ANZSCO 2721

Counsellors

Overview

EMPLOYED

34,600

PART-TIME SHARE

40%

FEMALE SHARE

77%

MEDIAN WEEKLY EARNINGS

$1,477

MEDIAN AGE

45

ANNUAL EMPLOYMENT GROWTH

1,200

About this data

Summary

Counsellors provide information on vocational, relationship, social and educational difficulties and issues, and work with people to help them to identify and define their emotional issues through therapies such as cognitive behaviour therapy, interpersonal therapy and other talking therapies.

Tasks

  • Working with clients on career, study and employment options by obtaining and examining information relevant to their abilities and needs
  • Providing information and resources to assist clients with job-seeking skills
  • Assessing client needs in relation to treatment for drug and alcohol abuse
  • Conducting counselling interviews with individuals, couples and family groups
  • Assisting the understanding and adjustment of attitudes, expectations and behaviour to develop more effective interpersonal and marital relationships
  • Presenting alternative approaches and discussing potential for attitude and behaviour change
  • Consulting with clients to develop rehabilitation plans taking account of vocational and social needs
  • Contributing information, understanding and advice on the learning and behaviour of students, especially those with special needs, and assisting parents and teachers in dealing with these needs
  • May work in a call centre

ANZSCO Classification

Details

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    Earnings and Hours

    Weekly Earnings (Before Tax)
    Source: Share of workers who work full-time hours: ABS, Labour Force Survey, 2023, four-quarter average, customised report.
    Average full-time hours worked per week: ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on place of usual residence.
    Median full-time earnings per week and Median hourly earnings: ABS, Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2023, customised report. Note: median earnings data have not been produced for some occupations where there is a high standard error, and are published with "N/A" values.
    Earnings and Hours Counsellors All Occupations
    Share of workers who work full-time hours 60% 70%
    Average full-time hours worked per week 41 hours 44 hours
    Median full-time earnings per week $1,477 $1,697
    Median hourly earnings $39 $43

    Industries

    Counsellors work in industries like:

    Source: Ranked using ABS, Labour Force Survey, 2023, four-quarter average data, custom report.
    Note: industries that comprise less than 5% of an occupation have been suppressed.

    States and territories

    New South Wales

    27.5%

    Victoria

    26.1%

    Queensland

    21.8%

    South Australia

    12.0%

    Tasmania

    1.6%

    Northern Territory

    2.2%

    Australian Capital Territory

    1.1%

    Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, Detailed, August 2024, Jobs and Skills Australia trend data.

    Age and gender

    Age and Gender Profile
    Source: ABS, Labour Force Survey, 2023, four-quarter average, customised report.
    Age and Gender Counsellors All Occupations
    Median age 45 years 39 years
    Female share of employment 77% 48%
    Source: ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on place of usual residence.
    Age Profile (% Share) All Occupations Counsellors
    15–19 5.2 0.4
    20–24 9.1 4.3
    25–34 22.7 21.6
    35–44 22.3 23.1
    45–54 20.4 24.7
    55–59 8.8 9.9
    60–64 6.5 8.4
    65 and Over 4.9 7.7

    Education

    Source: ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on place of usual residence.
    Highest Level of Educational Attainment (% Share) All Occupations Counsellors
    Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate 12.2 38.7
    Bachelor degree 23.2 34.2
    Advanced Diploma/Diploma 11.1 13.2
    Certificate III/IV 19.5 6.0
    Year 12 15.9 4.2
    Year 11 4.0 0.6
    Year 10 and below 9.7 1.2
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      Occupation profiles data

      This file contains data displayed on the Occupation Profile pages.

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

      Occupation profiles data - August 2024.xlsx

      occupation_profiles_data_-_august_2024.xlsx9088333

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      Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations

      Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) is the skill-based classification system used to categorise occupations in the Australian and New Zealand labour markets. ANZSCO provides a basis for the standardised collection, analysis and dissemination of occupation data. Visit the ABS website to learn how ANZSCO works. Jobs and Skills Australia displays data for occupations that are defined by ANZSCO 2013 Version 1.3.