Comparing the two census reports, one can see how Kildale's occupational structure has changed over time, going from a more hands on labour approach to working in service industries. The occupational structure has changed most likely due to the expansion of technological development and modernisation. The mines are no longer active, and although farming practices are still carried out, fewer people work in the agricultural sector as with today's advanced technology many machines can do the same job with one person rather than the workload farming included in the 1880s.