Health Care and Social Assistance

This image shows 32% of jobs are regional. 9% of workers are aged 15 to 24 years. 10% of workers are self-employed.

46% of workers hold a bachelor degree or higher. 31% of workers hold a certificate 3 or higher qualification. 5% of workers hold an other qualification. 18% of workers do not hold a post-school qualification.

Annual Employment Growth (%)

Health Care and Social Assistance is Australia’s largest employing industry and, given the COVID-19 pandemic, has a critically important workforce. It covers health services like hospitals, General Practitioners, dental and ambulance services, as well as services like child care and aged care.

Top Employing Occupations

Occupation
Registered Nurses
Aged and Disabled Carers
Child Carers
Nursing Support and Personal Care Workers
Receptionists
General Practitioners and Resident Medical Officers
Welfare Support Workers
General Clerks
Physiotherapists
Kitchenhands
Psychologists
Dental Assistants
Social Workers
Practice Managers
Medical Technicians
Health and Welfare Services Managers
Enrolled and Mothercraft Nurses
Commercial Cleaners
Welfare, Recreation and Community Arts Workers
Midwives

This industry has a large proportion of part-time workers, with 46% of the workforce employed part-time (compared with the Australian average of 31%). There is also a significant share of female workers in Health Care and Social Assistance (nearly four in five workers are female).

Post-school education is commonly required in this industry with more than 80% of workers having a post-school qualification. Qualifications are often mandatory for employment but training opportunities exist in both the higher education and VET sectors.

Demand is expected to continue for this industry, given the COVID-19 pandemic and Australia’s ageing population.

Sources: ABS, Labour Force (seasonally adjusted and annual averages of original data); ABS, Characteristics of Employment; ABS, Education and Work.