Overview
EMPLOYED
328,900
PART-TIME SHARE
17%
WORKFORCE SHARE
2.2%
FEMALE SHARE
32%
MEDIAN WEEKLY EARNINGS
$1,588
MEDIAN AGE
43
Wholesale Trade is a small employing industry. Around 2.2% of workers have their main job in this industry.
Wholesalers don't usually have a shop front to sell their items; they are the middle step between manufactures and retailers or businesses.
Median earnings are $1,588 per week, lower than all industries median earnings of $1,741.
Details
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Employment
Employment in the Wholesale Trade industry fell over the 20 years to February 2026.
The number of workers fell by 20,400 (or -5.8%) over the last year.
| Quarterly employment, Wholesale Trade | Employment |
|---|---|
| 382500 | |
| 384500 | |
| 386400 | |
| 388400 | |
| 390300 | |
| 392100 | |
| 393900 | |
| 395800 | |
| 397600 | |
| 399400 | |
| 401200 | |
| 402900 | |
| 404600 | |
| 406200 | |
| 407600 | |
| 408900 | |
| 410000 | |
| 410800 | |
| 411500 | |
| 412000 | |
| 412400 | |
| 412700 | |
| 412900 | |
| 412900 | |
| 412700 | |
| 412300 | |
| 411600 | |
| 410500 | |
| 409000 | |
| 407000 | |
| 404400 | |
| 401600 | |
| 398500 | |
| 395200 | |
| 391900 | |
| 388700 | |
| 385600 | |
| 382600 | |
| 379900 | |
| 377400 | |
| 375200 | |
| 373500 | |
| 372100 | |
| 371200 | |
| 370700 | |
| 370700 | |
| 371100 | |
| 371900 | |
| 373000 | |
| 374400 | |
| 375800 | |
| 377200 | |
| 378400 | |
| 379300 | |
| 379800 | |
| 379900 | |
| 379500 | |
| 378800 | |
| 377800 | |
| 376600 | |
| 375200 | |
| 373800 | |
| 372500 | |
| 371400 | |
| 370600 | |
| 370000 | |
| 369600 | |
| 369300 | |
| 369000 | |
| 368400 | |
| 367600 | |
| 366100 | |
| 364100 | |
| 361300 | |
| 357800 | |
| 353800 | |
| 349300 | |
| 344400 | |
| 339400 | |
| 334200 | |
| 328900 |
Sectors
Other Machinery and Equipment Wholesaling is the largest sector in the Wholesale Trade industry, employing 58,900 workers.
| Employment by industry sectors | Employment |
|---|---|
| Other Machinery and Equipment Wholesaling | 58900 |
| Grocery, Liquor and Tobacco Product Wholesaling | 56300 |
| Furniture, Floor Covering and Other Goods Wholesaling | 38700 |
| Timber and Hardware Goods Wholesaling | 35400 |
| Specialised Industrial Machinery and Equipment Wholesaling | 30100 |
| Mineral, Metal and Chemical Wholesaling | 27900 |
| Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts Wholesaling | 23500 |
| Agricultural Product Wholesaling | 20500 |
| Pharmaceutical and Toiletry Goods Wholesaling | 20500 |
| Textile, Clothing and Footwear Wholesaling | 11300 |
| Commission-Based Wholesaling | 6400 |
Occupations
Storepersons is the largest employing occupation in the Wholesale Trade industry.
The 10 largest employing occupations are shown below.
Some occupations are common across a number of industries.
Largest employing occupations
| ANZSCO Code | Occupation title |
|---|---|
| 7411 | Storepersons |
| 5911 | Purchasing and Supply Logistics Clerks |
| 6113 | Sales Representatives |
| 1311 | Advertising, Public Relations and Sales Manager |
| 6211 | Sales Assistants (General) |
| 1333 | Importers, Exporters and Wholesalers |
| 7213 | Forklift Drivers |
| 2254 | Technical Sales Representatives |
| 1421 | Retail Managers |
| 7331 | Truck Drivers |
Data Downloads
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.