One in seven people in the Australian workforce are working in the Health Care and Social Assistance industry, according to 2021 Census data released today.
Dr David Gruen AO, Australian Statistician said, “Census data provides government and community groups with crucial information about essential healthcare and welfare services.
“There are now over 1.7 million people working in Health Care and Social Assistance in Australia, of which 30 per cent are working in hospitals”.
Occupations that experienced strong growth include Aged and Disabled Carers (227,535 in 2021, up by 72 per cent since 2016), Occupational Therapists (19,429 in 2021, up by 57 per cent), and Audiologists and Speech Pathologists (13,613 in 2021, up by 49 per cent).
Census data also showed an increase in mental health professionals, with Psychologists and Psychiatrists both increasing over 40 per cent since 2016.
The 2021 Census counted over 260,000 Registered Nurses. The occupation grew by 19 per cent between 2016 and 2021, exceeding the 13 per cent growth of the broader workforce.
“Census data shows over 40 per cent of Registered Nurses and Aged and Disabled Carers were born overseas, with almost 40,000 arriving since 2016. A 40 per cent share born overseas is significantly higher than the average across all occupations of 32 per cent born overseas,” Dr Gruen added.
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