Peak regional body welcomes Jobs & Skills Australia; calls for focus on regional workforce

2 min read
July 28, 2022
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Regional Australia Institute (RAI) CEO Liz Ritchie has applauded the Albanese Government’s first step towards the establishment of Jobs and Skills Australia.

“During May, we saw an unprecedented number of jobs advertised in regional Australia of 86,500. This was down only slightly in June to 83,000, representing an almost 25% increase from the same time last year and almost doubling in the last 5 years,” Liz Ritchie said

“These numbers present both a significant opportunity and a challenge for regional Australia and, indeed, the nation,” Ms Ritchie said.

“Regional employers across the country have told us that finding staff to fill current and future roles is one of the biggest challenges facing growth in their business.

“The RAI welcomes the Government’s commitment, under the leadership of Skills and Training Minister Brendan O’Connor, to assess Australia’s jobs and skills gap and plan for Australia’s future workforce.”

Ms Ritchie said a key focus for Jobs and Skills Australia must include a thorough examination of the workforce needs of regional Australia.

“Our regions are on a trajectory of growth and prosperity. The RAI’s Regional Movers Index found the number of people moving to regional areas rose by almost 17% to reach a new five-year high in the March quarter 2022, almost doubling pre-pandemic levels.”

“To propel this growth, our regions require a greatly bolstered workforce compromising a combination of low to high-skilled labour – made up of local and international workers.

“Solutions must range from improving regional high school retention and more jobs-focussed, place-based tertiary and vocational education opportunities; to visa and migration systems that cater for the labour needs of regional Australia.

“Meeting the complex jobs and skills needs of the regions requires a collaborative effort between all tiers of government, industry, and education and training providers.

“It also requires consideration of the real and perceived barriers to working outside capital cities, including the availability of housing and essential services.

“While most regional areas are nearing full employment, there are still a number of areas, such as outback Queensland, mid-north South Australia and NSW’s New England, where unemployment remains stubbornly high. This tells us while there are jobs on offer, the skills of locals in these areas aren’t in alignment with the opportunities.

Ms Ritchie said she hoped Jobs and Skills Australia would take up the mantle in beginning to map skill development with employment needs.

“I commend Minister O’Connor and the Government’s leadership on this issue, and welcome the upcoming National Jobs and Skills Summit, where the RAI expects the workforce needs of regional Australia to be front and centre,” Liz Ritchie concluded

The RAI looks forward to working collaboratively with the Minister and all those with a vested interested in the future of regional Australia.

For more information about the job vacancies in regional Australia, click here to access the RAI’s Regional Job Vacancy Map.

For media enquiries contact:

Amanda Barwick
Regional Australia Institute
0429 142232
Amanda.barwick@regionalaustralia.org.au

Young movers driving growth in regional areas

4 min read
June 23, 2022
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Regional migration is at a five-year high and young people are driving growth, according to new data from the Commonwealth Bank and the Regional Australia Institute’s Regional Movers Index.

Young people are driving growth in regional areas with more Millennials and Gen-Xers moving out of capital cities, according to new insights from the March quarter Regional Movers Index report.

A partnership between Commonwealth Bank and the Regional Australia Institute (RAI), the report analyses the quarterly and annual trends in people moving to Australia’s regions. For the first time, this quarter’s report not only tracks population movement, but also the demographics of who is moving.

Young people accounted for the largest proportion of movers to the highest growth regional areas, boosting an overall migration trend from capital cities to regional areas, in the 12 months to March 2022.

The number of people moving to regional areas rose by 16.6 per cent to reach a new five-year high in the March quarter, almost doubling pre-pandemic levels.

Regional Australia Institute (RAI) CEO Liz Ritchie said Millennials and Gen-Xers were welcome additions to any regional community as they often bring with them business skills to grow the local community, as well as families who integrate into the local school system and community sporting activities.

“Regional living is attracting more young people and particularly younger families who are looking for bigger living spaces at a cheaper cost,” Ms Ritchie said.

Commonwealth Bank Regional and Agribusiness Banking Executive General Manager Paul Fowler said regional areas are providing attractive local employment opportunities.

“Regional Australia is thriving, fuelled by strong investment across a broad range of industries including agriculture, manufacturing, retail and hospitality,” Mr Fowler said.

“There are labour shortages in many parts of regional Australia and local businesses are attracting skilled and unskilled workers to increase capacity and serve growing demand for products and services.”

Demand for housing is soaring, particularly in South Australia where regions such as Ceduna, Mount Gambier and Port Augusta feature as the top three local government areas with the biggest growth rates in the 12 months to March 2022.

“Mount Gambier is perfectly positioned between Adelaide and Melbourne with wonderful amenities and work opportunities in a diverse range of industries including manufacturing, agriculture, civil construction and wholesale retail,” Mr Fowler said.

There was a significant jump in regional movers to Ceduna of 114 per cent, in the 12 months to March 2022. Growth in Mount Gambier and Port Augusta was also high, at 85 per cent and 74 per cent respectively. In other states, Moorabool in Victoria and Western Downs in Queensland experienced substantial growth rates of 56 per cent each.

Millennials accounted for the highest proportion of regional movers, making up 76 per cent of movers to Port Augusta, 70 per cent of movers to Mount Gambier and 66 per cent of movers to Ceduna.

While Millennials made up the biggest proportion of people moving to Moorabool, it also attracted a relatively high proportion of Gen-Xers at 24 per cent. Western Downs attracted a relatively large share of Gen Alpha and Z, comprising 19 per cent, as well as Baby Boomers, who made up 12 per cent of total movers.

The biggest outflows were from the major cities of Sydney and Melbourne with most people heading to regional NSW, Queensland, and Victoria.

The Gold Coast in Queensland remains the most popular destination overall, attracting 11 per cent of people from major capitals, in the 12 months to March 2022. The next most popular destinations were the Sunshine Coast, Greater Geelong in Victoria, and Wollongong and Newcastle in NSW.

Notes for Editors:

The Regional Movers Index, launched in 2021, tracks movements between Australia’s regions and capital cities, using Commonwealth Bank data from relocations amongst its 10 million customers. This enables early identification of growth trends and flags places emerging as hot spots needing fresh thinking on housing and infrastructure.

Data based on CBA customer address changes over the past 5 years, with prior addresses resided in for at least 6 months. Greater Capital City/Regional Area based on ABS 1270.0.55.001 GCCSA. At least 100 persons must have migrated to an LGA from a capital city in the previous 12 months for an LGA to be include in the report.

For a full copy of the latest Regional Movers Index please click here.

Demographic breakdown:

Gen Alpha and Z: Younger than 24 years
Millennials: 24-40 years
Gen X: 40-56 years
Baby Boomers: 56-75 years
World War II: Older than 75 years

For media enquiries contact:

Amanda Barwick
Regional Australia Institute
0429 142 232
Amanda.barwick@regionalaustralia.org.au

Commonwealth Bank media:
02 9118 6919
media@cba.com.au