The healthcare and social assistance industry recorded the strongest job growth in Australia among all industries, according to data released Monday by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Filled jobs in healthcare and social assistance industry rose by 8.2% in the year ended September.

“This growth further confirms healthcare and social assistance as the industry with the greatest share of jobs in the Australian economy (at 13.0%), followed by retail trade (9.7%),” ABS Chief Economist Bruce Hockman said.

However, growth slowed in the healthcare and social assistance jobs to 0.8% in the quarter ended in September. Still, the number of jobs grew faster than the rate for all jobs in the quarter, which was 0.6%.