Wagga Wagga Regional Profile

Wagga Wagga is a regional city located 450 km south west of Sydney. Wagga Wagga is one of Australia's largest inland cities and is considered to be the capital of the Riverina area of NSW.

In 2001 the population of Wagga Wagga was 56,722. Since 1996 there has been strong growth in most age groups over 40, particularly those aged over 80.

There are around 26,848 people in the workforce in Wagga Wagga, of which 61% work full-time and 30% work part-time. At the time of the last census 7% of residents were unemployed.

The three largest employers in Wagga Wagga are the retail (17.6%), health and community services (10.2%) and education (9.6%) industries. The median taxable income for Wagga Wagga is approximately $583 per week.

Demographics

Age Distribution

Between 1996 and 2001 Wagga Wagga experienced a decline in population of 1.7%.

This result was due to a reduction in the number of residents in all age groups under 40 years. To offset this decline there was strong growth in most age groups over 40, particularly those aged 80+.

Wagga Wagga has a population distribution similar to the state and regional averages, however it has a slightly higher proportion of residents in the 15-24 age group.

Income

The median taxable income for Wagga Wagga for the year 2000-01 was approximately $583 per week. This is lower than the average for the Riverina as a whole.

The highest proportion of residents in Wagga Wagga (13.4%) earn between $200 and $299 per week.

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

Indigenous Profile

Indigenous Persons

Indigenous persons account for 3.3% of the total population in Wagga Wagga. This is equal to the average for the Riverina region (3.3%) but is higher than the average for NSW (2%).

While the total population of Wagga Wagga seems to be ageing, the indigenous population is heavily skewed towards younger age groups, especially those aged under 10 years.

Labour Force

Indigenous unemployment is higher in Wagga Wagga than the averages for either the Riverina or NSW.

The level of unemployment for indigenous females is slightly lower than that of males, however there are significantly more indigenous women not in the labour force than males.

The average unemployment rate of indigenous persons in Wagga Wagga (26.1%) is almost four times the unemployment rate for the total population (7.2%).

Education

Level of Education

The most common form of post-school qualification completed by Wagga Wagga residents is a certificate (14%).

Both males and females are most likely to pursue certificate qualifications, bachelor degrees are the second preference for both groups.

Wagga Wagga has a lower average level of education NSW, but is higher than the average for the Riverina as a whole.

Field of Education

The most common field of study in Wagga Wagga are the management and engineering industries.

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

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

Internet Use

Over 37% of residents in Wagga Wagga use the Internet, with most use occurring in the home.

The level of use of the Internet for males is slightly higher than that of females (38% and 36% 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 transport and storage (141 jobs created between 1996 and 2001), retail trade (137 jobs) and agriculture (98 jobs) industries. Some of the largest employers in Wagga Wagga experienced strong growth between 1996 and 2001. This was offset however by a heavy reliance on low growth industries such as the manufacturing and wholesale trade industries.

Employment by Occupation

Employment in Wagga Wagga is quite evenly spread across professional, clerical and trades occupations.

These are significant areas of employment in Wagga Wagga due to the dominance of the retail, defence and manufacturing industries.

Males are mostly employed as tradespersons or professionals. Females tend to be employed in clerical and professional occupations.

Wagga Wagga has a high proportion of clerical and labourer occupations compared to NSW and the Riverina.

Employment

Labour Force Status

The average rate of unemployment in Wagga Wagga is 7.2% with a participation rate of 59.3%.

Wagga Wagga experienced employment growth of 1.1% between 1996 and 2001. This is low compared to the average rate of growth for the Riverina of 4.0%.

On average, the rate of female unemployment is higher in Wagga Wagga than that of males. Females are more likely to be unemployed at a younger age, while male unemployment is higher in the 45+ age groups.

Employment Trend

While the defence industry was the most prominent employer in 1991, employment has shifted to the retail industry which was the largest employer in 2001.

The largest increase in employment since 1991 occurred in the retail sector. The largest decrease occurred in the government administration and defence industry.

Male employment is concentrated in the retail, defence and manufacturing industries. A high number of females are also employed in the retail sector, the health and community services and education sectors are also large industries.

Building Approvals

The total value of building approvals in Wagga Wagga in 2002 was $47.2 million. The average price of building approvals was $155,000.

The value of residential building approvals grew by 82% p.a. between 1998 and 2002. This is much higher than the average growth of 55% for NSW and the Riverina (43.7%).

The building market in Wagga Wagga follows the trends of the Riverina quite predictably. There was however a significant increase in the value of building approvals around September 1999.