Screen Australia

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employment in each State by industry

1971–2011

Next update December 2017

New South Wales | Victoria | Queensland | South Australia | Western Australia
| Tasmania | Northern Territory | Australian Capital Territory

New South Wales

According to the Census of Population and Housing conducted in August 2011, there were 20,537 people employed in selected audiovisual industries in New South Wales, representing 0.6 per cent of the state's total workforce. This was more than in any other state or territory, equating to 45 per cent of the national audiovisual workforce.

NSW has the highest number of employees in each of the audiovisual industries, including more than half of those in the film and video production and post-production services, television broadcasting industries and film and video distribution. Television broadcasting continues to be the largest audiovisual employer in the state.

Employment in NSW in the audiovisual sector rose by 9 per cent between 2006 (when it was 18,925) and 2011. With the exception of film and video distribution and video hire, all industries recorded an increase in employment.

Data for some industry categories dates back to 1971; however, employment in the video hire industry was included in 1996 for the first time. Since then, overall audiovisual employment in NSW has increased by 22 per cent, from 16,860.

  Film and video production and post-production services Film and video distribution Film exhibition Television broadcasting Video hire Undefined1 Total all selected audiovisual industries
Prod. Post. Total FTA Subs. Total
Number            
1971 – – 941 421 1,592 – – 2,202 n.a. n.a. 5,156
1976 – – 1,022 498 1,437 – – 3,501 n.a. n.a. 6,458
1981 – – 1,811 443 1,371 – – 4,209 n.a. n.a. 7,834
1986 – – 2,941 416 1,058 – – 4,751 n.a. n.a. 9,166
1991 – – 3,022 301 1,160 – – 3,737 n.a. n.a. 8,220
1996 – – 3,637 594 1,697 – – 6,728 3,413 791 16,860
2001 – – 3,863 546 3,476 – – 8,499 3,742 656 20,782
2006 3,575 444 4,019 515 3,013 6,216 1,423 7,639 3,506 233 18,925
2011 4,732 576 5,308 401 3,057 7,296 1,949 9,245 2,240 286 20,537
Change 06 to 11 32% 30% 32% -22% 1% 17% 37% 21% -36% 23% 9%
National share            
1971 – – 62% 52% 34% – – 42% n.a. n.a. 42%
1976 – – 58% 55% 31% – – 40% n.a. n.a. 40%
1981 – – 58% 60% 30% – – 40% n.a. n.a. 41%
1986 – – 62% 59% 33% – – 40% n.a. n.a. 45%
1991 – – 53% 53% 34% – – 40% n.a. n.a. 45%
1996 – – 47% 35% 34% – – 46% 35% 42% 41%
2001 – – 50% 52% 34% – – 49% 35% 52% 43%
2006 49% 49% 49% 59% 34% 49% 49% 49% 32% 46% 42%
2011 54% 48% 54% 61% 31% 52% 60% 53% 30% 51% 45%

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.
Video hire was available as a separate industry classification for the first time in 1996. Breakout data on production, post-production, and free-to-air and subscription broadcasting was available for the first time in 2006.
Industry definitions used by the ABS have changed over time. See Industry and occupation definitions for classifications and definitions.
n.a. data not available
1. Not further defined audiovisual industry categories. Figures are included in total of all selected audiovisual industries.

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Victoria

According to the Census of Population and Housing conducted in August 2011, there were 10,757 people employed in selected audiovisual industries in Victoria, representing 0.4 per cent of the state's total workforce. This equated to 23 per cent of the national audiovisual workforce, ranging from 12 to 30 per cent across the various industries. The highest national share recorded by Victoria was in film exhibition.

Employment in Victoria in the audiovisual sector rose negligibly between 2006 (when it was 10,736) and 2011. With the exception of film and video distribution, subscription television and video hire, all industries recorded an increase in employment. Television broadcasting continues be the largest audiovisual employer in the state.

Data for some industry categories dates back to 1971; however, employment in the video hire industry was included in 1996 for the first time. Since then, overall audiovisual employment in Victoria has increased by 12 per cent, from 9,587.

  Film and video production and post-production services Film and video distribution Film exhibition Television broadcasting Video hire Undefined1 Total all selected audiovisual industries
Prod. Post. Total FTA Subs. Total
Number            
1971 – – 406 151 1,021 – – 1,260 n.a. n.a. 2,838
1976 – – 503 163 1,106 – – 2,041 n.a. n.a. 3,814
1981 – – 784 163 1,146 – – 2,647 n.a. n.a. 4,740
1986 – – 1,039 148 839 – – 2,572 n.a. n.a. 4,598
1991 – – 1,529 139 893 – – 2,092 n.a. n.a. 4,653
1996 – – 2,112 746 1,468 – – 2,758 2,100 376 9,587
2001 – – 1,942 282 2,888 – – 3,876 2,326 197 11,511
2006 2,008 248 2,256 221 2,713 2,479 676 3,155 2,275 116 10,736
2011 2,100 360 2,460 182 3,069 2,975 385 3,360 1,545 141 10,757
Change 06 to 11 5% 45% 9% -18% 13% 20% -43% 6% -32% 22% <1%
National share            
1971 – – 27% 19% 22% – – 23% n.a. n.a. 23%
1976 – – 29% 18% 24% – – 23% n.a. n.a. 24%
1981 – – 25% 21% 25% – – 25% n.a. n.a. 25%
1986 – – 22% 21% 26% – – 22% n.a. n.a. 22%
1991 – – 27% 25% 27% – – 23% n.a. n.a. 22%
1996 – – 27% 44% 29% – – 19% 22% 20% 24%
2001 – – 25% 27% 29% – – 22% 22% 16% 24%
2006 27% 28% 27% 25% 30% 20% 23% 20% 21% 23% 24%
2011 24% 30% 25% 28% 31% 21% 12% 19% 20% 25% 23%

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.
Video hire was available as a separate industry classification for the first time in 1996. Breakout data on production, post-production, and free-to-air and subscription broadcasting was available for the first time in 2006.
Industry definitions used by the ABS have changed over time. See Industry and occupation definitions for classifications and definitions.
n.a. data not available
1. Not further defined audiovisual industry categories. Figures are included in total of all selected audiovisual industries.

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Queensland

According to the Census of Population and Housing conducted in August 2011, there were 7,146 people employed in selected audiovisual industries in Queensland, representing 0.3 per cent of the state's total workforce. This equated to 16 per cent of the national audiovisual workforce, ranging from 7 to 26 per cent across the various industries. The highest national share recorded by Queensland was in video hire, which is the largest audiovisual employer in the state despite a fall of 23 per cent since 2006.

Overall employment in Queensland in the audiovisual sector fell by 2 per cent between 2006 (when it was 7,311) and 2011. With the exception of film and video distribution and video hire, all audiovisual industries recorded increases in employment.

Data for some industry categories dates back to 1971; however, employment in the video hire industry was included in 1996 for the first time. Since then, overall audiovisual employment in Queensland has increased 8 per cent, from 6,633.

  Film and video production and post-production services Film and video distribution Film exhibition Television broadcasting Video hire Undefined1 Total all selected audiovisual industries
Prod. Post. Total FTA Subs. Total
Number            
1971 – – 42 121 887 – – 507 n.a. n.a. 1,557
1976 – – 43 84 841 – – 984 n.a. n.a. 1,952
1981 – – 185 62 744 – – 1,077 n.a. n.a. 2,068
1986 – – 274 62 592 – – 1,408 n.a. n.a. 2,336
1991 – – 605 81 626 – – 1,192 n.a. n.a. 2,504
1996 – – 1,021 166 872 – – 2,245 2,037 292 6,633
2001 – – 957 96 1,672 – – 2,441 2,118 152 7,436
2006 994 98 1,092 67 1,407 1,474 646 2,120 2,549 76 7,311
2011 1,045 116 1,161 49 1,675 1,489 732 2,221 1,957 83 7,146
Change 06 to 11 5% 18% 6% -27% 19% 1% 13% 5% -23% 9% -2%
National share            
1971 – – 3% 15% 19% – – 10% n.a. n.a. 13%
1976 – – 2% 9% 18% – – 11% n.a. n.a. 12%
1981 – – 6% 8% 16% – – 10% n.a. n.a. 11%
1986 – – 6% 9% 19% – – 12% n.a. n.a. 11%
1991 – – 11% 14% 19% – – 13% n.a. n.a. 11%
1996 – – 13% 10% 17% – – 15% 21% 20% 16%
2001 – – 12% 9% 17% – – 14% 20% 19% 15%
2006 14% 11% 13% 8% 16% 12% 22% 14% 23% 15% 16%
2011 12% 10% 12% 7% 17% 11% 23% 13% 26% 15% 16%

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.
Video hire was available as a separate industry classification for the first time in 1996. Breakout data on production, post-production, and free-to-air and subscription broadcasting was available for the first time in 2006.
Industry definitions used by the ABS have changed over time. See Industry and occupation definitions for classifications and definitions.
n.a. data not available
1. Not further defined audiovisual industry categories. Figures are included in total of all elected audiovisual industries.

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South Australia

According to the Census of Population and Housing conducted in August 2011, there were 2,354 people employed in selected audiovisual industries in South Australia, representing 0.3 per cent of the state's total workforce. This equated to 5 per cent of the national audiovisual workforce.

Employment in South Australia in the audiovisual sector fell by 13 per cent between 2006 (when it was 2,691) and 2011. The most significant decreases occurred in the film and video distribution and video hire segments reporting falls of 56 and 36 per cent respectively. Post-production was the only segment to report any significant growth with an increase of 32 per cent. The television broadcasting industry is the largest audiovisual employer, closely followed by film exhibition.

Data for some industry categories dates back to 1971; however, employment in the video hire industry was included in 1996 for the first time. Since then, overall audiovisual employment in South Australia has fallen by 15 per cent, from 2,766.

  Film and video production and post-production services Film and video distribution Film exhibition Television broadcasting Video hire Undefined1 Total all selected audiovisual industries
Prod. Post. Total FTA Subs. Total
Number            
1971 - - 40 40 550 - - 511 n.a. n.a. 1,141
1976 - - 104 73 580 - - 895 n.a. n.a. 1,652
1981 - - 126 36 513 - - 1,058 n.a. n.a. 1,733
1986 - - 232 41 286 - - 1,204 n.a. n.a. 1,763
1991 - - 220 15 231 - - 709 n.a. n.a. 1,175
1996 - - 542 66 311 - - 1,056 648 143 2,766
2001 - - 358 48 646 - - 814 760 64 2,690
2006 337 68 405 18 598 734 61 795 836 39 2,691
2011 301 90 391 8 605 735 62 797 536 17 2,354
Change 06 to 11 -11% 32% -3% -56% 1% 0% 2% 0% -36% -56% -13%
National share            
1971 - - 3% 5% 12% - - 10% n.a. n.a. 9%
1976 - - 6% 8% 12% - - 10% n.a. n.a. 10%
1981 - - 4% 5% 11% - - 10% n.a. n.a. 9%
1986 - - 5% 6% 9% - - 10% n.a. n.a. 9%
1991 - - 4% 3% 7% - - 8% n.a. n.a. 9%
1996 - - 7% 4% 6% - - 7% 7% 8% 7%
2001 - - 5% 5% 6% - - 5% 7% 5% 6%
2006 5% 8% 5% 2% 7% 6% 2% 5% 8% 8% 6%
2011 3% 7% 4% 1% 6% 5% 2% 5% 7% 3% 5%

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.
Video hire was available as a separate industry classification for the first time in 1996. Breakout data on production, post-production, and free-to-air and subscription broadcasting was available for the first time in 2006.
Industry definitions used by the ABS have changed over time. See Industry and occupation definitions for classifications and definitions.
n.a. data not available
1. Not further defined audiovisual industry categories. Figures are included in total of all selected audiovisual industries.

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Western Australia

According to the Census of Population and Housing conducted in August 2011, there were 3,177 people employed in selected audiovisual industries in Western Australia, representing 0.3 per cent of the state's total workforce and 7 per cent of the national audiovisual workforce.

Employment in Western Australia in the audiovisual sector fell by 4 per cent between 2006 (when it was 3,303) and 2011. Despite the overall fall, strong growth was reported in the film and video production and post-production services and film exhibition segments, 30 and 26 per cent respectively. The film and video distribution and video hire segments recorded the greatest losses, 73 and 29 per cent respectively.

Data for some industry categories dates back to 1971; however, employment in the video hire industry was included in 1996 for the first time. Since then, overall audiovisual employment in Western Australia has grown by 6 per cent, from 3,003.

  Film and video production and post-production services Film and video distribution Film exhibition Television broadcasting Video hire Undefined1 Total all selected audiovisual industries
Prod. Post. Total FTA Subs. Total
Number            
1971 - - 39 70 520 - - 354 n.a. n.a. 983
1976 - - 35 93 483 - - 678 n.a. n.a. 1,289
1981 - - 77 32 540 - - 971 n.a. n.a. 1,620
1986 - - 178 22 283 - - 1,171 n.a. n.a. 1,654
1991 - - 233 12 306 - - 737 n.a. n.a. 1,288
1996 - - 319 97 441 - - 862 1,090 194 3,003
2001 - - 396 65 929 - - 892 1,362 81 3,725
2006 306 27 333 37 808 734 70 804 1,294 27 3,303
2011 381 51 432 10 1,017 692 72 764 925 29 3,177
Change 06 to 11 25% 89% 30% -73% 26% -6% 3% -5% -29% 7% -4%
National share            
1971 - - 3% 9% 11% - - 7% n.a. n.a. 8%
1976 - - 2% 10% 10% - - 8% n.a. n.a. 8%
1981 - - 2% 4% 12% - - 9% n.a. n.a. 9%
1986 - - 4% 3% 9% - - 10% n.a. n.a. 8%
1991 - - 4% 2% 9% - - 8% n.a. n.a. 8%
1996 - - 4% 6% 9% - - 6% 11% 10% 7%
2001 - - 5% 6% 9% - - 5% 13% 6% 8%
2006 4% 3% 4% 4% 9% 6% 2% 5% 12% 5% 7%
2011 4% 4% 4% 2% 10% 5% 2% 4% 12% 5% 7%

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.
Video hire was available as a separate industry classification for the first time in 1996. Breakout data on production, post-production, and free-to-air and subscription broadcasting was available for the first time in 2006.
Industry definitions used by the ABS have changed over time. See Industry and occupation definitions for classifications and definitions.
n.a. data not available
1. Not further defined audiovisual industry categories. Figures are included in total of all selected audiovisual industries.

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Tasmania

According to the Census of Population and Housing conducted in August 2011, there were 722 people employed in selected audiovisual industries in Tasmania, representing 0.3 per cent of the state's total workforce and 2 per cent of the national audiovisual workforce.

Employment in Tasmania in the audiovisual sector fell by 5 per cent between 2006 (when it was 758) and 2011. All industries recorded a fall, except for film exhibition, which rose by 49 per cent. Overall, the film and video production and post-production segment was down by 2 per cent, but, within it, the post-production industry recorded a 57 per cent increase.

Data for some industry categories dates back to 1971; however, employment in the video hire industry was included in 1996 for the first time. Since then, there has been negligible change in the overall audiovisual employment in Tasmania.

  Film and video production and post-production services Film and video distribution Film exhibition Television broadcasting Video hire Undefined1 Total all selected audiovisual industries
Prod. Post. Total FTA Subs. Total
Number            
1971 - - 33 3 102 - - 392 n.a. n.a. 530
1976 - - 53 0 89 - - 420 n.a. n.a. 562
1981 - - 102 0 117 - - 435 n.a. n.a. 654
1986 - - 57 0 51 - - 481 n.a. n.a. 589
1991 - - 59 3 57 - - 354 n.a. n.a. 473
1996 - - 35 15 94 - - 376 184 22 726
2001 - - 66 14 171 - - 344 183 31 809
2006 56 7 63 4 124 340 19 359 205 3 758
2011 51 11 62 3 185 282 11 293 176 3 722
Change 06 to 11 -9% 57% -2% -25% 49% -17% -42% -18% -14% 0% -5%
National share            
1971 - - 2% 0% 2% - - 7% n.a. n.a. 4%
1976 - - 3% 0% 2% - - 5% n.a. n.a. 4%
1981 - - 3% 0% 3% - - 4% n.a. n.a. 3%
1986 - - 1% 0% 2% - - 4% n.a. n.a. 3%
1991 - - 1% 1% 2% - - 4% n.a. n.a. 3%
1996 - - <1% 1% 2% - - 3% 2% 1% 2%
2001 - - 1% 1% 2% - - 2% 2% 2% 2%
2006 1% 1% 1% <1% 1% 3% 1% 2% 2% 1% 2%
2011 1% 1% 1% <1% 2% 2% <1% 2% 2% 1% 2%

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.
Video hire was available as a separate industry classification for the first time in 1996. Breakout data on production, post-production, and free-to-air and subscription broadcasting was available for the first time in 2006.
Industry definitions used by the ABS have changed over time. See Industry and occupation definitions for classifications and definitions.
n.a. data not available
1. Not further defined audiovisual industry categories. Figures are included in total of all selected audiovisual industries.

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Northern Territory

According to the Census of Population and Housing conducted in August 2011, there were 394 people employed in selected audiovisual industries in the Northern Territory, representing 0.3 per cent of the territory's total workforce and 1 per cent of the national audiovisual workforce.

Employment in the Northern Territory in the audiovisual sector fell by 5 per cent between 2006 (when it was 414) and 2011, with the video hire industry recording the largest fall (down 18 per cent). Employment in television broadcasting fell by 6 per cent, but it continues be the largest audiovisual employer in the territory.

Data for some industry categories dates back to 1971; however, employment in the video hire industry was included in 1996 for the first time. Since then, overall audiovisual employment in the Northern Territory has fallen by 6 per cent, from 442.

  Film and video production and post-production services Film and video distribution Film exhibition Television broadcasting Video hire Undefined1 Total all selected audiovisual industries
Prod. Post. Total FTA Subs. Total
Number            
1971 - - 4 3 31 - - 6 n.a. n.a. 44
1976 - - 0 0 27 - - 33 n.a. n.a. 60
1981 - - 3 6 25 - - 54 n.a. n.a. 88
1986 - - 19 4 11 - - 113 n.a. n.a. 147
1991 - - 39 0 30 - - 135 n.a. n.a. 204
1996 - - 40 6 31 - - 232 112 21 442
2001 - - 44 0 77 - - 185 93 22 421
2006 24 3 27 0 78 212 17 229 77 3 414
2011 36 0 36 0 79 211 5 216 63 0 394
Change 06 to 11 50% -100% 33% 0% 1% >-1% -71% -6% -18% -100% -5%
National share            
1971 - - <1% <1% 1% - - <1% n.a. n.a. <1%
1976 - - 0% 0% 1% - - <1% n.a. n.a. <1%
1981 - - <1% 1% 1% - - 1% n.a. n.a. <1%
1986 - - <1% 1% <1% - - 1% n.a. n.a. 1%
1991 - - 1% 0% 1% - - 1% n.a. n.a. 1%
1996 - - 1% <1% 1% - - 2% 1% 1% 1%
2001 - - 1% 0% 1% - - 1% 1% 2% 1%
2006 <1% <1% <1% 0% 1% 2% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1%
2011 <1% 0% <1% 0% 1% 2% <1% 1% 1% 0% 1%

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.
Video hire was available as a separate industry classification for the first time in 1996. Breakout data on production, post-production, and free-to-air and subscription broadcasting was available for the first time in 2006.
Industry definitions used by the ABS have changed over time. See Industry and occupation definitions for classifications and definitions.
n.a. data not available
1. Not further defined audiovisual industry categories. Figures are included in total of all selected audiovisual industries.

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Australian Capital Territory

According to the Census of Population and Housing conducted in August 2011, there were 759 people employed in selected audiovisual industries in the Australian Capital Territory, representing 0.4 per cent of the territory's total workforce and 2 per cent of the national audiovisual workforce.

Employment in the ACT in the audiovisual sector fell by 20 per cent between 2006 (when it was 950) and 2011. The largest recorded falls were in the film and video distribution (down 67 per cent) and video hire (down 53 per cent) segments. Overall, television broadcasting was down 15 per cent but, within the segment, subscription television was up 60 per cent.

Data for some industry categories dates back to 1971; however, employment in the video hire industry was included in 1996 for the first time. Since then, overall audiovisual employment in the ACT has grown by 9 per cent, from 698.

  Film and video production and post-production services Film and video distribution Film exhibition Television broadcasting Video hire Undefined1 Total all selected audiovisual industries
Prod. Post.. Total FTA Subs. Total
Number            
1971 - - 5 0 48 - - 63 n.a. n.a. 116
1976 - - 0 0 95 - - 184 n.a. n.a. 279
1981 - - 9 3 64 - - 251 n.a. n.a. 327
1986 - - 18 10 69 - - 244 n.a. n.a. 341
1991 - - 33 12 64 - - 314 n.a. n.a. 423
1996 - - 54 19 134 - - 295 161 35 698
2001 - - 76 3 220 - - 337 228 59 923
2006 62 4 66 9 159 459 15 474 233 9 950
2011 54 4 58 3 184 378 24 402 109 3 759
Change 06 to 11 -13% 0% -12% -67% 16% -18% 60% -15% -53% -67% -20%
National share            
1971 - - <1% 0% 1% - - 1% n.a. n.a. 1%
1976 - - 0% 0% 2% - - 2% n.a. n.a. 2%
1981 - - <1% <1% 1% - - 2% n.a. n.a. 2%
1986 - - <1% 1% 2% - - 2% n.a. n.a. 2%
1991 - - 1% 2% 2% - - 3% n.a. n.a. 2%
1996 - - 1% 1% 3% - - 2% 2% 2% 2%
2001 - - 1% <1% 2% - - 2% 2% 5% 2%
2006 1% <1% 1% 1% 2% 4% 1% 3% 2% 2% 2%
2011 1% <1% 1% 1% 2% 3% 1% 2% 1% 1% 2%

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.
Video hire was available as a separate industry classification for the first time in 1996. Breakout data on production, post-production, and free-to-air and subscription broadcasting was available for the first time in 2006.
Industry definitions used by the ABS have changed over time. See Industry and occupation definitions for classifications and definitions.
n.a. data not available
1. Not further defined audiovisual industry categories. Figures are included in total of selected audiovisual industries.

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