4156.0 - Sports and Physical Recreation: A Statistical Overview, Australia, 2009  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 23/10/2009   
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Contents >> Chapter 8 - Employment >> Census of Population and Housing

CENSUS OF POPULATION AND HOUSING

The Census collects detailed information about people employed in sports and physical recreation occupations and industries. However, the employment information relates to the main job in the week before Census and does not include second jobs, unpaid work, or persons usually working in a sports and physical recreation occupation but 'between jobs' during the week before Census night. Also, because some types of sports and physical recreation work are seasonal in nature (e.g. cricket umpiring), some persons employed in sports and physical recreation occupations will not have been recorded as such during the Census period.


Employment in sports and physical recreation occupations

Of all persons employed in the week prior to the 2006 Census, 75,155 persons (0.8%) had their main job in a sports and physical recreation occupation. For the 2001 Census the corresponding figure was 61,272 persons which was 0.7% of total employment. The increase in employment for sports and physical recreation occupations between 2001 and 2006 was 23%. In comparison, the increase for all occupations over the same period was 9.7%.

The sports and physical recreation occupations recording the largest numbers of persons employed in 2006 were Fitness instructors (13,799), Greenkeepers (12,137), Swimming coach or instructors (7,585), Stablehands (3,880) and Other sports coach or instructors (3,461).

The majority of sports and physical recreation occupation groups showed some increase in employment between the 2001 and 2006 Censuses. The largest increases, in percentage terms, were for Other sports and fitness workers nfd (64% from 797 to 1,304) and Outdoor adventure instructors (52% from 548 to 832).

In comparison, there were three sports and physical recreation occupation groups that experienced a decline in numbers between 2001 and 2006. In percentage terms, the largest falls occurred for Sportspersons nec (70% from 2,791 persons to 843 persons), Recreation officers (46% from 3,842 to 2,061) and Jockeys (42% from 1,124 to 649).

Of the 75,155 persons employed in sports and physical recreation occupations, there were more males (44,443 or 59%) than females (30,712 or 41%). In comparison, of all employed persons, 54% were male and 46% were female.

Persons employed in sports and physical recreation occupations had a younger age profile relative to all employed persons. The 20-24 year age group had the largest number of persons employed in sports and physical recreation occupations (13,403 or 17%). There were also considerably more younger workers employed in occupations such as Sports umpires, Lifeguards and Footballers. By contrast, over 40% of those employed as Horse breeders or Dog or horse racing officials were aged 50 years or over.

8.1 EMPLOYMENT IN SPORTS AND PHYSICAL RECREATION OCCUPATIONS, By sex - 2001 and 2006

2001 Census(a)
2006 Census(b)
Males
Females
Persons
Males
Females
Persons

Occupation
Horse breeder
688
541
1 229
766
651
1 417
Sports administrator
652
431
1 083
1 185
721
1 906
Fitness centre manager
626
537
1 163
750
914
1 664
Sports centre manager
1 741
1 059
2 800
2 071
1 336
3 407
Recreation officer
1 035
2 807
3 842
773
1 288
2 061
Gunsmith
146
3
149
171
6
177
Dog handler or trainer
na
na
na
326
249
575
Horse trainer
na
na
na
1 967
797
2 764
Animal trainer(c)
2 251
875
3 126
na
na
na
Greenkeeper
11 637
291
11 928
11 816
321
12 137
Canvas goods maker
354
257
611
419
316
735
Sail maker
398
35
433
428
43
471
Fitness instructor
3 685
8 679
12 364
5 075
8 724
13 799
Bungy jump master
na
na
na
10
-
10
Fishing guide
na
na
na
93
3
96
Hunting guide
na
na
na
-
-
-
Mountain or glacier guide
na
na
na
13
6
19
Outdoor adventure instructor(d)
350
198
548
519
313
832
Trekking guide
na
na
na
6
4
10
Whitewater rafting guide
na
na
na
28
-
28
Outdoor adventure guides nec
na
na
na
149
61
210
Diving instructor (open water)
na
na
na
394
147
541
Gymnastics coach or instructor
281
1 151
1 432
411
1 633
2 044
Horse riding coach or instructor
107
458
565
78
527
605
Snowsport instructor
na
na
na
391
186
577
Swimming coach or instructor(e)
506
381
887
1 607
5 978
7 585
Tennis coach
1 419
358
1 777
1 677
468
2 145
Other sports coach or instructor
1 991
887
2 878
2 529
932
3 461
Dog or horse racing official
365
45
410
459
81
540
Sports development officer
432
241
673
559
339
898
Sports umpire
1 840
698
2 538
1 804
579
2 383
Other sports official
89
35
124
95
23
118
Sportspersons nec(f)
1 965
826
2 791
710
133
843
Footballer
1 377
8
1 385
1 440
13
1 453
Golfer
1 084
38
1 122
1 162
55
1 217
Jockey
813
311
1 124
501
148
649
Lifeguard(g)
na
na
na
1 687
907
2 594
Stablehand
1 626
1 867
3 493
1 613
2 267
3 880
Other sports and fitness workers nfd(h)
519
278
797
761
543
1 304
Total sport and physical recreation occupations(i)
37 977
23 295
61 272
44 443
30 712
75 155
Total employment
4 546 783
3 751 823
8 298 606
4 911 129
4 193 055
9 104 184

- nil or rounded to zero (including null cells)
na not available
(a) ASCO was used for the collection of ABS occupation data.
(b) ANZSCO was used for the collection of ABS occupation data.
(c) Includes Dog handler or trainer, Horse trainer, Animal trainers nfd and Animal trainers nec.
(d) Includes Outdoor adventure guides nec and Outdoor adventure guides nfd.
(e) Swimming instructors and teachers were included with Fitness instructors in 2001. This category only included Swimming coaches in 2001.
(f) Includes Sportspersons nec and Sportspersons nfd.
(g) Lifeguards were included with Other sportspersons in 2001.
(h) Includes Sports and personal services workers nfd, Sports and fitness workers nfd and Sports, Coaches, Instructors and Officials nfd.
(i) Small cells or census data are randomly adjusted to protect confidentiality. There may be minor discrepancies between column and row total in tables containing similar data.
Source: Employment in Sport and Recreation, Australia, August 2006 (cat. no. 4148.0).








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