Australian Government - SkillsInfo

Wholesale Trade employs approximately 405,000 persons, full time and part time, which is around 3.8 per cent of the total workforce. Over the past five years, employment in the industry has increased at a rate of 1.1 per cent per annum. The median age for workers in this industry is 41 years and median earnings are around $920 per week (before tax) for full-time employees.

Industry Employment Outlooks provide detailed analysis of employment characteristics, trends and prospects by industry, and highlight specific sectors where job growth is the strongest. Specific issues highlighted in these outlooks include workforce ageing, employment share by gender, educational profile, weekly earnings, average hours worked, regional and occupational employment.

Below is a 'snapshot' of the Wholesale Trade industry. For more detailed information go to the Industry Employment Profiles or directly to the Industry and Regional Tables page for data on broad (ANZSIC 1 digit) industries.

For information on data sources, including time periods, go to the Help page.

The following summary table illustrates how this historical trend translates into rates of growth within various time intervals (i.e. one, two, five and ten years).

           

Source: DEEWR Trend Data based on ABS Labour Force, Australia, Cat no: 6291.0.55.003 – August 2009.

The following shows projected future growth, general employment characteristics and the proportion of workers aged 45 years and over in the Wholesale Trade industry.

            

Characteristics and Mature Age Source: DEEWR Special Order based on ABS Labour Force, Australia, Cat no: 6291.0.55.003 – Calendar Year Average 2008.

The following shows the top 10 employing DEEWR Labour Market Regions (LMRs) for this industry including the number employed by each region (in 000's):

Melbourne	96.5
Sydney	94.7
Brisbane	52.0
Perth	34.5
Adelaide	22.0
Hunter	15.1
Central and North QLD	13.4
Western Victoria	11.4
Southern NSW (incl ACT)	9.5
Tasmania	8.6
Source: Four quarter average based on ABS Labour Force, Australia, Cat no: 6291.0.55.003 – August 2009

Using the following two links you can view more details of employment in this industry by ABS Labour Force Region and by DEEWR Labour Market Region. 

The top employing occupations in Wholesale Trade are shown below. Click on any of the occupation titles to go to the Job Outlook web page for that occupation. Job Outlook contains a comprehensive statistical profile for each occupation, as well as links to Australian JobSearch and MyFuture. 

Sales Representatives	30.4
Storepersons	28.7
Advertising and Sales Managers	22.7
Purchasing and Supply Logistics Clerks	18.3
Importers, Exporters and Wholesalers	16.1
Technical Sales Representatives	13.0
Accounting Clerks	12.7
Truck Drivers	12.7
Sales Assistants (General)	12.6
Forklift Drivers	12.5
Source: DEEWR Special Order based on ABS Labour Force, Australia, Cat no: 6291.0.55.003 – Calendar Year Average 2009.

Education and Training

• Service Skills Australia - Find Training in Wholesale  

Industry Skill Needs

• Furnishing Industry Report 2007 - Office of Training and Tertiary Education (VIC) 
• Mature Age Fact Sheet - Wholesale
• Service Skills Australia - Environmental Scan 2008
• Wholesale, Retail and Personal Services Industry Report 2007 - Office of Training and Tertiary Education (VIC)    
• Wholesale and Retail Trade Industry Profile 2008 - SA Workforce Information Service     

Careers and Job Opportunities

• Furnishing Industry Action Agenda
• Service Skills Australia - Careers Gateway     

Industry Organisations and Government Departments

• Service Skills Australia (Industry Skills Council)
• WRAPS WA (Wholesale, Retail and Personal Services Industry Training Council)

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