Temora Regional Profile

The main regional centre in the Temora Shire is Temora which is a regional town situated 420 km west of Sydney.

In 2001 the population of the Temora Shire was 6,337, an increase of 3.8% since 1996. The Shire has experienced strong growth across all age groups, especially in the number of people aged over 50.

There are around 2,530 people in the workforce in the Temora Shire, of which 60% work full-time and 29% work part-time. At the time of the last census 8% of residents were unemployed.

Two of the largest employers in the Temora Shire are the agriculture (25.9%) and retail trade (14.6%) industries. The median taxable income for the Temora Shire is approximately $602 per week.

Demographics

Age Distribution

Between 1996 and 2001 Temora Shire experienced a growth in population of 3.8%.

This increase was experienced across most age groups, particularly in the number of residents aged 50+.

Temora Shire has a population distribution close to the state and regional averages, however it has a slightly lower proportion of residents in the 25-64 and 15-24 age groups.

Income

The median taxable income for the Temora Shire is approximately $602 per week. This is lower than the average for the Riverina as a whole.

The highest proportion of residents in the Temora Shire (17.2%) earn between $200 and $299 per week.

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

Indigenous Profile

Indigenous Persons

Indigenous persons account for 0.8% of the total population in the Temora Shire. This is far lower than the average for the Riverina region (3.3%) and NSW (2%).

The spread of indigenous residents is quite even across all age groups. The largest number of indigenous persons are in the 10-19 year old group. There are no indigenous residents in the Temora Shire in the 30-39 age group.

Labour Force

Indigenous unemployment is lower in the Temora 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%.

The average unemployment rate of indigenous persons in the Temora Shire (11.5%) is almost one and a half times the unemployment rate for the total population (8.1%).

Education

Level of Education

The most common form of post-school qualification completed by Temora residents is a certificate (11.7%).

Males tend to pursue certificate qualifications, while females are spread across certificates and bachelor degree qualifications.

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

Field of Education

The most common fields of study in the Temora Shire are engineering technologies, management and commerce and health.

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

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

Internet Use

Over 25% of residents in the Temora Shire use the Internet, with most use occurring in the home.

The level of usage for males and females is equal at 25%.

Only 0.4% 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 agriculture (74 jobs created between 1996 and 2001), transport and storage (44 jobs) and manufacturing (15 jobs) industries. This is a positive result for the region as the agriculture and manufacturing industries are "wealth creators" which generate economic activity that flows on to other industries in the region. Overall the Temora Shire has greater industry growth than that experienced at the state or industry level.

Employment by Occupation

Employment in the Temora Shire is concentrated in managers and administrators as well as clerical and professional occupations.

The high number of people employed in these occupations is attributable to the high number of farmers and small business owners who are classified as managers. The prominence of the retail industry can also account for the high number if clerical sales and service workers.

Males are mostly employed as managers tradesmen and professionals. Females tend to be employed in clerical, managerial or professional occupations.

Temora 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 Temora Shire is 8.1% with a participation rate of 50.0%.

The Temora Shire experienced employment growth of 10.1% between 1996 and 2001. This is more than double the average rate of growth for the Riverina of 4.0%.

Female unemployment is higher in residents 15-24 years of age, while males have higher unemployment levels in the older age brackets.

Employment Trend

Agriculture has remained the largest employer in the Temora Shire since 1991. The retail industry is also a large employer in the Temora Shire.

The largest increase in employment since 1991 occurred in the retail sector. The largest decrease occurred in the mining and electricity, gas and water supply industries.

Male employment is concentrated in the agriculture and retail industries. A high number of females are also employed in the agriculture sector, the health and community services sector is also a prominent employer.

Building Approvals

The total value of building approvals in the Temora Shire in 2002 was $3.7 million. The average price of building approvals was $132,000.

The value of residential building approvals grew by 25.5% 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 Temora appears to follow the trends set by the market across the Riverina as a whole. The steep increase in value since late 2002 must be due to some local factors driving growth.