With the next Australian Census taking place on 11 August 2026, we highlight the importance of accurately reporting occupation information and outline how Census occupation data is used to inform workforce planning, skills policy and training investment across Australia.

Overview

• Census occupation data helps shape workforce planning, skills policy and training investment across Australia
• Use a clear occupation title and describe your main tasks in as much detail as practical
• If you have multiple jobs, report the one you usually spend the most time doing
• Accurate responses help ensure that your occupation and industry are properly represented in national statistics

Why is the Census important for employment data?

• The Census is Australia’s most detailed source of data on individual occupations due to it covering every person in Australia
• Because it is only published every 5 years, the data is influential for a long time
• Census data helps government, industry bodies and training organisations understanding workforce size, composition and workforce needs.
• Insights from Census data are used to assess conditions for businesses, non-profit organisations and the workforce, especially in regional areas and for disadvantaged cohorts such as people with disabilities, Indigenous Australians and women

How does the Census identify occupations?

Respondents fill out free-text fields about their job:

• Occupation title
• Main tasks they do

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) then uses these answers to assign the job to an occupation label. The full set of available labels are listed in a national statistical classification framework called OSCA (Occupation Standard Classification for Australia).

Ensuring accurate data

To ensure jobs are matched to the correct occupation label, respondents’ free-text for title and tasks should align as closely as possible with recognised industry terminology and the occupation descriptions used in OSCA.

• OSCA descriptions of occupations and tasks can be searched here
• Lists of OSCA occupations of specific relevance to each SaCSA sector are in the Appendix

Respondents should also be as descriptive as possible when listing tasks. This will help ensure that your occupation and industry are properly represented in national statistics.

If the person’s official job title is unique or uncommon, they should still provide that title but ensure their task descriptions clearly explain the work they perform.

What about people with multiple jobs and freelance workers?

A job is defined as any activity in which a person earns income. The Census questions concerning occupations focus on a person’s ‘main’ job. This is defined as the job where they typically work the most hours.

These definitions are important for people who hold multiple jobs at once. A person’s ‘main’ job must meet these criteria:

• they must earn income from it, even if it is low or irregular
• it is the job on which they usually spend the most time
• they held that job in the week before the Census (even if they didn’t earn any income from it during that week)

For people who only work casual, freelance or irregular jobs: if they did not work in the week before Census but did work at some stage in the four weeks, at Question 38 they should select the ‘Yes, but absent on holidays, on leave, no rostered shifts, or any other reason’ option. This allows them to fill in more information about their occupation.

Identifying new and emerging occupations

The OSCA framework is regularly reviewed to identify new and emerging occupations. One of the inputs to this process is analysis of the free-text responses.

One example of a new occupation recently added to the OSCA framework is digital game developer. The decision to add a new occupation is based on many inputs, including evidence on the size and distinctiveness of the workforce performing the occupation. Free-text responses can provide evidence supporting this. Occupations generally need to represent a sufficiently large and distinct workforce before a separate occupation category is created.

 

List of occupation labels – by sector

These lists include only occupations that are specific to the relevant sector.  They are provided to help organisations understand how workers in their sector are classified within OSCA.

All industries will employ occupations that are not specific to their sector. For example, an accountant working for a film company is not considered to be arts-specific, while a film director is. While these are not listed below, they would be included in overall industry numbers.

Arts occupations in OSCA

The table below lists arts-specific occupations in OSCA. It is based on the list of OSCA occupations the Australian Government groups as ‘cultural and creative’.[1]

Note also that SaCSA’s Arts occupations scope is narrower than this full ‘cultural and creative’ list. For example, architecture is considered part of the creative sector but does not fall within SaCSA’s primary area of responsibility. SaCSA’s occupational scope is based on the list of VET Training Packages for which it is responsible.

Table 1: Arts occupations

OSCA code	OSCA occupation title	In SaCSA occupation scope?
112131	Advertising manager
149131	Arts administrator or manager	✓
149132	Library services manager	✓
149199	Arts, culture and sports administrators nec	✓
161333	Cinema or theatre manager	✓
172231	Event manager
221131	Advertising specialist
231131	Actor	✓
231132	Circus performer or trainer	✓
231133	Content creator (social media)	✓
231134	Dancer or choreographer	✓
231135	Entertainer or variety performer	✓
231199	Actors, dancers and other entertainers nec	✓
231231	Author	✓
231232	Book or script editor	✓
231331	Copywriter
231332	Journalist	✓
231333	Print or digital content editor
231334	Technical writer
231399	Journalist and other writers nec	✓
231431	Artistic director	✓
231432	Audio or live performance director	✓
231433	Cinematographer	✓
231434	Film and video editor	✓
231435	Production manager (screen or live performance)	✓
231436	Screen director	✓
231437	Screen or live performance designer	✓
231438	Technical director	✓
231499	Media directors and designers nec	✓
231531	Audio producer	✓
231532	Live performance producer	✓
231533	Screen producer	✓
231631	Composer	✓
231632	Music director	✓
231633	Musician (instrumental)	✓
231634	Singer	✓
231699	Music professionals nec	✓
231731	Painter (visual arts)	✓
231732	Potter or ceramic artist	✓
231733	Sculptor	✓
231799	Visual arts and crafts professionals nec	✓
231931	Community arts worker	✓
231932	Media presenter	✓
232131	Librarian	✓
232332	Archivist	✓
232334	Gallery or museum curator	✓
232335	Heritage consultant
232336	Historian
241131	Architect
241132	Landscape architect
241133	Urban designer
242131	Multimedia designer
242132	UI/UX designer
242133	Web Designer
242231	Fashion designer
242232	Industrial designer
242233	Jewellery designer
242234	Textile designer
242431	Interior designer
242331	Animator or visual effects artist	✓
242332	Graphic designer	✓
242333	Illustrator	✓
244931	Conservator	✓
259231	Art teacher (private tuition)	✓
259232	Dance teacher (private tuition)	✓
259233	Speech and drama teacher (private tuition)	✓
259431	Music teacher (private tuition)	✓
259299	Arts and personal enrichment teachers (private tuition) nec	✓
261931	Arts therapist
261933	Music therapist
273131	Digital game developer	✓
273333	Software engineer
312131	Architectural engineer
312132	Building designer
312133	Detailer drafter
312134	Landscape designer
312199	Building and landscape designers and technicians nec
391131	Gallery or museum technician	✓
391132	Library technician
391231	Audio engineer	✓
391232	Broadcast technician	✓
391233	Camera operator (film, television or video)	✓
391234	Lighting technician	✓
391299	Performing arts technicians nec	✓
391331	Photographer	✓
391431	Graphic pre-press operator
391432	Print finisher
391433	Printing machinist
391531	Signwriter
391931	Interior decorator
391932	Jeweller
391933	Musical instrument maker or repairer	✓
411931	Recreation officer	✓
461232	Make-up Artist
461631	Gallery or museum guide	✓
461932	Fashion stylist
461936	Photographer’s assistant	✓
599132	Library assistant	✓
599934	Production assistant (audio, screen or live performance)	✓
599935	Production coordinator (audio, screen or live performance)	✓
619132	Model	✓
619135	Visual merchandiser
619931	Entertainment venue attendant	✓
731936	Photographic print processor	✓
899999	Labourers nec	✓

 

Personal services occupations in OSCA

Table 2: Personal services occupations

OSCA code	OSCA occupation title	In SaCSA occupation scope?
172431	Hair or beauty salon manager	✓
172499	Hair, body and beauty service managers nec	✓
232231	Religious leader	✓
342331	Florist	✓
392131	Barber	✓
392132	Hairdresser	✓
461131	Beauty therapist	✓
461132	Dermal therapist	✓
461231	Body artist	✓
461232	Make-up artist	✓
461332	Funeral director	✓
461333	Funeral worker	✓
461934	Hair or beauty salon assistant	✓
461937	Religious assistant	✓
461938	Sex worker or escort	✓
631933	Rental salesperson	✓
899931	Car park attendant	✓

 

Retail occupations in OSCA

Table 3: Retail occupations

OSCA code	OSCA occupation title	In SaCSA occupation scope?
112133	Sales and marketing manager	✓
133131	Importer or exporter	✓
133132	Wholesaler	✓
162131	Retail manager (general)	✓
162132	Antique dealer	✓
221633	Sales representative (industrial products)	✓
221634	Sales representative (medical and pharmaceutical products)	✓
221699	Technical sales representatives nec	✓
263431	Community pharmacist	✓
311331	Community pharmacy technician	✓
452236	Retail loss prevention officer	✓
461932	Fashion stylist	✓
571231	Order clerk	✓
571431	Stock clerk	✓
571531	Warehouse administrator	✓
611131	Checkout operator	✓
619133	Sales demonstrator	✓
619135	Visual merchandiser	✓
619932	Merchandise planner	✓
619933	Personal shopper	✓
619935	Retail buyer	✓
619999	Sales support workers nec	✓
621231	Sales representative (building and plumbing supplies)	✓
621232	Sales representative (business services)	✓
621234	Sales representative (personal and household goods)	✓
621299	Sales representatives nec	✓
631131	Sales assistant (general)	✓
631231	Community pharmacy sales assistant	✓
631331	ICT sales assistant	✓
631531	Retail supervisor	✓
631631	Service station attendant	✓
631931	Door-to-door salesperson	✓
631934	Street vendor	✓
631999	Sales assistants and salespersons nec	✓
721131	Storeperson	✓
721132	Warehouse supervisor	✓
891231	Shelf filler	✓
899938	Trolley collector	✓
899941	Vending machine attendant	✓

 

Tourism occupations in OSCA

Table 4: Tourism occupation

OSCA code	OSCA occupation title	In SaCSA occupation scope?
161933	Travel agency manager	✓
172231	Event manager	✓
461632	Tour guide	✓
461633	Tourist information officer	✓
461831	Travel consultant	✓
619934	Reservations agent	✓

 

Hospitality occupations in OSCA

Table 5: Hospitality occupations

OSCA code	OSCA occupation title	In SaCSA occupation scope?
172933	Retirement village manager	✓
161131	Accommodation service manager	✓
161231	Cafe or restaurant manager	✓
161232	Catering manager	✓
161331	Amusement centre manager	✓
161332	Betting agency manager	✓
161399	Entertainment, fitness and sports venue managers nec	✓
161431	Hotel or motel manager	✓
161531	Licensed club manager	✓
161631	Senior chef	✓
161931	Caravan park and camping ground manager	✓
161932	Hosted accommodation operator	✓
161999	Hospitality, tourism and venue managers nec	✓
321131	Chef	✓
322331	Cook	✓
322431	Pastrycook	✓
471131	Bar attendant	✓
471231	Barista	✓
471331	Cafe worker	✓
471431	Gaming attendant	✓
471432	Gaming dealer or croupier	✓
471531	Bar supervisor	✓
471532	Cafe or restaurant supervisor	✓
471533	Front office supervisor (accommodation)	✓
471534	Gaming supervisor	✓
471535	Housekeeping supervisor	✓
471631	Sommelier	✓
471632	Waiter	✓
471931	Bar useful	✓
471932	Doorperson or porter	✓
471999	Hospitality workers nec	✓
549131	Betting clerk	✓
549132	Bookmaker	✓
553231	Hotel or motel receptionist	✓
811431	Commercial housekeeper	✓
811432	Domestic housekeeper	✓
851131	Fast food cook	✓
851231	Kitchenhand (general)	✓
851232	Dishwasher	✓
851233	Pastrycook’s assistant	✓
851299	Food preparation assistants nec	✓
899131	Caretaker	✓

Useful References

You can search the OSCA framework, or see the whole structure, here:

https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/classifications/osca-occupation-standard-classification-australia/2024-version-1-0

This guide draws on ABS advice about the 2026 Census questions on jobs and occupations and how to answer them:

https://info.census.abs.gov.au/about/about-census-questions/income-and-work/jobs-and-work and

https://info.census.abs.gov.au/about/about-census-questions/income-and-work/occupation-and-duties

[1] The wider list of all ‘cultural and creative occupations’ comes from Bureau of Communications, Arts and Regional Research, Measuring Australia’s Cultural and Creative Workforce, 2008-09 to 2023-24 – Interim Report (2025), https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/measuring-australias-cultural-and-creative-workforce-2008-09-to-2023-24-december2025.pdf.

For further advice or information tailored to your organisation, please reach out to the Insights & Planning team at SaCSA: iap@sacsa.org.au

We encourage our stakeholders to delve deeper into these reports and strategies to understand their potential impact and leverage them in planning and decision-making. As always, we remain committed to supporting a vibrant and sustainable workforce across all industries.