Part 5: Which occupations have the oldest age profile?

The census can be used to identify some specific occupations that are ageing much faster than others. Figures 11 and 12 below show the occupations which had the highest age profile in 2001 and the occupations which have experienced the most growth in average age between the last two censuses (2001 and 1996). Note 2006 census data is not yet available for this analysis.

Figure 11: The occupations with the highest average age in 2001

Figure 12: The occupations experiencing the highest growth in average age^[9]

Figure 11 indicates those occupations which have the highest average age. Those with the highest are judges and local government legislators. It can be seen that three agricultural occupations feature on the list. Another, passenger coach driver, is a critical occupation in the tourism industry. While some of these occupations (such as judges) require extensive experience, others do not (such as coach drivers and caretakers).

Figure 12 presents occupations with a mature age profile (average age over 40) which have also experienced rapid growth in their average age between 1996 and 2001. A wide range of occupations appear on this list, but some specialised manufacturing-related occupations (such as textile pattern maker, tool grinder and precision instrument maker) are present. This appears consistent with the growth in the older workforce in the manufacturing industry observed earlier.

These occupations are only indicative of the jobs that employ many older workers; however they may make useful starting points for research into the older workforce. There are perhaps some features that make them attractive to this group (such as more flexible hours, self employment or other features). Given the growth in the older workforce the implications of having older workers more concentrated in some occupations will need to be examined more carefully in future.^[10]