Slide 1: Presentation on the Gold Coast Labour Market.
This is a presentation given by Ivan Neville, Branch Manager
Labour Market Research and Analysis Branch on
17th March 2015.
Slide 2: Map of Gold Coast Employment Services Area
and Tweed Heads
The Gold Coast ESA is made up of the Gold Coast LGA plus the Scenic Rim - TamborineCanungra SLA:
The population of the Gold Coast ESA makes up 97% of the Gold Coast SA4 region and as such
this is the region we have used to gather our information.
The Gold coast SA4 is made up of the following 10 SA3s:
 Broadbeach - Burleigh
 Coolangatta
 Gold Coast - North
 Gold Coast Hinterland
 Mudgeeraba - Tallebudgera
 Nerang
 Ormeau - Oxenford
 Robina
 Southport
 Surfers Paradise
The new Employment region of Gold Coast includes the following
- Gold Coast SA4
- Kingscliff-Fingal Head SA2
- Tweed Head SA2
- Tweed Head south SA2
Slide 3: Regional snapshot
Slide 4: Population growth strong
Adult
population
Growth
2008 - 2013
Medium age
Gold Coast
343,500
12%
38
Queensland
3,732,500
11%
36
The Gold Coast population is projected to grow by an average of 2.3% per annum
(Queensland 1.9% & Australia 1%).
Adult population expected to be approximately 762,000 by 2036
The population of the Gold Coast has been growing strongly with 12 per cent growth between
2008 and 2013. Growth is projected to increase by an average of 2.3 per cent per annum.
According to the Queensland Government Statistical Office, the adult population will grow to
762,000 in that period.
Source: ABS, Estimated Residential Population, 2013; ABS, Census of Population and Housing,
2011; Qld Government Statistical Office
Slide 5: Population growth across all ages
The population in the Gold Coast region has been growing from 2003 to 2013 in all age groups.
Source: ABS, Estimated Residential Population, 2013
Slide 6: Over one third of new arrivals are from overseas
81,800 people of working age in 2011 in the Gold Coast & Tweed areas had moved to the area
over the previous five years. Over the same period, 37,200 people (of working age in 2011) had
moved from the area to elsewhere in Australia.
By far the most common origin was overseas (30,800 persons of working age in 2011).
The majority of people came from the following localities:
Region
WAP
Overseas
30,800
New South Wales (excluding Tweed)
16,200
Brisbane
8,500
Victoria
5,800
The majority of people who let moved to the following localities:
Region
WAP
New South Wales (excluding Tweed)
6,400
Brisbane
7,100
Victoria
4,600
Logan
3,800
Source: ABS, Census of Population and Housing, 2011
Slide 7: Strong jobs growth over last five years
Full-time employment accounts for 68 per cent of total employment in Gold Coast (69 per cent
for Australia). Annual growth in employment was 15,700 (6 per cent) which was high compared
with Australia (1 per cent).
The growth in jobs on the Gold Coast over the past 10 years has been predominately full-time.
84 per cent of all male jobs growth and 67 per cent of all female jobs growth was full-time.
Source: ABS, Labour Force, January 2015 (12 month averages)
Slide 8: Gold Coast internet vacancies growing
Yearly % change
(December 2013 –
December 2014)
Number of
vacancies
December 2014
Gold Coast
6.0%
3,000
Queensland 1
1.8%
23,100
Region
Internet vacancies grew by 6 per cent or 3,000 vacancies, in the 12 months to December 2014.
This was high when compared to the internet vacancies for Queensland (1.8 per cent).
Source: Department of Employment Vacancy Report, December 2014 (three month moving
average)
Slide 9: The labour market is strengthening but is the
unemployment rate really 4.6%?
The unemployment rate in January 2015 for the Gold Coast was 4.6 per cent in original terms.
However, due to the data volatility often seen in regional statistics, using a 12 month average is
recommended when using this data.
The unemployment rate for the Gold Coast using a 12 month average was 6.0 per cent for
January 2015. This was an annual increase of 0.4 percentage points. The unemployment rate
for Queensland rose by 0.3 percentage points to 6.5 per cent over the same period.
Source: ABS Labour Force, January 2015 (original data)
Slide 10: Labour force participation increasing…
Unemployment Rate
Participation Rate
January 2015
Annual
change
January 2015
Annual
change
Gold Coast
6.0%
0.4% pts
67.3%
2.2% pts
Queensland
6.7%*
0.6% pts
65.9%*
-0.4% pts
In January 2015, the unemployment rate in the Gold Coast was 6.0 per cent (12 month
average), lower than the state unemployment rate (6.7 per cent (seasonally adjusted)). While
the unemployment rate has risen in the past 12 months, participation on the Gold Coast has
risen by 2.2 percentage points over the same period to stand at 67.3 per cent, above the state
figure of 65.9 per cent.
Source: ABS, Labour Force, January 2015 (12 month average); ABS, Labour Force, February 2015
(seasonally adjusted)
Slide 11: …but so is youth unemployment
Youth (15-24) labour force
Region
Unemployment
Annual growth Participation rate
rate
Employment
to population
ratio
Gold Coast
14.6%
1.8% pts
74.7%
63.8%
Queensland
14.0%
0.8% pts
70.8%
60.5%
Due to their lack of skills and experience, young people can be particularly vulnerable during a
labour market downturn.
As at January 2015, the youth unemployment rate for the Gold Coast was 14.6 per cent, which
was slightly higher than Queensland, 14.0 per cent. In the 12 months to January 2015, the
participation rate for the Gold Coast increased by 7.4 percentage points to 74.7 per cent, which
was higher than Queensland (70.8 per cent) and Australia (66.7 per cent).
Source: ABS, Labour Force, January 2015 (12 month averages)
Slide 12: …however, one in five of all unemployed people
are out of work more than one year
Despite employment growing in the Gold Coast, long term unemployment is increasing. The
number of people who have been unemployed for longer than 52 weeks grew by 68 per cent or
by 1,600 to 3,900 individuals and accounts for 21 per cent of all unemployed people an increase
from 14 per cent in January 2014.
In addition, it is now taking, on average, 37 weeks for job seekers to find work compared to
26 weeks in January 2014.
Source: ABS, Labour Force, January 2015 (12 month averages)
Slide 13: Major employing industries
The Retail Trade industry is the major employer in the Gold Coast area (13 per cent). This was
followed by the Construction and Health Care and Social Assistance industries, both 12 per cent
of total employment. Followed by Accommodation 9 per cent, Professional, Scientific and
Technical Services 8 per cent, Manufacturing 7 per cent and Education and Training 7 per cent.
Source: ABS Labour Force, November 2014 (4 quarter averages)
Slide 14: Industry growth on the Gold Coast
In the 12 months to November 2014, total employment in the Gold Coast grew by 18,000. The
greatest growth was in the Professional, Scientific and Technical Services, (4,900) industry,
followed by Accommodation and Food Services, (3,900) and Health Care and Social Assistance
(3,500) industries. This was followed by Manufacturing (2,700), Administrative and Support
Services (2,300), Construction (1,400) and Education and Training (1,000).
In contrast employment in the Retail Trade industry fell by 2,400, Public Administration and
Safety by 600 and Transport, Postal and Warehousing by 200.
Source: ABS Labour Force, November 2014 (4 quarter averages)
Slide 15: Most employment growth is in medium to
higher skilled occupations
In November 2014, one quarter of locals were employed in lower skilled occupations, however,
most growth over the past 5 years has been in higher skilled occupations. Professional
occupations grew by 47 per cent (1,700) and Community and Personal Service Worker
occupations grew by 46 per cent (1,100).
Source: ABS Labour Force, November 2014 (4 quarter averages)
Slide 16: The right training is important
There is a strong relationship between educational attainment and employment outcomes. For
those aged 25 to 34 years in the Gold Coast, there were high unemployment rates for those
who had completed Certificate I & II but did not complete Year 12 (14.1 per cent) and those
who did not complete Year 12 without any further post school qualification (11.8 per cent).
Unemployment rates are lower for those who have completed a tertiary education at the
Bachelor degree, Advanced Diploma and Diploma Level. This emphasises the importance
post school education has in ensuring success in gaining employment. It should also be noted
that employment outcomes are vastly better for those who have attained Certificate Levels III
or IV than for those who have not completed Year 12 or only attained Certificate Levels I & II.
Source: ABS, Census of Population and Housing, 2011
What are employers telling us
Slide 17: More than one third of all local jobs are not
advertised
Over one third (35 per cent) of all local vacancies are not advertised formally. This method of
recruitment includes ‘word of mouth’ and a jobseeker approaching an employer directly.
The formal methods most commonly used include the internet and newspapers.
Source: Department of Employment, Survey of Employers’ Recruitment Experiences, Gold Coast
July 2014
Slide 18: Less competition when informal recruitment
used
Generally there is less competition for job seekers in gaining employment when approaching
employers directly and their chance of qualifying for an interview is greatly improved. There
are only, on average, 6.6 applicants per vacancy when informal methods of recruitment are
used compared with an average of 33.1 applicants per vacancy when an employer uses the
internet or newspapers as the method of recruitment.
All recruitment methods
Newspaper or internet
Informal methods only
Average applicants per
vacancy
24.2
33.1
6.6
Interviewed
5.6
6.1
2.1
Source: Department of Employment, Survey of Employers’ Recruitment Experiences, Gold Coast
July 2014
Slide 19: Why didn’t applicants get an interview?
In general, 82 per cent of all applicants in the Gold Coast area did not receive an interview
when applying for jobs. The main reason was lack of relevant experience. This was regardless of
the type or level of skill required for a job, 72 per cent for higher skilled jobs and 60 per cent for
lower skilled jobs.
Qualifications are more important in higher skilled occupations, 41 per cent compared to
23 per cent for lower skilled jobs.
The job seeker’s application was more important in the case of lower skilled jobs, 33 per cent
compared to 16 per cent for higher skilled jobs.
Soft skills appear to be equally important for all skilled occupations.
Source: Department of Employment, Survey of Employers’ Recruitment Experiences, Gold Coast
July 2014
Slide 20: Employability skills are essential
There were was range of general employability skills and personality traits that employers
commonly viewed as essential for the position they recently recruited for.
Employability skills commonly considered essential included:
- Interpersonal Skills
- Basic Computer Skills
- Customer Skills
- Communication
Personality traits commonly considered essential included:
- Attitude and Adaptability
- Reliability
- Presentation
- Work Ethic
Source: Department of Employment, Survey of Employers’ Recruitment Experiences, Gold Coast
Slide 21: Recruitment outlook is positive
One third (33 per cent) of employers in the Other Services industry are expecting to recruit in
the next 12 months. This is followed by employers in Retail Trade (28 per cent), Construction
(27 per cent), Health Care and Social Assistance (21 per cent), Accommodation and Food
Services (20 per cent) and Manufacturing (19 per cent).
In contrast, one in ten (10 per cent) employers in the Retail Trade industry expect to decrease
staff in the next 12 months. This is followed the Manufacturing industry (8 per cent).
Over all 21 per cent of all businesses in the Gold Coast region expected to increase staff and 4
per cent expected to reduce staff in the 12 months following the survey.
Source: Department of Employment, Survey of Employers’ Recruitment Experiences, Gold Coast
July 2014
Slide 22: Jobs employers are looking to fill
High skilled jobs
Chefs
Early Childhood (Pre-Primary School) Teachers
Aged and Disability Carers
Registered Nurse
Medium Skilled jobs
Child Carers
Metal Fitters and Machinists
Lower skilled jobs
Waiters
General Clerks
Sales Assistants (General)
Bar Attendants and Baristas
Checkout Operators and Office Cashiers
Receptionists
Fast Food Cooks
Housekeepers
Nursing Support and Personal Care Workers
Kitchenhands
Pharmacy Sales Assistant
Shelf Fillers
Dental Assistants
Truck Drivers
Source: Department of Employment, Survey of Employers’ Recruitment Experiences, Gold Coast
July 2014
Slide 23: The Commonwealth Games are coming sparking
construction projects and many other projects in the
works.
Other development projects:
- Road projects including the Bruce Highway upgrade
- Refurbishment of Jupiter’s Casino
- Redevelopment of Southport CBD and retail precincts such as Pacific Fair
- Broadwater Foreshore stage 3
- Construction of Jewel apartment complex
- Ongoing Gold Coast health precinct development around new hospital
Source: Queensland Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning
Slide 24: Considerations
Labour supply
•
Will local residents have the required skills and experience in
areas of jobs growth to benefit from new opportunities?
What can the unemployed do to improve their prospects
of gaining employment?
•
•
•
•
Work experience
Complete the right training – match to growth industries such as
Health Care and Social Assistance and Education and Construction
Use lower skilled jobs as a stepping stone
Approach employers directly.
Will jobs keep up with projected population growth?
• Ensuring projects are initiated at a steady pace to alleviate
troughs in the labour market.
Slide 25: Further Information
More information on labour market conditions and other research on small areas can be found
on these web sites
•
LMIP www.employment.gov.au/LMIP
•
Skill Shortages www.employment.gov.au/SkillShortages
•
Regional Reports www.employment.gov.au/RegionalReports
•
Australian Jobs www.employment.gov.au/australianjobs
•
Job Outlook www.joboutlook.gov.au
•
My Career www.mycareer.com.au
•
Go Volunteer www.govolunteer.com.au
If you have any questions about the presentation please contact the Employer Surveys Section
or Recruitment Analysis Section on:
Tel: 1800 059 439 or
Email recruitmentsurveys@employment.gov.au
Thank you.