OSCA 599132

Library Assistant

Overview

  • Employed persons

    9,500

  • Employment status

    33.7% Full time

    66.2% Part time

  • Median age

    50 years

  • Employment by sex

    86.8% Female

    13.3% Male

    Highly female dominated

  • Indigenous employment share

    1.8%

  • Main employing industry

    Education and Training

Indicator Library Assistant Total employment
Employed persons 9,500 12,049,400
Median age 50 years 40 years
Full-time share 33.7% 64.2%
Part-time share 66.2% 35.8%
Female employment share 86.8% 48.5%
Male employment share 13.3% 51.5%
Gender segregation intensity scale Highly female dominated Gender balanced
Indigenous employment share 1.8% 2.2%
Main employing industry Education and Training Health Care and Social Assistance
Note: N/A values indicate data are not available due to confidentiality or data reliability requirements.

Occupation overview

Library Assistants assist with routine enquiries, operate library management systems, process and shelve library items, and assist with promotional activities.

What the occupation involves

  • Operates library management systems to enable library users to borrow items
  • Sorts and shelves returned items
  • Maintains, locates and retrieves library items on request
  • Inspects returned physical items for damage and makes minor repairs
  • Undertakes routine troubleshooting of library equipment
  • Responds to routine enquiries from library users
  • Assists with the preparation of displays and promotional activities

Common occupation titles

  • Library Customer Service Officer
  • Library Officer
  • Library Services Officer

Specialisations

No specialisations are listed for this occupation.

Skill level (education and experience level)

Skill level 4
equivalent to a lower‑level Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualification (Certificate II or III).

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

Clerical and Administrative Workers (5)

Employment

On this page

    Industries

    Top 10 most common industries, 2021

    Library Assistant Total employment
    Industry Share of occupation Industry Share of occupation
    Education and Training 38.6% Health Care and Social Assistance 14.5%
    Public Administration and Safety 37.3% Retail Trade 9.1%
    Information Media and Telecommunications 21.3% Construction 8.9%
    Health Care and Social Assistance 0.5% Education and Training 8.8%
    Other Services 0.5% Professional, Scientific and Technical Services 7.8%
    Professional, Scientific and Technical Services 0.4% Public Administration and Safety 6.6%
    Arts and Recreation Services 0.2% Accommodation and Food Services 6.5%
    Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services 0.2% Manufacturing 5.9%
    Wholesale Trade 0.2% Transport, Postal and Warehousing 4.5%
    Accommodation and Food 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

      24.8%

    • Victoria

      21.3%

    • Queensland

      21.1%

    • South Australia

      9.9%

    • Tasmania

      2.3%

    • Northern Territory

      1.0%

    • Australian Capital Territory

      2.5%

    Library Assistant Total employment
    State / Territory Employment Share of occupation Employment Share of occupation
    New South Wales 2,300 24.8% 3,684,200 30.6%
    Victoria 2,000 21.3% 3,162,900 26.2%
    Queensland 2,000 21.1% 2,444,100 20.3%
    South Australia 940 9.9% 839,400 7.0%
    Western Australia 1,600 17.3% 1,306,200 10.8%
    Tasmania 210 2.3% 254,700 2.1%
    Northern Territory 90 1.0% 107,000 0.9%
    Australian Capital Territory 230 2.5% 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

    Library Assistant

    Total employment

    Age group Library Assistant Total employment
    15–24 years 7.5% 14.3%
    25–34 years 12.0% 22.7%
    35–44 years 16.6% 22.3%
    45–54 years 26.2% 20.4%
    55–64 years 28.9% 15.3%
    65–74 years 8.4% 4.3%
    75 years and over 0.5% 0.6%
    Note: N/A values indicate data are not available due to confidentiality or data reliability requirements.
    Sex Library Assistant Total employment
    Female 86.8% 48.5%
    Male 13.3% 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

      Download

      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.

      Find out more

      What is OSCA   OSCA content updates