Employment, Education, and Business

As primary prevention occurs across a range of settings and is long-term behavioural and cultural work to improve health outcomes/social determinants of health, it is useful to consider the forecasts of employment and workplaces.

Every year, the Federal Government’s Department of Jobs and Small Business produces a set of employment projections for Australia’s regions (Statistical Area level 4) based on data from the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC). These projections provide a guide to the future direction of the labour market​. According to the employment growth projections in 2021 to May 2024 for the SMR, education and training (35.2%) and professional, scientific and technical services (33.2%) will grow while mining (-12.1%) and information media and telecommunications (-4.1%) will decline ​​.

In 2023 the total employment in the Australian economy is projected to increase by around 6.5% over the next 5 years to stand at 14.8 million, and 14.2% over the next 10 years, to stand at 15.9 million. That is, around 2 million more people will be employed in the Australian economy in 2033 than presently. While growth across industries is broad-based, the greatest growth, by far, is expected in Health Care and Social Assistance, with its share of total employment projected to increase from 15.2% in 2023 to 16.7% in 2033. Other sectors expected to increase their employment significantly, in terms of actual increases in persons employed, are Professional, Scientific and Technical Services and Education and Training. After a long period of decline in its share of employment, Manufacturing is expected to experience significant growth in employment and slightly increase its share of total employment over the decade ahead. Mining is also expected to grow strongly in percentage terms over the next 10 years.

In comparison, the SMR’s projected decline in Mining employment contrasts with the national trend, suggesting regional disparities in industry performance and economic opportunities. The strong growth in Education and Training and Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services in both the SMR and nationally highlights a shift towards a more educated and technically skilled workforce. The anticipated decline in Information Media and Telecommunications in the SMR may reflect broader challenges within the industry, despite the national outlook showing overall employment growth. While the SMR’s projections align with national trends in key growing sectors, there are notable regional differences in industries like Mining and Information Media and Telecommunications, highlighting the importance of localised economic policies and strategies to address these disparities.

Based on 2023 data, the Southern Metro Region (SMR) can expect continued strong growth in the Education and Training sector and the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services sector, reflecting broader national trends towards a more educated and technically skilled workforce. While these sectors expand, the region may face challenges in the Mining and Information Media and Telecommunications sectors, which are projected to decline. Additionally, although not directly mentioned in the SMR data, the national trend of increasing employment in Health Care and Social Assistance is likely to impact the region positively, given the rising demand for healthcare services. Overall, the SMR can anticipate a diversified economic landscape with significant growth in high-skill, service-oriented industries, necessitating strategic investments in education, technological innovation, and workforce development to sustain this growth and address sector-specific challenges.