Employment by industry sector - international

Australia is predominantly a services economy. The largest proportion of businesses and workers in Australia are engaged in services.  

According to the OECD, more than three-quarters of national employment in 2012 was in services, reflecting Australia's strengths in the knowledge-intensive finance, ICT and business and professional services industries, which are concentrated in Sydney.

New South Wales (NSW) is Australia's leading services state, and dominates the nation's:

• financial and insurance services
• professional, scientific and technical services
• information media and telecommunications 
• tourism-related accommodation and food services, and
• arts and recreation services industries.  

Services (including construction and utilities) accounted for 86% of the value of industry output in New South Wales in 2012-13. NSW also dominates Australia's services exports, accounting for a 40% share in 2012-13.

Globally, the diverse and high-value services sector contributes more to economic growth and job creation than any other. The competitiveness of NSW' services sector is supported by a diverse, highly skilled and motivated workforce.  

Employment by Industry Sector - International, 2012 (% of total employment)

Country	Agriculture	Industry1	Services
Hong Kong SAR	0.1	11.5	88.4
United States	1.5	17.3	81.2
United Kingdom	1.2	18.9	79.9
Australia	2.8	20.8	76.4
France	2.9	21.7	75.4
Germany	1.6	24.7	73.7
New Zealand	6.6	19.7	73.6
Japan	3.8	25.0	71.1
Singapore2	0.0	29.8	70.2
Korea	6.2	24.2	69.6
Malaysia	12.6	28.4	59.0
Taiwan	5.0	36.2	58.8
Philippines	32.2	15.3	52.5
Indonesia	35.1	21.7	43.2
Thailand	39.6	20.9	39.5
China3	34.8	29.5	35.7
India3	50.2	23.0	26.8

Footnotes:

1. Industry comprises mining, manufacturing, utilities and construction
2. Singapore data for industry includes agriculture
3. 2011 data  

Source: OECD Main Economic Indicators, 2013 as cited in The IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook, 2013, Switzerland, www.imd.ch/wcy