The table chart compares the percentage of workforce employed in different industries in Australia from 1989 to 2009.
Overall, except for the figures for manufacturing and retail, the others followed an upward trend, with the percentage of tourism witnessing a significant increase. Despite having the highest proportion at the beginning, manufacturing saw a dramatic decrease at the end of the period. Whereas, tourism ranked the lowest position during the period.
In 2009, manufacturing employment recorded the highest figure, at 15%, 5,4% higher than the figure for health care. After two decades, there was an increase in the percentage of health care, climbing to 11,3%, surpassing the percentage of manufacturing, which stood at 9,8%. Meanwhile, the tourism industry recorded at 5,5% in 1989, it then rose up to 7,3%, however, this category still maintained the lowest position during three decades.
At the beginning, the percentage of retail was 11,8%, this figure witnessed a slight decrease in 2009, at 10,1%. In contrast, the construction industry and the education industry experienced an increase, at 7,6% and 6,8% in 1989, rising to 8,3% and 7,5%, with the percentage of health care reaching the highest proportion during the end of the period.