South Melbourne · Suburb / Locality

Jobs & Industry in South Melbourne

Work across the area — who is in the labour force, in which industries and jobs.

A far higher share of residents are in full-time work in South Melbourne than in the rest of the state. This professional hub sees 69.2% of its workers in full-time roles, which is 10 percentage points above the Victorian and national figures. While more people here are working or looking for work, the unemployment rate of 5.2% is slightly higher than most other areas.

Open map →
📍 South Melbourne, Suburb / Locality

Where South Melbourne sits — Unemployment rate

5.2% ▲ +2.0%
  • 0.0%–0.7%: 3703 areas
  • 0.7%–1.4%: 103 areas
  • 1.4%–2.1%: 342 areas
  • 2.1%–2.9%: 614 areas
  • 2.9%–3.6%: 1044 areas
  • 3.6%–4.3%: 1267 areas
  • 4.3%–5.0%: 1094 areas
  • 5.0%–5.7%: 751 areas
  • 5.7%–6.4%: 629 areas
  • 6.4%–7.1%: 426 areas
  • 7.1%–7.9%: 306 areas
  • 7.9%–8.6%: 245 areas
  • 8.6%–9.3%: 201 areas
  • 9.3%–10.0%: 136 areas
  • 10.0%–10.7%: 158 areas
  • 10.7%–11.4%: 91 areas
  • 11.4%–12.1%: 90 areas
  • 12.1%–12.9%: 66 areas
  • 12.9%–13.6%: 76 areas
  • 13.6%–14.3%: 41 areas
  • 14.3%–15.0%: 37 areas
  • 15.0%–15.7%: 37 areas
  • 15.7%–16.4%: 23 areas
  • 16.4%–17.1%: 22 areas
  • 17.1%–17.9%: 25 areas
  • 17.9%–18.6%: 23 areas
  • 18.6%–19.3%: 20 areas
  • 19.3%–20.0%: 167 areas

All suburb / locality areas, 2021. The marker is South Melbourne — higher than 71% of areas.

Unemployment rate compared with the state and national average
South Melbourne5.2%
3205, VIC 5.2%
Victoria 5.0%
Australia 5.1%

Labour force

Employment, participation and unemployment.

Around 68.4% of adults are working or looking for work, a figure well above the national average of 61.1%. This high level of activity is driven by a strong full-time employment rate, though the 5.2% unemployment rate is about the same as the state and national figures.

5.2% ▲ +2.0%

Higher than 71% of suburb / locality areas.

  • 2011: 5.1%
  • 2016: 6.1%
  • 2021: 5.2%

Unemployed people as a share of the labour force (aged 15+).

68.4% ▲ +6.9%

Higher than 77% of suburb / locality areas.

  • 2011: 64.0%
  • 2016: 63.6%
  • 2021: 68.4%

Share of people aged 15+ who are in the labour force.

69.2% ▼ -3.7%

Higher than 87% of suburb / locality areas.

  • 2011: 71.9%
  • 2016: 72.4%
  • 2021: 69.2%

Share of employed people who worked full-time.

Industries

The industries that employ local workers.

Professional and technical services are the biggest employers at 19.8%. Other common industries include health care and social assistance at 9.7%, followed by finance and insurance at 8.4%.

Occupations

The kinds of jobs people do.

The workforce is dominated by professionals and managers, who make up 40.5% and 21.4% of jobs respectively. Clerical and administrative roles account for 11.9% of the local workforce.

Occupations people work in

View on map →

In South Melbourne, the largest group is Professionals at 41%, followed by Managers (22%) and Clerical & administrative (12%).

Sources

  • Census of Population and Housing — Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2021 (CC BY 4.0).

More for South Melbourne

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Jobs & Industry in South Melbourne [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/sal/SAL22310/south-melbourne/topic/employment