The healthcare and social assistance industry was the top performer in terms of employment growth over the past five years, and should maintain that position in coming years, according to a new publication from the Australian government.

Available for download for free, ‘Aussie Jobs, Looking Back, Looking Forward’ from the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations shows healthcare jobs grew by 270,500 in the last five years, equating to growth of 24.6% of its workforce, and should be responsible for 26.4% of employment growth to the 2016-7 financial year.

Across the country, employment rose by 837,000 over the five years to November 2012, with employment now at an all-time high of over 11.5m.

Mining (130,900), professional, scientific and technical services (128,900) and education and training (108,200) were the other strong job creating industries. Construction will overtake these three to become the second-fastest growing industry for labour in the coming years.

Meanwhile, manufacturing (92,000), agriculture, forestry and fishing (26,400), other services (20,600), retail trade (20,000), information media and telecommunications (4,900) and rental, hiring and real estate services (1,800) were the six industries of 19 in total to see employment declines.

The report also shows that the number of people whose job will require them to have a bachelor degree or higher in five years’ time should rise from the current 30% to 39%.

The report was released yesterday (4 February), ahead of today’s resumption of the Federal Parliament.