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Public Administration and Safety

Overview

Snapshot

Employed
888,700
Past Growth
27.3%
Future Growth
6.4%
Weekly Earnings
$1,620
Workforce Share
6.4%
Full-Time Share
84.5%
Female Share
48.3%
Average Age
44
About this data

Summary

Public Administration and Safety is a large employing industry. Around 6.4% of workers have their main job in this industry.

Organisations in this industry are mainly involved in:

  • Central, State or Local Government activities
  • physical, social, economic and general public safety and security services
  • enforcing regulations.

Most workers have formal qualifications, 39% have a university qualification and 33% have a VET qualification.

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

Average earnings are $1,620 per week, higher the all industries average of $1,250.

Employment

Employment in the Public Administration and Safety industry grew over the 20 years to February 2023.

The number of workers:

  • grew by 35,300 (or 4.1%) over the last quarter
  • fell by 12,700 (or 1.4%) over the last year.

Quarterly employment, Public Administration and Safety

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


Outlook

Employment in Public Administration and Safety is projected to grow by 59,200 (or 6.4%) over the five years to November 2026.

Employment levels, past and projected, Public Administration and Safety

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

State Government Administration is the largest sector in the Public Administration and Safety industry, employing 33.6% of workers.

Employment by sector, Public Administration and Safety

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


Occupations

Largest employing occupations

Police is the largest employing occupation in the Public Administration and Safety 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, Public Administration and Safety industry

ANZSCO Code Occupation title

Employment
(all industries)

 Employment
(this industry)		 Proportion employed in this industry
4413 Police 70,000 69,600 99%
5311 General Clerks 288,700 67,100 23%
4422 Security Officers and Guards 56,900 41,900 74%
5111 Contract, Program and Project Administrators 121,500 33,200 27%
5995 Inspectors and Regulatory Officers 40,900 27,800 68%
2244 Intelligence and Policy Analysts 31,400 24,300 77%
8999 Other Miscellaneous Labourers 66,700 19,000 28%
4412 Fire and Emergency Workers 19,900 18,400 92%
4421 Prison Officers 18,300 18,200 99%
5412 Information Officers 74,900 17,700 24%

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

Related occupations

The Public Administration and Safety 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 Public Administration and Safety industry, by skill level

ANZSCO code Occupation title Employment
(all industries)		 Employed
(this industry)		 Proportion employed in this industry
1324 Policy and Planning Manager 21,038 12,514 59%
224412 Policy Analyst 13,213 10,629 80%
139999 Specialist Managers nec 25,668 6,838 27%
272613 Welfare Worker 19,761 6,635 34%
2326 Urban and Regional Planner 11,067 6,628 60%
139111 Commissioned Defence Force Officer 6,577 6,469 98%
221111 Accountant (General) 126,046 5,746 5%
223111 Human Resource Adviser 24,183 5,600 23%
1323 Human Resource Manager 43,993 5,471 12%
2713 Solicitor 54,500 5,057 9%
135112 ICT Project Manager 36,965 4,405 12%
2725 Social Worker 21,684 4,365 20%
224711 Management Consultant 53,306 4,348 8%
2253 Public Relations Professional 14,991 3,652 24%
2233 Training and Development Professional 17,799 3,561 20%
1322 Finance Manager 45,349 3,338 7%
224999 Information and Organisation Professionals nec 10,784 3,305 31%
233211 Civil Engineer 20,730 3,235 16%
1392 Senior Non-commissioned Defence Force Member 2,933 2,905 99%
261312 Developer Programmer 33,248 2,739 8%
221213 External Auditor 9,747 2,713 28%
271299 Judicial and Other Legal Professionals nec 6,516 2,690 41%
251312 Occupational Health and Safety Adviser 15,640 2,580 16%
2246 Librarian 8,950 2,511 28%
234311 Conservation Officer 4,103 2,406 59%
133111 Construction Project Manager 41,288 2,071 5%
224411 Intelligence Officer 2,798 2,019 72%
224911 Electorate Officer 2,075 2,009 97%
251311 Environmental Health Officer 3,493 1,973 56%
262113 Systems Administrator 12,654 1,965 16%
2711 Barrister 7,012 1,936 28%
133611 Supply and Distribution Manager 23,217 1,923 8%
224912 Liaison Officer 4,165 1,847 44%
134299 Health and Welfare Services Managers nec 15,765 1,845 12%
1321 Corporate Services Manager 6,982 1,716 25%
232214 Other Spatial Scientist 2,764 1,344 49%
223112 Recruitment Consultant 26,234 1,313 5%
131114 Public Relations Manager 6,214 1,299 21%
261111 ICT Business Analyst 13,219 1,292 10%
261112 Systems Analyst 8,243 1,291 16%
139112 Commissioned Fire Officer 1,397 1,283 92%
1325 Research and Development Manager 10,607 1,274 12%
261313 Software Engineer 29,656 1,258 4%
272311 Clinical Psychologist 13,354 1,236 9%
254413 Registered Nurse (Child and Family Health) 5,359 1,217 23%
233215 Transport Engineer 3,804 1,202 32%
1332 Engineering Manager 14,407 1,169 8%
111212 Defence Force Senior Officer 1,137 1,110 98%
254414 Registered Nurse (Community Health) 11,000 1,108 10%
231111 Aeroplane Pilot 7,915 1,091 14%
111311 Local Government Legislator 1,184 1,001 85%
139914 Quality Assurance Manager 13,525 1,000 7%
2243 Economist 2,833 983 35%
262112 ICT Security Specialist 3,967 970 24%
234313 Environmental Research Scientist 4,103 953 23%
224214 Records Manager 2,007 935 47%
262111 Database Administrator 6,117 907 15%
133612 Procurement Manager 7,028 891 13%
221214 Internal Auditor 4,112 842 20%
224712 Organisation and Methods Analyst 6,889 832 12%
249111 Education Adviser 8,723 826 9%
263111 Computer Network and Systems Engineer 12,691 821 6%
254422 Registered Nurse (Mental Health) 13,994 801 6%
2524 Occupational Therapist 12,281 793 6%
139113 Commissioned Police Officer 785 777 99%
224511 Land Economist 6,958 751 11%
111312 Member of Parliament 758 733 97%
221112 Management Accountant 5,039 691 14%
251911 Health Promotion Officer 4,595 664 14%
232212 Surveyor 8,363 660 8%
224113 Statistician 3,226 633 20%
139912 Environmental Manager 2,137 618 29%
271211 Judge 636 613 96%
271213 Tribunal Member 660 606 92%
272612 Recreation Officer 1,821 589 32%
261314 Software Tester 6,670 586 9%
263112 Network Administrator 5,575 578 10%
234314 Park Ranger 2,470 535 22%
261311 Analyst Programmer 5,998 522 9%
272412 Interpreter 3,895 482 12%
272499 Social Professionals nec 2,600 478 18%
135199 ICT Managers nec 5,490 472 9%
221113 Taxation Accountant 10,886 462 4%
224512 Valuer 5,078 439 9%
252712 Speech Pathologist 7,210 438 6%
233911 Aeronautical Engineer 1,147 430 37%
223113 Workplace Relations Adviser 3,473 418 12%
231199 Air Transport Professionals nec 1,133 416 37%
271212 Magistrate 416 416 100%
234914 Physicist 1,292 409 32%
234399 Environmental Scientists nec 1,215 385 32%
263212 ICT Support Engineer 6,405 364 6%
234112 Agricultural Scientist 2,653 363 14%
2334 Electronics Engineer 4,147 359 9%
1341 Child Care Centre Manager 11,119 356 3%
224914 Patents Examiner 390 352 90%
211213 Musician (Instrumental) 6,217 340 5%
212415 Technical Writer 2,773 333 12%
234111 Agricultural Consultant 1,610 332 21%
232112 Landscape Architect 3,013 328 11%
231112 Air Traffic Controller 1,704 323 19%
234411 Geologist 4,968 310 6%
272611 Community Arts Worker 475 296 62%
231114 Helicopter Pilot 1,088 279 26%
212412 Newspaper or Periodical Editor 4,244 273 6%
234211 Chemist 3,490 256 7%
233999 Engineering Professionals nec 2,507 253 10%
263213 ICT Systems Test Engineer 1,445 253 18%
135111 Chief Information Officer 3,605 240 7%
134214 Welfare Centre Manager 1,013 234 23%
224211 Archivist 934 210 22%
134499 Education Managers nec 4,624 201 4%
254417 Registered Nurse (Disability and Rehabilitation) 4,291 198 5%
234312 Environmental Consultant 3,474 194 6%
263311 Telecommunications Engineer 2,633 193 7%
139915 Sports Administrator 2,374 186 8%
234516 Marine Biologist 648 180 28%
232213 Cartographer 410 177 43%
139911 Arts Administrator or Manager 1,548 173 11%
272114 Rehabilitation Counsellor 1,585 171 11%
221212 Corporate Treasurer 2,724 148 5%
234599 Life Scientists nec 962 147 15%
272399 Psychologists nec 1,227 141 11%
212499 Journalists and Other Writers nec 1,897 140 7%
134412 Regional Education Manager 994 138 14%
234412 Geophysicist 1,070 134 13%
234515 Botanist 617 134 22%
234518 Zoologist 653 132 20%
224212 Gallery or Museum Curator 1,088 130 12%
224213 Health Information Manager 1,542 127 8%
234113 Forester 964 123 13%
234413 Hydrogeologist 538 122 23%
263113 Network Analyst 1,633 120 7%
2534 Psychiatrist 3,074 115 4%
272312 Educational Psychologist 3,142 115 4%
2232 ICT Trainer 1,802 112 6%
234999 Natural and Physical Science Professionals nec 1,030 110 11%
233915 Environmental Engineer 1,270 106 8%
272413 Translator 1,459 105 7%
249112 Education Reviewer 608 98 16%
272313 Organisational Psychologist 441 97 22%
231113 Flying Instructor 878 96 11%
272112 Drug and Alcohol Counsellor 1,619 81 5%
263211 ICT Quality Assurance Engineer 637 70 11%
272411 Historian 466 69 15%
111399 Legislators nec 103 60 58%
234913 Meteorologist 681 60 9%
133511 Production Manager (Forestry) 430 59 14%
224112 Mathematician 535 58 11%
233914 Engineering Technologist 147 45 31%
272414 Archaeologist 414 36 9%
134213 Primary Health Organisation Manager 234 24 10%
254416 Registered Nurse (Developmental Disability) 67 20 30%
261399 Software and Applications Programmers nec 53 7 13%

Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report.

ANZSCO code Occupation title Employment
(all industries)		 Employed
(this industry)		 Proportion employed in this industry
441312 Police Officer 48,027 47,637 99%
511112 Program or Project Administrator 85,106 22,284 26%
5211 Personal Assistant 50,760 7,126 14%
411711 Community Worker 24,077 4,217 18%
313112 ICT Customer Support Officer 36,021 3,708 10%
511111 Contract Administrator 17,579 3,525 20%
441311 Detective 3,470 3,464 100%
411716 Youth Worker 12,073 2,930 24%
149212 Customer Service Manager 32,559 2,379 7%
411714 Parole or Probation Officer 1,913 1,822 95%
149999 Hospitality, Retail and Service Managers nec 19,078 1,817 10%
399312 Library Technician 6,290 1,803 29%
312113 Building Inspector 5,190 1,685 32%
1493 Conference and Event Organiser 19,769 1,645 8%
149913 Facilities Manager 16,717 1,479 9%
3126 Safety Inspector 3,280 1,278 39%
312112 Building Associate 30,177 1,252 4%
411411 Enrolled Nurse 33,798 1,239 4%
312212 Civil Engineering Technician 3,082 970 31%
312412 Electronic Engineering Technician 3,534 877 25%
411712 Disabilities Services Officer 6,421 697 11%
411713 Family Support Worker 3,378 644 19%
312211 Civil Engineering Draftsperson 5,550 617 11%
311313 Quarantine Officer 718 568 79%
411715 Residential Care Officer 1,548 481 31%
149113 Sports Centre Manager 4,115 474 12%
149411 Fleet Manager 2,985 466 16%
311311 Fisheries Officer 405 380 94%
313113 Web Administrator 2,477 359 14%
599112 Legal Executive 6,199 358 6%
3111 Agricultural Technician 1,791 292 16%
231212 Ship's Engineer 1,759 288 16%
312116 Surveying or Spatial Science Technician 1,172 264 23%
312115 Plumbing Inspector 327 242 74%
149211 Call or Contact Centre Manager 2,965 216 7%
311413 Life Science Technician 2,300 204 9%
311399 Primary Products Inspectors nec 436 188 43%
311415 Hydrographer 570 184 32%
313199 ICT Support Technicians nec 888 175 20%
311499 Science Technicians nec 1,212 162 13%
231299 Marine Transport Professionals nec 494 151 31%
231214 Ship's Officer 567 143 25%
4115 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Worker 1,324 121 9%
313211 Radiocommunications Technician 825 97 12%
452321 Sports Development Officer 1,065 92 9%
231215 Marine Surveyor 437 82 19%
311412 Earth Science Technician 1,532 78 5%
311312 Meat Inspector 517 72 14%
399311 Gallery or Museum Technician 197 18 9%

Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report.

ANZSCO code Occupation title Employment
(all industries)		 Employed
(this industry)		 Proportion employed in this industry
4411 Defence Force Member - Other Ranks 15,394 15,243 99%
441212 Fire Fighter 12,052 10,884 90%
362211 Gardener (General) 28,313 3,161 11%
342313 Electronic Equipment Trades Worker 15,552 1,677 11%
323111 Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Avionics) 2,518 1,539 61%
334111 Plumber (General) 47,037 1,484 3%
323112 Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Mechanical) 1,758 1,294 74%
323313 Locksmith 2,461 1,273 52%
452414 Lifeguard 4,286 1,226 29%
342312 Communications Operator 1,412 1,189 84%
399918 Fire Protection Equipment Technician 3,064 1,185 39%
599214 Law Clerk 8,092 1,181 15%
599211 Clerk of Court 1,116 1,096 98%
599213 Court Orderly 1,223 1,082 88%
3623 Greenkeeper 12,002 901 8%
342314 Electronic Instrument Trades Worker (General) 1,388 750 54%
362212 Arborist 5,186 684 13%
442216 Security Consultant 1,062 552 52%
599212 Court Bailiff or Sheriff 587 541 92%
441211 Emergency Service Worker 1,129 415 37%
541111 Call or Contact Centre Team Leader 2,228 283 13%
399911 Diver 854 204 24%
361111 Dog Handler or Trainer 1,067 199 19%
4512 Driving Instructor 4,940 176 4%
599215 Trust Officer 1,066 149 14%
423411 Child or Youth Residential Care Assistant 865 105 12%
599611 Insurance Investigator 407 99 24%
323312 Gunsmith 193 68 35%
323113 Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Structures) 296 55 19%

Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report.

ANZSCO code Occupation title Employment
(all industries)		 Employed
(this industry)		 Proportion employed in this industry
5311 General Clerk 208,596 39,653 19%
442217 Security Officer 38,478 28,439 74%
5412 Information Officer 53,555 17,801 33%
4421 Prison Officer 15,023 14,800 99%
4231 Aged or Disabled Carer 129,712 8,251 6%
599515 Social Security Assessor 8,053 7,667 95%
551111 Accounts Clerk 88,499 7,612 9%
599599 Inspectors and Regulatory Officers nec 10,587 6,590 62%
532111 Data Entry Operator 37,405 5,529 15%
541112 Call or Contact Centre Operator 28,112 5,529 20%
5513 Payroll Clerk 24,596 3,479 14%
599516 Taxation Inspector 3,638 2,997 82%
731211 Bus Driver 32,468 2,320 7%
599512 Immigration Officer 2,439 2,295 94%
591113 Purchasing Officer 13,877 2,052 15%
599511 Customs Officer 2,321 2,040 88%
5994 Human Resources Clerk 10,349 1,941 19%
5997 Library Assistant 6,690 1,917 29%
5993 Debt Collector 7,275 1,600 22%
552312 Insurance Consultant 23,709 1,150 5%
599999 Clerical and Administrative Workers nec 10,421 1,096 11%
599914 Radio Despatcher 3,797 1,069 28%
591115 Stock Clerk 16,616 1,027 6%
452315 Swimming Coach or Instructor 12,186 957 8%
599514 Noxious Weeds and Pest Inspector 1,021 740 72%
599513 Motor Vehicle Licence Examiner 1,148 717 62%
721215 Grader Operator 2,087 698 33%
721211 Earthmoving Plant Operator (General) 3,971 694 17%
599916 Facilities Administrator 2,837 681 24%
712921 Waste Water or Water Plant Operator 4,120 680 17%
721111 Agricultural and Horticultural Mobile Plant Operator 7,841 591 8%
591112 Production Clerk 4,235 528 12%
442214 Private Investigator 670 492 73%
451611 Tourist Information Officer 1,398 462 33%
532112 Machine Shorthand Reporter 1,227 425 35%
532113 Word Processing Operator 6,071 421 7%
551112 Cost Clerk 7,157 403 6%
442213 Crowd Controller 560 358 64%
721916 Streetsweeper Operator 511 285 56%
731111 Chauffeur 3,626 255 7%
721915 Road Roller Operator 514 196 38%
721212 Backhoe Operator 615 194 32%
599518 Transport Operations Inspector 977 189 19%
841913 Pest Controller 5,124 180 4%
451411 Gallery or Museum Guide 1,163 156 13%
733115 Tow Truck Driver 2,171 153 7%
721999 Mobile Plant Operators nec 800 131 16%
733112 Aircraft Refueller 740 125 17%
721912 Linemarker 832 92 11%
712922 Weighbridge Operator 781 90 12%
712917 Railway Signal Operator 1,107 83 7%
599521 Water Inspector 175 71 41%
841311 Forestry Worker 1,055 70 7%
552314 Statistical Clerk 205 48 23%

Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report.

ANZSCO code Occupation title Employment
(all industries)		 Employed
(this industry)		 Proportion employed in this industry
899923 Road Traffic Controller 9,186 5,340 58%
899913 Crossing Supervisor 5,424 4,539 84%
5613 Filing or Registry Clerk 11,899 3,231 27%
841411 Garden Labourer 18,123 2,382 13%
8215 Paving and Surfacing Labourer 5,832 1,629 28%
561999 Clerical and Office Support Workers nec 7,775 1,440 19%
8212 Concreter 26,082 728 3%
821112 Drainage, Sewerage and Stormwater Labourer 3,160 691 22%
442211 Alarm, Security or Surveillance Monitor 897 674 75%
821111 Builder's Labourer 36,629 659 2%
561913 Parking Inspector 845 575 68%
811699 Cleaners nec 4,672 547 12%
841999 Farm, Forestry and Garden Workers nec 3,847 541 14%
442212 Armoured Car Escort 558 516 92%
8996 Recycling or Rubbish Collector 2,109 506 24%
5616 Switchboard Operator 3,117 485 16%
8991 Caretaker 5,932 397 7%
561411 Mail Clerk 2,837 176 6%
899912 Car Park Attendant 2,096 118 6%
5615 Survey Interviewer 2,592 107 4%
442215 Retail Loss Prevention Officer 1,288 99 8%
821915 Surveyor's Assistant 1,242 99 8%
442299 Security Officers and Guards nec 344 89 26%
821113 Earthmoving Labourer 1,809 83 5%
899918 Sign Erector 1,133 78 7%
821114 Plumber's Assistant 1,473 42 3%

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)

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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

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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. 


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