2016 Census: Australian Capital Territory

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MEDIA RELEASE
23 October 2017
141/2017

Health grows in the Capital, reveals latest Census data


Working and studying in health has emerged as one of the main growth areas in the Australian Capital Territory, according to latest insights from the 2016 Census.

The number of people in the Territory that the Census recorded had qualifications in the health field increased 27 per cent between 2011 and 2016, in line with an increase of 19 per cent in the number of people employed in the Health Care and Social Assistance industry.

Census Program Manager Bindi Kindermann said the latest Census insights were important in helping governments plan services for communities.

“From how people get to work, to what they are studying, what their jobs are and where people are moving to, this Census information tells us so much about the lives of people in the ACT,” Ms Kindermann said.

“For example, when it came to commuting, given population increases from 2011 to 2016, the Census recorded increases in numbers for each of the four most common ways that people in the ACT travelled to work,” Ms Kindermann said.

“However, while car use remained by far the most common, as was the case nationally, it had the lowest percentage increase of 5 per cent. The Census recorded that the largest increase was for the bicycle (15 per cent) followed by walking (14 per cent) and then the bus (11 per cent). This pattern is generally in contrast to the national picture.”

The data also showed that while Public Administration and Safety remained the primary industry of employment, the number of people it employed decreased by 1 per cent. The ACT and Northern Territory were the only jurisdictions where this was the leading industry.

Health Care and Social Assistance grew 18.8 per cent between 2011 and 2016 to become the second largest employing industry for the ACT in the Census, while Retail Trade fell by 1.6 per cent.

Community and Personal Service Workers – which includes Carers, Hospitality Workers and Protective Service Workers – was the occupation with the largest growth in the Census between 2011 and 2016, increasing by 19 per cent.
Society and Culture – which includes Political Science, Law and Economics – was the most popular field of study, with 43,000 people holding a qualification in these areas in the Census.

Of the Territory’s population recorded on Census night, 17,300 moved from interstate within the preceding 12 months while 9,400 had moved from overseas during that time.

For more information on the ACT in the 2016 Census, follow the link to the ACT QuickStats page.

Information on Canberra can be found via the following link to the Canberra QuickStats page.


AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY


Labour force
2016
2011

Labour force population
215,833
203,207

Employed persons1
205,628
195,891
Full time
137,058
132,042
Part time
57,064
51,028

Not in labour force (15 years and over)
88,580
74,891
18-64 year olds
42,229
37,043

1 – Includes “Employed, away from work”


Industry
2016
2011

Top 5 industries

(total employed persons)

1.
Public Administration and Safety
63,286
Public Administration and Safety
64,111
2.
Health Care and Social Assistance
21,319
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services
19,137
3.
Education & Training
19,647
Health Care and Social Assistance
17,976
4.
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services
19,290
Education and Training
17,143
5.
Retail Trade
14,601
Retail Trade
14,835

Top 3 industries
(growth rate, 2011 to 2016)
1.
Accommodation and Food Services 18.8%
2.
Health Care and Social Assistance 18.6%
3.
Education and Training 14.6%

* Minimum 1000 people in industry in 2016


Occupations
2016
2011

Top 3 occupations
(total employed persons)
1.
Professionals
62,716
Professionals
58,083
2.
Clerical and Administrative Workers
34,668
Clerical and Administrative Workers
37,511
3.
Managers
32,776
Managers
31,030

Top 3 occupations
(growth rate, 2011 to 2016)
1.
Community and Personal Service Workers 19.0%
2.
Labourers 11.7%
3.
Professionals 8.0%



Method of Travel to Work
2016
2011

Car (as driver or passenger)
143,093
135,733

Top 3 other methods
1.
Bus 12,226
Bus 11,054
2.
Walked Only 9,305
Walked only 8,165
3.
Bicycle 5,366
Bicycle 4,673

* Single method of travel only


Education
2016
2011

Top 3 fields of study
(total population)
1.
Society and Culture
43,204
Society and Culture
36,388
2.
Management and Commerce
42,199
Management and Commerce
35,541
3.
Engineering and Related Technologies
19,703
Engineering and Related Technologies
17,985

Top 3 fields of study
(18-30 year olds)
1.
Society and Culture
9,729
Society and Culture
8,987
2.
Management and Commerce
9,097
Management and Commerce
8,910
3.
Health
3,545
Engineering and Related Technologies
3,271

Top 3 fields of study
(growth rate, 2011 to 2016)
1.
Health 27.0%
2.
Information Technology 18.9%
3.
Management and Commerce 18.7%

* Excludes Mixed Field Programmes


Internal migration
1 year ago
5 years ago

Current residents who lived interstate
17,267
47,874
Current residents who lived overseas
9,444
29,324

Note: All data based on Place of Usual Residence