Murrumbidgee Regional Profile

The main regional centre in the Murrumbidgee Shire is Darlington Point which is a regional town situated 605 km west of Sydney, via the Hume and Sturt Highways.

In 2001 the population of the Murrumbidgee Shire was 2,662, an increase of 8.4% since 1996. Most of this growth was driven by increases in those aged over 50, however there was also a large increase in the number of residents aged between 10 and 20.

There are around 1,283 people in the workforce in the Murrumbidgee Shire, of which 66% work full-time and 27% work part-time. At the time of the last census 4% of residents were unemployed.

Two of the largest employers in the Murrumbidgee Shire are the agriculture (38.7%) and manufacturing (10.0%) industries. The median taxable income for the Murrumbidgee Shire is approximately $608 per week.

Demographics

Age Distribution

Between 1996 and 2001 Murrumbidgee Shire experienced a growth in population of 8.4%.

Significant increases in the number of residents aged over 50 drove most of the increase. There was also growth in some younger age groups, especially those aged 10-20.

Murrumbidgee Shire has a population distribution similar to the state and regional averages, however it has a slightly higher proportion of residents in the 25-64 and 0-14 age groups.

Income

The median taxable income for the Murrumbidgee Shire is approximately $608 per week. This is lower than the average for the Riverina as a whole.

The highest proportion of residents in the Murrumbidgee Shire (12.4%) earn between $200 and $299 per week.

Average weekly income for females is much lower than that of males.

Indigenous Profile

Indigenous Persons

Indigenous persons account for 7.4% of the total population in the Murrumbidgee Shire. This is much higher than the average for the Riverina region (3.3%) and NSW (2%). As shown by the graph, there is a significant number of indigenous persons in all age brackets.

Labour Force

Indigenous unemployment is lower in the Murrumbidgee Shire than the averages for either the Riverina or NSW.

The level of unemployment for females is 0% compared to that of males, which is 16.7%. There are however a larger number of indigenous females not in the labour force which could influence this outcome.

The average unemployment rate of indigenous persons in the Murrumbidgee Shire (10%) is more than twice the unemployment rate for the total population (3.9%).

Education

Level of Education

The most common form of post-school qualification completed by Murrumbidgee residents is a certificate (11.1%).

Both males and females are most likely to pursue certificate qualifications, however the bachelor degree is also common in both groups.

Murrumbidgee has a lower average level of education than both regional and state levels.

Field of Education

The most common fields of study in the Murrumbidgee Shire are engineering, management and agriculture.

Engineering and agriculture are the most common fields of study for males. Females tend to move into the management and education fields

These trends are similar to those of the Riverina region and NSW as a whole.

Internet Use

Twenty-four percent of residents in the Murrumbidgee Shire use the Internet, with most use occurring in the home.

The level of use of the Internet for females is slightly higher than that of males (25% and 23% respectively).

Only 0.6% of people aged over 65 use the Internet with highest use in the prime working age bracket (25-64 years).

Industry

Industry Performance

Industry growth due to local factors was strongest in the wholesale trade (44 jobs created between 1996 and 2001), retail trade (37 jobs) and accommodation, cafes and restaurants (13 jobs) industries. This indicates that the Murrumbidgee Shire has a strong tourism industry, the benefits of which flow on to other sectors in the local economy.

Employment by Occupation

Employment in the Murrumbidgee Shire is concentrated in managers and administrators as well as labourers occupations.

The prevalence of these occupations is attributable to the high number of farmers and small business owners who are classified as managers.

Males are mostly employed as managers, production and transport workers and tradespersons. Females however tend to be employed in managerial or clerical occupations.

Murrumbidgee has a high proportion of managers and labourers compared to NSW and the Riverina.

Employment

Labour Force Status

The average rate of unemployment in the Murrumbidgee Shire is 3.9% with a participation rate of 62.9%.

The Murrumbidgee Shire experienced employment growth of 16.4% between 1996 and 2001. This is more than four times the average rate of growth for the Riverina of 4.0%.

Female unemployment is much lower than the average for males (2.8% and 4.7% respectively). Unemployment in those aged over 55 is zero for both males and females.

Employment Trend

Agriculture has remained the largest employer in the Murrumbidgee Shire since 1991.

The largest increase in employment since 1991 occurred in the wholesale trade sector. The largest decrease occurred in the agriculture industry.

Male employment is concentrated in the agriculture and manufacturing industries. A high number of females are also employed in the agriculture sector, the education sector is also a prominent employer.

Building Approvals

The total value of building approvals in the Murrumbidgee Shire in 2002 was $2.7 million. The average price of building approvals was $159,000.

The value of residential building approvals grew by only 19.2% p.a. between 1998 and 2002. This is lower than the average growth of 55% for NSW and the Riverina (43.7%).

The building market in Murrumbidgee appears to be far more volatile than the market on the Riverina. While the change in value of building approvals seems to follow similar general trends, the extent market reactions are unpredictable.