4148.0 - Employment in Sport and Recreation, Australia, Aug 2001  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 25/06/2003   
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MEDIA RELEASE

June 25, 2003
Embargoed 11:30am (AEST)
2003

Healthy employment growth for fitness instructors

The number of people employed as Fitness Instructors in their main job grew 61.2%, between 1996 and 2001, according to figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics today.

In 2001, 12,364 Fitness Instructors were counted on Census night, while in 1996 there were 7,669.

Many other sport and recreation occupations experienced growth in employment, including:
  • Outdoor Adventure Leaders (increased 560.2%, from 83 persons in 1996 to 548 persons in 2001).
  • Other Sportsperson (increased 47.6%, from 1,891 to 2,791);
  • Footballer (increased 39.8%, from 991 to 1,385);
  • Recreation Officer (increased 39.6%, from 2,753 to 3,842);
  • Tennis Coach (increased 31.0%, from 1,356 to 1,777).

Between 1996 and 2001, the largest declines (in terms of percentage change) in sport and recreation occupations were:
  • Other Sports Centre Managers (a decline of 23.9%, from 3,677 people to 2,800);
  • Sports Administrators (a decline of 10.9%, from 1,216 to 1,083 people); and
  • Sports Development Officers (a decline of 9.7%, from 745 to 673 people).

In 2001, 83,008 people had their main job in a sport and physical recreation occupation. Another 282,386 people worked in other occupations associated with leisure, such as Waiters (79,826 people), Bar Attendants (47,442), Restaurant and Catering Managers (39,076), Chefs (38,927) and Cooks (37,992).

People whose main job was in sport, recreation or leisure in 2001 were more likely to work part-time compared to other occupations. Almost half (41.6%) of people employed in sport and recreation occupations worked part-time, while 47.8% of those employed in other leisure occupations worked part-time.

Further details are in Employment in Sport and Recreation, Australia, 2001 (cat. no. 4148.0).

This publication contains state and territory data.