451412 Tour Guide 4,456 830 19%
323111 Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Avionics) 2,518 375 15%
4512 Driving Instructor 4,940 324 7%
324211 Vehicle Body Builder 3,250 212 7%
323112 Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Mechanical) 1,758 161 9%
399911 Diver 854 161 19%
452311 Diving Instructor (Open Water) 528 157 30%
541111 Call or Contact Centre Team Leader 2,228 143 6%
342312 Communications Operator 1,412 110 8%
399111 Boat Builder and Repairer 2,170 84 4%
342315 Electronic Instrument Trades Worker (Special Class) 156 59 38%
323113 Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Structures) 296 52 18%
452212 Fishing Guide 88 51 58%
399112 Shipwright 760 39 5%

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 70,379 54%
731211 Bus Driver 32,468 25,961 80%
731112 Taxi Driver 26,074 25,742 99%
7411 Storeperson 98,510 19,906 20%
7321 Delivery Driver 37,794 13,150 35%
7213 Forklift Driver 44,420 12,781 29%
591211 Despatching and Receiving Clerk 21,614 9,993 46%
731311 Train Driver 9,904 7,391 75%
731199 Automobile Drivers nec 6,710 5,769 86%
721911 Aircraft Baggage Handler and Airline Ground Crew 5,736 5,181 90%
551111 Accounts Clerk 88,499 4,828 5%
733113 Furniture Removalist 4,908 4,535 92%
591212 Import-Export Clerk 4,892 3,489 71%
591116 Warehouse Administrator 15,084 3,081 20%
731111 Chauffeur 3,626 2,875 79%
532111 Data Entry Operator 37,405 2,861 8%
5412 Information Officer 53,555 2,839 5%
731213 Passenger Coach Driver 2,263 2,092 92%
611312 Sales Representative (Business Services) 16,923 1,972 12%
8216 Railway Track Worker 3,936 1,816 46%
899211 Deck Hand 2,437 1,791 73%
541112 Call or Contact Centre Operator 28,112 1,729 6%
731212 Charter and Tour Bus Driver 2,028 1,629 80%
733115 Tow Truck Driver 2,171 1,603 74%
733114 Tanker Driver 2,748 1,382 50%
5513 Payroll Clerk 24,596 1,331 5%
7121 Crane, Hoist or Lift Operator 9,580 1,270 13%
731312 Tram Driver 1,291 1,248 97%
591115 Stock Clerk 16,616 1,138 7%
712912 Bulk Materials Handling Plant Operator 2,446 1,129 46%
599914 Radio Despatcher 3,797 945 25%
5994 Human Resources Clerk 10,349 912 9%
712918 Train Controller 1,232 870 71%
599518 Transport Operations Inspector 977 717 73%
712917 Railway Signal Operator 1,107 702 63%
591112 Production Clerk 4,235 595 14%
451899 Personal Service Workers nec 4,795 504 11%
451799 Travel Attendants nec 596 484 81%
733112 Aircraft Refueller 740 410 55%
721216 Loader Operator 4,855 259 5%
721999 Mobile Plant Operators nec 800 257 32%
599513 Motor Vehicle Licence Examiner 1,148 217 19%
599511 Customs Officer 2,321 147 6%
899411 Motor Vehicle Parts and Accessories Fitter (General) 1,807 114 6%
721914 Railway Track Plant Operator 229 102 45%
451611 Tourist Information Officer 1,398 71 5%
599517 Train Examiner 147 65 44%
712911 Boiler or Engine Operator 575 40 7%
821714 Structural Steel Erector 334 30 9%

Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report.

ANZSCO code Occupation title Employment
(all industries)
Employed
(this industry)
Proportion employed in this industry
561211 Courier 21,981 17,708 81%
561212 Postal Delivery Officer 13,372 13,168 98%
639411 Ticket Seller 15,248 7,369 48%
561412 Postal Sorting Officer 7,126 7,053 99%
891111 Freight Handler (Rail or Road) 6,374 3,473 54%
891113 Waterside Worker 3,110 2,924 94%
899915 Leaflet or Newspaper Deliverer 5,729 1,801 31%
899917 Railways Assistant 1,934 1,507 78%
561411 Mail Clerk 2,837 1,427 50%
899923 Road Traffic Controller 9,186 880 10%
891112 Truck Driver's Offsider 1,165 687 59%
8111 Car Detailer 14,207 634 4%
5616 Switchboard Operator 3,117 323 10%
639412 Transport Conductor 276 254 92%
899913 Crossing Supervisor 5,424 209 4%
621711 Cash Van Salesperson 1,350 190 14%
899916 Mechanic's Assistant 1,271 97 8%
431912 Doorperson or Luggage Porter 1,120 88 8%
442212 Armoured Car Escort 558 26 5%

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)

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)


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

INDUSTRY QUICK LINKS
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