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Employment in each Industry by state

Next update December 2017

Selected audiovisual industries 1996-2011 
Film and video production and post-production services 1977-2011
Film and video distribution, 1971-2011
Film exhibition, 1971-2011
Television broadcasting, 1971-2011
Video hire, 1996-2011

Selected audiovisual industries, 1996–2011

According to the Census of Population and Housing conducted in August 2011, there were 45,846 people employed in selected audiovisual industries1. More than three-quarters of this workforce was located in three states: 45 per cent in New South Wales, 23 per cent in Victoria and 16 per cent in Queensland.

Employment in these industries rose by 2 per cent between 2006 (when it was 45,088) and 2011. All states and territories recorded a fall, except NSW (which rose by 9 per cent), and Victoria (which saw minimal change).

Since 1996, the total number employed has grown by 13 per cent, from 40,688, with NSW accounting for almost three-quarters of this increase.

  NSW Vic Qld SA WA Tas NT ACT Australia
Number
1996 16,860 9,587 6,633 2,766 3,003 726 442 698 40,688
2001 20,782 11,511 7,436 2,690 3,725 809 421 923 48,297
2006 18,925 10,736 7,311 2,691 3,303 758 414 950 45,088
2011 20,537 10,757 7,146 2,354 3,177 722 394 759 45,846
Change 06 to 11 9% <1% -2% -13% -4% -5% -5% -20% 2%
Proportion
1996 41% 24% 16% 7% 7% 2% 1% 2% 100%
2001 43% 24% 15% 6% 8% 2% 1% 2% 100%
2006 42% 24% 16% 6% 7% 2% 1% 2% 100%
2011 45% 23% 16% 5% 7% 2% 1% 2% 100%

Source: Compiled by Screen Australia using unpublished data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), Censuses of Population and Housing, 1996–2011.

Notes:
Figures may not total exactly due to adjustments made by the ABS to avoid the release of confidential data.
1. ‘Selected audiovisual industries’ includes film and video production and post-production services, film and video distribution, film exhibition, television broadcasting, video hire and not further defined audiovisual categories. Industry definitions used by the ABS have changed over time.
See Industry and occupation definitions for classifications and definitions.

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Film and video production and post-production services, 1971–2011

According to the Census of Population and Housing conducted in August 2011, there were 9,908 people employed in film and video production and post-production services1. More than 90 per cent of this workforce was located in three states: 54 per cent in New South Wales, 25 per cent in Victoria and 12 per cent in Queensland.

Employment in this sector rose by 20 per cent between 2006 (when it was 8,261) and 2011. The largest growth was in the Northern Territory (33 per cent), followed by New South Wales (32 per cent) and Western Australia (30 per cent). Victoria and Queensland recorded modest growth of 9 and 6 per cent respectively, while the remaining states and territories fell.

Since 1971, the total number employed has grown by 556 per cent, from 1,510, with NSW accounting for more than half this increase.

  NSW Vic Qld SA WA Tas NT ACT Australia
Number
1971 941 406 42 40 39 33 4 5 1,510
1976 1,022 503 43 104 35 53 0 0 1,763
1981 1,811 784 185 126 77 102 3 9 3,096
1986 2,941 1,039 274 232 178 57 19 18 4,758
1991 3,022 1,529 605 220 233 59 39 33 5,740
1996 3,637 2,112 1,021 542 319 35 40 54 7,760
2001 3,863 1,942 957 358 396 66 44 76 7,702
2006 4,019 2,256 1,092 405 333 63 27 66 8,261
Production 3,575 2,008 994 337 306 56 24 62 7,362
Post-production 444 248 98 68 27 7 3 4 899
2011 5,308 2,460 1,161 391 432 62 36 58 9,908
Production 4,732 2,100 1,045 301 381 51 36 54 8,700
Post-production 576 360 116 90 51 11 0 4 1,208
Change 06 to 11 32% 9% 6% -3% 30% -2% 33% -12% 20%
Proportion
1971 62% 27% 3% 3% 3% 2% <1% <1% 100%
1976 58% 29% 2% 6% 2% 3% 0% 0% 100%
1981 59% 25% 6% 4% 3% 3% <1% <1% 100%
1986 62% 22% 6% 5% 4% 1% <1% <1% 100%
1991 53% 27% 11% 4% 4% 1% 1% 1% 100%
1996 47% 27% 13% 7% 4% <1% 1% 1% 100%
2001 50% 25% 12% 5% 5% 1% 1% 1% 100%
2006 49% 27% 13% 5% 4% <1% <1% 1% 100%
2011 54% 25% 12% 4% 4% 1% <1% 1% 100%

Source: Compiled by Screen Australia using unpublished data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), Censuses of Population and Housing, 1971–2011.

Notes:
Figures may not total exactly due to adjustments made by the ABS to avoid the release of confidential data.
Breakout data on production and post-production was available for the first time in 2006.
1. Industry definitions used by the ABS have changed over time.
See Industry and occupation definitions for classifications and definitions.

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Film and video distribution, 1971–2011

According to the Census of Population and Housing conducted in August 2011, there were 656 people employed in the film and video distribution1 industry. More than 90 per cent of this workforce was located in three states: 61 per cent in New South Wales, followed by Victoria with 28 per cent and Queensland with 7 per cent.

Employment in these industries fell by 25 per cent between 2006 (when it was 871) and 2011. All states and territories recorded a fall, except the Northern Territory (which saw no change).

While the industry has fluctuated over the last 40 years, overall the total number of people employed has fallen by 19 per cent. All states and territories recorded a fall since 1971, except Victoria which has increased by 20 per cent, the ACT (growing from no employees to three) and Tasmania which saw no change.

For data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ Service Industry Survey of the film exhibition industry, see In the archive: Cinema industry key statistics by state.

  NSW Vic Qld SA WA Tas NT ACT Australia
Number
1971 421 151 121 40 70 3 3 0 809
1976 498 163 84 73 93 0 0 0 911
1981 443 163 62 36 32 0 6 3 745
1986 416 148 62 41 22 0 4 10 703
1991 301 139 81 15 12 3 0 12 563
1996 594 746 166 66 97 15 6 19 1,709
2001 546 282 96 48 65 14 0 3 1,054
2006 515 221 67 18 37 4 0 9 871
2011 401 182 49 8 10 3 0 3 656
Change 06 to 11 -22% -18% -27% -56% -73% -25% 0% -67% -25%
Proportion
1971 52% 19% 15% 5% 9% <1% <1% 0% 100%
1976 55% 18% 9% 8% 10% 0% 0% 0% 100%
1981 60% 22% 8% 5% 4% 0% 1% <1% 100%
1986 59% 21% 9% 6% 3% 0% 1% 1% 100%
1991 53% 25% 14% 3% 2% 1% 0% 2% 100%
1996 35% 44% 10% 4% 6% 1% <1% 1% 100%
2001 52% 27% 9% 5% 6% 1% 0% <1% 100%
2006 59% 25% 8% 2% 4% <1% 0% 1% 100%
2011 61% 28% 7% 1% 2% <1% 0% <1% 100%

Source: Compiled by Screen Australia using unpublished data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), Censuses of Population and Housing, 1971–2011.

Notes:
Figures may not total exactly due to adjustments made by the ABS to avoid the release of confidential data.
1. Industry definitions used by the ABS have changed over time.
See Industry and occupation definitions for classifications and definitions.

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Film exhibition, 1971–2011

According to the Census of Population and Housing conducted in August 2011, there were 9,871 people employed in the film exhibition1 industry. More than four out of five of these employees were located in three states: 31 per cent in both New South Wales and Victoria followed by 17 per cent in Queensland.

After falling 12 per cent between 2001 and 2006, employment in the film exhibition industry experienced an 11 per cent growth over the last Census period, approaching the all-time peak of 10,079 in 2001. All states and territories recorded a rise.

Since 1971, the industry overall has grown 108 per cent, from 4,751, with Victoria accounting for 40 per cent of this increase.

For data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ Service Industry Survey of the film exhibition industry, see In the archive: Cinema industry key statistics by state.

  NSW Vic Qld SA WA Tas NT ACT Australia
Number
1971 1,592 1,021 887 550 520 102 31 48 4,751
1976 1,437 1,106 841 580 483 89 27 95 4,659
1981 1,371 1,146 744 513 540 117 25 64 4,520
1986 1,058 839 592 286 283 51 11 69 3,189
1991 1,160 893 626 231 306 57 30 64 3,367
1996 1,697 1,468 872 311 441 94 31 134 5,048
2001 3,476 2,888 1,672 646 929 171 77 220 10,079
2006 3,013 2,713 1,407 598 808 124 78 159 8,900
2011 3,057 3,069 1,675 605 1,017 185 79 184 9,871
Change 06 to 11 1% 13% 19% 1% 26% 49% 1% 16% 11%
Proportion
1971 33% 21% 19% 12% 11% 2% 1% 1% 100%
1976 31% 24% 18% 12% 10% 2% 1% 2% 100%
1981 30% 25% 16% 11% 12% 3% 1% 2% 100%
1986 33% 26% 19% 9% 9% 2% <1% 2% 100%
1991 34% 27% 19% 7% 9% 2% 1% 2% 100%
1996 34% 29% 17% 6% 9% 2% 1% 3% 100%
2001 34% 29% 17% 6% 9% 2% 1% 2% 100%
2006 34% 30% 16% 7% 9% 1% 1% 2% 100%
2011 31% 31% 17% 6% 10% 2% 1% 2% 100%

Source: Compiled by Screen Australia using unpublished data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), Censuses of Population and Housing, 1971–2011.

Notes:
Figures may not total exactly due to adjustments made by the ABS to avoid the release of confidential data.
1. Industry definitions used by the ABS have changed over time.
See Industry and occupation definitions for classifications and definitions.

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Television broadcasting, 1971–2011

According to the Census of Population and Housing conducted in August 2011, there were 17,298 people employed in the free-to-air television and subscription broadcasting1 industry. More than four-fifths of this workforce was located in three states: 53 per cent in New South Wales, followed by Victoria with 19 per cent and Queensland with 13 per cent.

Employment in the industry rose by 11 per cent between 2006 (when it was 15,575) and 2011. The three largest state and territory employers rose, with the remainder experiencing a fall in employment.

Since 1971, the total number employed in the industry has grown 227 per cent, from 5,295, with NSW accounting for more than half this increase.

  NSW Vic Qld SA WA  Tas  NT ACT Australia
Number
1971 2,202 1,260 507 511 354 392 6 63 5,295
1976 3,501 2,041 984 895 678 420 33 184 8,737
1981 4,209 2,647 1,077 1,058 971 435 54 251 10,702
1986 4,751 2,572 1,408 1,204 1,171 481 113 244 11,944
1991 3,737 2,092 1,192 709 737 354 135 314 9,270
1996 6,728 2,758 2,245 1,056 862 376 232 295 14,552
2001 8,499 3,876 2,441 814 892 344 185 337 17,388
2006 7,639 3,155 2,120 795 804 359 229 474 15,575
Free-to-air 6,216 2,479 1,474 734 734 340 212 459 12,648
Subscription 1,423 676 646 61 70 19 17 15 2,927
2011 9,245 3,360 2,221 797 764 293 216 402 17,298
Free-to-air 7,296 2,975 1,489 735 692 282 211 378 14,058
Subscription 1,949 385 732 62 72 11 5 24 3,240
Change 06 to 11 21% 6% 5% <1% -5% -18% -6% -15% 11%
Proportion
1971 41% 24% 10% 10% 7% 7% <1% 1% 100%
1976 40% 23% 11% 10% 8% 5% 1% 2% 100%
1981 39% 25% 10% 10% 9% 4% 1% 2% 100%
1986 40% 22% 12% 10% 10% 4% 1% 2% 100%
1991 40% 23% 13% 8% 8% 4% 1% 3% 100%
1996 46% 19% 15% 7% 6% 3% 2% 2% 100%
2001 49% 22% 14% 5% 5% 2% 1% 2% 100%
2006 49% 20% 14% 5% 5% 2% 1% 3% 100%
2011 53% 19% 13% 5% 4% 2% 1% 2% 100%

Source: Compiled by Screen Australia using unpublished data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), Censuses of Population and Housing, 1971–2011.

Notes:
Figures may not total exactly due to adjustments made by the ABS to avoid the release of confidential data.
Breakout data on free-to-air and subscription broadcasting was available for the first time in 2006.
1. Industry definitions used by the ABS have changed over time.
See Industry and occupation definitions for classifications and definitions.

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Video hire, 1996–2011

According to the Census of Population and Housing conducted in August 2011, there were 7,551 people employed in the video hire1 industry. Three-quarters of this workforce was located in three states: 30 per cent in New South Wales, followed by Queensland with 26 per cent and Victoria with 20 per cent.

While growth over the preceding Census periods has been relatively modest, the most recent period, 2006 to 2011, marks the first time that employment in the industry has fallen. Overall, employment fell by 31 per cent with the ACT (-53 per cent), NSW (-36 per cent), South Australia (-36 per cent) and Victoria (-32 per cent) experiencing the greatest decline.

Since 1996, industry employment has fallen by 23 per cent, with NSW accounting for more than half this decrease.

For data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ Service Industry Survey of the video hire industry, see In the archive: Video hire industry by state.

  NSW Vic Qld SA WA Tas NT ACT Australia
Number
1996 3,413 2,100 2,037 648 1,090 184 112 161 9,745
2001 3,742 2,326 2,118 760 1,362 183 93 228 10,812
2006 3,506 2,275 2,549 836 1,294 205 77 233 10,975
2011 2,240 1,545 1,957 536 925 176 63 109 7,551
Change 06 to 11 -36% -32% -23% -36% -29% -14% -18% -53% -31%
Proportion
1996 35% 22% 21% 7% 11% 2% 1% 2% 100%
2001 35% 22% 20% 7% 13% 2% 1% 2% 100%
2006 32% 21% 23% 8% 12% 2% 1% 2% 100%
2011 30% 20% 26% 7% 12% 2% 1% 1% 100%

Source: Compiled by Screen Australia using unpublished data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), Censuses of Population and Housing, 1996–2011.

Notes:
Figures may not total exactly due to adjustments made by the ABS to avoid the release of confidential data.
Video hire was available as a separate industry classification for the first time in 1996.
1. Industry definitions used by the ABS have changed over time.
See Industry and occupation definitions for classifications and definitions.

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