Professional, Scientific and Technical Services

EMPLOYED

1,376,100

PART-TIME SHARE

20%

WORKFORCE SHARE

9.3%

FEMALE SHARE

44%

MEDIAN WEEKLY EARNINGS

$2,071

MEDIAN AGE

40

Professional, Scientific and Technical Services is a large employing industry. Around 9.3% of workers have their main job in this industry.

Businesses in this industry sell their expertise as a service. Some examples include:

  • scientific research
  • architecture and engineering
  • computer system design
  • legal and accounting services
  • advertising and market research
  • veterinary services
  • professional photography.

A large share of the workforce work in cities.

Median earnings are $2,071 per week, higher than all industries median earnings of $1,741.

On this page

    Employment

    Employment in the Professional, Scientific and Technical Services industry grew over the 20 years to November 2025.
    The number of workers grew by 64,200 (or 4.9%) over the last year.

    Source: ABS, Labour Force Survey, Detailed, November 2025, Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) trend data.
    Note: Over the COVID-19 pandemic period (highlighted section in the chart above), some industries have censored values, resulting in a broken series for impacted industries. This is due to large quarterly fluctuations in employment resulting in trend data being unreliable for these quarters. Where data are available over the COVID-19 pandemic period, JSA recommends caution when using these trend estimates.
    Quarterly employment, Professional, Scientific and Technical Services Employment
    701700
    713100
    722700
    730300
    735500
    740400
    748500
    758900
    768900
    776800
    780700
    782800
    784900
    786400
    791700
    802600
    817000
    829500
    837700
    843400
    847900
    852500
    856800
    863800
    873200
    885100
    896600
    903800
    906900
    907200
    905800
    904700
    905900
    912500
    924100
    938100
    954300
    971600
    986400
    995800
    1003200
    1008100
    1010700
    1012600
    1010800
    1008600
    1008100
    1010900
    1017700
    1028800
    1045100
    1064200
    1084100
    1103800
    1119300
    1128300
    1129900
    1128100
    1127400
    1133700
    1147800
    1164800
    1181000
    1196100
    1213500
    1232800
    1251100
    1267500
    1282000
    1296300
    1309000
    1315100
    1316800
    1315100
    1311500
    1309200
    1311900
    1322300
    1341300
    1360000
    1376100

    Sectors

    Computer System Design and Related Services is the largest sector in the Professional, Scientific and Technical Services industry, employing 360,600 workers.

    Source: ABS, Labour Force Survey, Detailed, November 2025, Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) trend data.
    Note: the sum of sectoral employment may not equal the industry total as data are trended separately, and not further defined (nfd) classifications have been excluded.
    Employment by industry sectors Employment
    Computer System Design and Related Services 360600
    Architectural, Engineering and Technical Services 334400
    Legal and Accounting Services 331400
    Management and Related Consulting Services 136000
    Scientific Research Services 63000
    Market Research and Statistical Services 44300
    Veterinary Services 40800
    Other Professional, Scientific and Technical Services 36900
    Advertising Services 32800

    Occupations

    Software and Applications Programmers is the largest employing occupation in the Professional, Scientific and Technical Services industry.

    The 10 largest employing occupations are shown below.

    Some occupations are common across a number of industries.

    Largest employing occupations

    Industry data

    This file contains data for all 19 industries to make comparing industry data easy. Information available includes:

    • industry overview
    • industry employment (20-year time series)
    • industry sector employment
    • top employing occupations by industry.

     

    Industry data - November 2025.xlsx

    industry_data_-_november_2025.xlsx100516

    Download