2016 Census: Northern Territory

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MEDIA RELEASE
23 October 2017
140/2017

Construction Northern Territory's fastest growing employer, Census reveals


The number of people working in Construction in the Northern Territory increased by 29 per cent between 2011 and 2016, making it the Territory’s fastest-growing employer, new data from the 2016 Census of Population and Housing shows.

It also saw Construction become the Territory’s third largest employing industry in the Census, overtaking Education and Training to sit behind only Public Administration and Safety, and Health Care and Social Assistance.

Census Program Manager Bindi Kindermann said the latest Census data contained information on a state-wide scale as well as for local 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 Territorians,” Ms Kindermann said.

“So while Construction was the fastest growing industry recorded in the Census, Public Administration and Safety remained the Territory’s largest employer in 2016.

”The Census also showed that demand for tradespeople in the Territory remains high, with Technicians and Trades Workers the fastest growing occupation category, increasing by 9 per cent between 2011 and 2016.”

The largest broad occupation category in the Territory and nationwide in the Census was Professionals, including areas such as the arts and media, business, design and engineering, science and transport, increasing 5 per cent from 2011.

The latest Census data also covered how people travelled to work. The car was the most common method in the Territory – as it was nationwide – used by 69,000 people, an increase of 9 per cent from 63,200 in 2011.

The number of people recorded as using the bus to get to work increased by 51 per cent from 3,200 in 2011 to 4,900 in 2016, maintaining its position as the third most common way to commute after walking (8,700 people).

When it came to fields of study, the Census recorded that more than 16,000 people had a qualification in Engineering and Related Technologies, making it the most common field, ahead of Management and Commerce (positions which were reversed nationally).

Engineering and Related Technologies was also the most common field recorded in the Census for people aged between 18 and 30, the only jurisdiction where this was the case.

Census data is available free online. Use one of our easy tools such as QuickStats or Community Profiles to access the latest data for your area or topic of interest.

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

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


NORTHERN TERRITORY


Labour force
2016
2011

Labour force population
110,390
103,963

Employed persons1
102,705
98,474
Full time
74,100
69,544
Part time
21,493
20,876

Not in labour force (15 years and over)
46,008
41,688
18-64 year olds
30,137
28,309

1 – Includes “Employed, away from work”

Note: The Census and Labour Force Survey both collect labour market information however are designed for different purposes and utilise different collection methods.
Differences in the collections mean they are not directly comparable to each other, they are complementary data.


Industry

2016
2011

Top 5 industries

(total employed persons)

1.
Public Administration and Safety
18,607
Public Administration and Safety
20,603
2.
Health Care and Social Assistance
11,374
Health Care and Social Assistance
9,888
3.
Construction
10,370
Education and Training
8,789
4.
Education and Training
9,539
Construction
8,057
5.
Retail Trade
7,469
Retail Trade
8,002

Top 3 industries
(growth rate, 2011 to 2016)
1.
Construction 28.7%
2.
Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services 23.5%
3.
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services 17.4%



Occupations
2016
2011

Top 3 occupations
(total employed persons)
1.
Professionals
20,654
Professionals
19,641
2.
Technicians and Trades Workers
16,189
Technicians and Trades Workers
14,905
3.
Community and Personal Service Workers
14,178
Clerical and Administrative Workers
14,471

Top 3 occupations
(growth rate, 2011 to 2016)
1.
Technicians and Trades Workers 8.6%
2.
Community and Personal Service Workers 7.5%
3.
Managers 5.7%



Method of Travel to Work

2016
2011

Car (as driver or passenger)
68,818
63,187

Top 3 other methods
1.
Walked only 8,683
Walked only 10,861
2.
Bus 4,872
Bus 3,222
3.
Bicycle 2,552
Bicycle 2,741

* Single method of travel only


Education
2016
2011

Top 3 fields of study
(total population)
1.
Engineering and Related Technologies
16,804
Engineering and Related Technologies
13,912
2.
Management and Commerce
14,945
Management and Commerce
12,195
3.
Society and Culture
11,139
Society and Culture
8,728

Top 3 fields of study
(18-30 year olds)
1.
Engineering and Related Technologies
4,011
Management and Commerce
3,296
2.
Management and Commerce
3,650
Engineering and Related Technologies
3,207
3.
Society and Culture
2,611
Society and Culture
2,145

Top 3 fields of study
(growth rate, 2011 to 2016)
1.
Society and Culture 27.6%
2.
Health 23.4%
3.
Management and Commerce 22.6%

* Excluding Mixed Field Programmes


Migration
1 year ago
5 years ago

Current residents who lived interstate
13,041
32,083
Current residents who lived overseas
4,099
14,102

Notes

* All data based on Place of Usual Residence