OSCA 342231

Arborist

Overview

  • Employed persons

    5,600

  • Employment status

    80.3% Full time

    19.6% Part time

  • Median age

    36 years

  • Employment by sex

    3.2% Female

    96.9% Male

    Almost completely male dominated

  • Indigenous employment share

    3.2%

  • Main employing industry

    Administrative and Support Services

Indicator Arborist Total employment
Employed persons 5,600 12,049,400
Median age 36 years 40 years
Full-time share 80.3% 64.2%
Part-time share 19.6% 35.8%
Female employment share 3.2% 48.5%
Male employment share 96.9% 51.5%
Gender segregation intensity scale Almost completely male dominated Gender balanced
Indigenous employment share 3.2% 2.2%
Main employing industry Administrative and Support Services Health Care and Social Assistance
Note: N/A values indicate data are not available due to confidentiality or data reliability requirements.

Occupation overview

Arborists provide specialist assessment and advice on individual trees and tree management in urban environments, including risk assessment, species selection and site planning. They work with Professionals such as Urban and Regional Planners, Landscape Architects and Environmental Consultants to provide strategic planning for urban forest preservation, protection and management.

What the occupation involves

  • Assesses and documents tree health and risk in urban areas
  • Advises on tree species selection for urban environments
  • Develops, implements and monitors tree management plans
  • Collaborates with planners and architects on tree integration in urban design
  • Ensures tree management aligns with environmental regulations
  • Conducts tree surveys and inventories
  • Makes recommendations for tree planting, pruning and removal

Common occupation titles

  • Arboriculturist
  • Urban Forester

Specialisations

  • Arboricultural Consultant

Note: Specialisations are examples of roles in within this occupation and are not separate OSCA occupations.

Skill level (education and experience level)

Skill level 2
equivalent to a Diploma or Advanced Diploma level qualification.

Note: While skill levels are described using formal education levels, some people use a combination of informal learning, on-the-job training and personal experience to achieve an equivalent level.

Licensing or registration requirements

No licensing or registration requirements are listed for this occupation.

OSCA structure

Technicians and Trades Workers (3)

Employment

On this page

    Industries

    Top 10 most common industries, 2021

    Arborist Total employment
    Industry Share of occupation Industry Share of occupation
    Administrative and Support Services 54.6% Health Care and Social Assistance 14.5%
    Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing 19.7% Retail Trade 9.1%
    Public Administration and Safety 12.9% Construction 8.9%
    Construction 2.2% Education and Training 8.8%
    Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services 1.7% Professional, Scientific and Technical Services 7.8%
    Professional, Scientific and Technical Services 1.6% Public Administration and Safety 6.6%
    Arts and Recreation Services 0.8% Accommodation and Food Services 6.5%
    Education and Training 0.2% Manufacturing 5.9%
    Manufacturing 0.2% Transport, Postal and Warehousing 4.5%
    Other Services 0.1% Financial and Insurance Services 3.7%
    Note: N/A values indicate data are not available due to confidentiality or data reliability requirements.

    States and territories

    Employment distribution by states and territories, 2021

    • New South Wales

      29.8%

    • Victoria

      32.3%

    • Queensland

      18.2%

    • South Australia

      8.7%

    • Tasmania

      2.5%

    • Northern Territory

      0.6%

    • Australian Capital Territory

      1.5%

    Arborist Total employment
    State / Territory Employment Share of occupation Employment Share of occupation
    New South Wales 1,700 29.8% 3,684,200 30.6%
    Victoria 1,800 32.3% 3,162,900 26.2%
    Queensland 1,000 18.2% 2,444,100 20.3%
    South Australia 490 8.7% 839,400 7.0%
    Western Australia 360 6.4% 1,306,200 10.8%
    Tasmania 140 2.5% 254,700 2.1%
    Northern Territory 40 0.6% 107,000 0.9%
    Australian Capital Territory 80 1.5% 248,600 2.1%
    Note: N/A values indicate data are not available due to confidentiality or data reliability requirements.

    Age and sex

    Employment distibution by age group and sex, 2021

    Arborist

    Total employment

    Age group Arborist Total employment
    15–24 years 12.0% 14.3%
    25–34 years 34.0% 22.7%
    35–44 years 26.2% 22.3%
    45–54 years 17.6% 20.4%
    55–64 years 8.4% 15.3%
    65–74 years 1.6% 4.3%
    75 years and over 0.2% 0.6%
    Note: N/A values indicate data are not available due to confidentiality or data reliability requirements.
    Sex Arborist Total employment
    Female 3.2% 48.5%
    Male 96.9% 51.5%
    Note: N/A values indicate data are not available due to confidentiality or data reliability requirements.

    On this page

      OSCA occupation profiles data

      This file contains data available from the OSCA Occupation Profile page.

      Use of this data must include the relevant attribution text provided.

      OSCA Occupation data - 2021 Census.xlsx

      xlsx 1236447

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      Occupation Standard Classification for Australia (OSCA)

      Occupation Standard Classification for Australia (OSCA) is the skill-based classification used to categorise occupations across the Australian labour market. OSCA is used to define occupations across all official occupational statistics. OSCA replaces the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO).

      Each job is classified to one, and only one, group of jobs at each level of the classification with no overlaps. This prevents the accidental double-counting of roles within the Australian labour market. For more information about OSCA, visit the What is OSCA information page, or the ABS website.

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