Health Care and Social Assistance

Summary

Health care and Social Assistance is the largest employing industry. Around 15.3% of workers have their main job in this industry.

This industry covers services like:

• hospitals
• general and specialist medical services
• pathology and diagnostic imaging services
• dental and allied health care
• ambulance services
• child care
• aged and residential care.

Most workers are formally qualified, 45% have a university qualification and 31% have a VET qualification.

More than half of those with their main job in this industry are employed full-time.

Average earnings are $1,150 per week, lower the all industries average of $1,250.

Employment

Employment in the Health Care and Social Assistance industry grew over the 20 years to February 2023.

The number of workers:

• grew by 43,600 (or 2.1%) over the last quarter
• grew by 97,300 (or 4.8%) over the last year.

Quarterly employment, Health Care and Social Assistance industry

Outlook

Employment in Health Care and Social Assistance is projected to grow by 301,000 (or 15.8%) over the five years to November 2026.

Employment levels, past and projected, Health Care and Social Assistance

Sectors

Hospitals is the largest sector in the Health Care and Social Assistance industry, employing 27.9% of workers.

Employment by sector, Health Care and Social Assistance industry

Occupations

Largest employing occupations

Registered Nurses is the largest employing occupation in the Health Care and Social Assistance 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, Health Care and Social Assistance industry

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

Related occupations

The Health care and Social Assistance 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 Health Care and Social Assistance industry, by skill level

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

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.

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