The main occupation categories for people aged 15 years and over in Boyne Valley are:

• 33.3% - Managers 
• 20.3% - Machinery operators 
• 14.6% - Labourers
• 11.4% - Clerical and administrative workers
• 11.4% - Technicians and Trade Operators Sales workers 
• 7.3% - Community and personal service workers Professionals
• 5.7% - Inadequately described

There have been decreases in occupation categories across the ten-year Census period, primarily due to the continual decline in population of the Boyne Valley.

The top seven occupational categories have remained consistent, with the ranking slightly changing over the years.

Managers have remained as the most common occupation for the Boyne Valley across the ten-year period from 2011 to 2021. While it has remained the most prominent occupation, there has been a 35.9 per cent decrease in the amount of people practising this occupation, with 64 people in 2011 and 41 people in 2021.

The second most common occupation for the region was Machinery Operators, with an increase of 92 per cent from 2016 to 2021.

As indicated on the graph, it is evident that residents are choosing to age in place. Since 2011, there has been a decrease of 34.7 per cent of residents working full time, transitioning to the not in labour force category for retirement. There has been an increase of 16.1 per cent of residents in this category.

There has been a decrease in the unemployment rate in the Boyne Valley of 33 with 4.3 per cent of the population unemployed in 2016, and only 3.2 per cent in 2021.

In 2021, the top five ranked industries were Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing at 39 per cent, followed by Education and Training at 13.8 per cent. In third was Construction at 8.9 per cent, while in joint fourth was Manufacturing and other services making up 6.5 per cent of the workforce. There are three industries in equal fifth which were Administrative Support Services, Public Administration and Safety and Transport, Warehousing and Postal at 2.4 per cent.

In 2016, the top-ranking industries were Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing at 31.5 per cent, followed by Education and Training at 12.3 per cent, which were the same in 2021. Ranking third was Transport, Warehousing and Postal at 8.9 per cent, this was ranked joint fifth in 2021. Construction ranked fourth at 8.2 per cent compared to ranking third in 2021. In fifth ranking was Public Administration and Safety at 7.5 per cent, this industry also ranked fifth in 2021.

In 2011, Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing remained the highest-ranking industry of employment at 32.4 per cent, followed by Construction at 16.7 per cent. Construction did not rank in the top five in 2016 but ranked joint third in 2021. In joint third was by Education and Training and Professional, Scientific and Technical Services, both making up 8.3 per cent of workforce. Between 2021 and 2011 Professional, Scientific and Technical Services only ranked in the top5 once. This industry saw the second highest decrease, making up 8.3 per cent of the workforce in 2011, 5.5 per cent in 2016 and 0 per cent in 2021.

The largest decrease was seen in Manufacturing, making up 16.7 per cent of the workforce in 2011, 5.5 per cent in 2016 and 6.5 per cent in 2021. This represents a decrease of 55.5 per cent across the 10-year Census period.

The largest increases were seen in Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing, making up 32.4 per cent of the workforce in 2011, 31.5 per cent in 2016 and 39 per cent in 2021.

There has been a 7.9 per cent decrease in the number of employees working 35 hours or more between 2016 and 2021, a decrease of seven people. This means 65.9 per cent of the workforce work over 35 hours, with 34.1 per cent working more than 50 hours a week.

Data from the 2021 Census shows 80.3 per cent of workers travel to their place of work by car, either as driver or passenger.

Considerations:

• There is a large proportion of people working over 35 hours and 34.1 per cent working more than 50 hours. Consideration is to be given to the accessibility and timing of events, activities and programs
• A large proportion on the workforce are employed in Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing which can involve early starts and shift work. This can impact availability to attend events, programs and activities.

ABS Census Data, 2021, 2016, 2011