Demographics and Employment Trends
Wyong has one of the lowest labour force participation rates (those aged over 15 who are either working or looking for work) of all regions in NSW. In March 2010 the Central Coast region’s participation rate was 61.4% compared to the NSW rate of 63.0%.
Table one: Central Coast Participation Rate – 2004 – 2010
| June 2004 |
June2005 |
June 2006 |
June 2007 |
June 2008 |
June 2009 |
March 2010 |
| 61.7% |
55.8% |
63.2% |
59.9% |
58.6% |
55.5% |
61.4% |
Source: DEEWR Australian Regional Labour Markets
The 2006 Census found that only 41.1% of the Shire’s total population was in the labour force.
Table two: Wyong Shire Labour Force – 1991 – 2006
| |
1991 |
1996 |
2001 |
2006 |
| Wyong Shire |
38,791 |
45,350 |
52,487 |
58,662 |
| Increase |
|
6,559 |
7,137 |
6,175 |
| % Increase |
|
16.9% |
15.7% |
11.8% |
Source: ABS Census
The Shire also has high ratios of part-time to full-time employment that may be hiding significant levels of underemployment. The 2007 Quality of Life Survey found that 32.5% of the region’s residents who worked part-time would like to work more hours. Take a look at our Community Profile for more information.
Table three: Unemployment Rates 2003 - 2009
| |
June 2003 |
June 2004 |
June 2005 |
June 2006 |
June 2007 |
June 2008 |
June 2009 |
March 2010 |
| Wyong Shire |
9.7% |
9.3% |
8.5% |
8.3% |
7.9% |
7.6% |
8.7% |
8.8% |
| NSW |
6.0% |
5.6% |
5.3% |
5.3% |
5.1% |
4.6% |
5.7% |
5.9% |
| Australia |
6.2% |
5.8% |
5.3% |
5.1% |
4.6% |
4.2% |
5.0% |
5.6% |
Source: DEEWR Small Area Labour Markets
The 2006 Census found that the majority of Wyong Shire’s labour force (56.4%) worked in the occupations of tradespersons, labourers, clerical and sales workers. The most common occupation in the Shire was technicians and trade workers (17.1%). Between 1996 and 2006 there was an increase in the proportion of people employed as professionals (from 11.1% to 13.2%), however there remains an under representation in professional and managerial roles (23.3%) compared with Sydney and NSW.
Table four: Occupations of Employed Persons - 2006
| |
Wyong Shire |
NSW |
| Managers |
10.1% |
13.6% |
| Professional |
13.2% |
21.2% |
| Technicians & trades workers |
17.1% |
13.6% |
| Community & Personal Service workers |
10.7% |
8.6% |
| Clerical & Administrative workers |
14.3% |
15.4% |
| Sales workers |
12.3% |
9.7% |
| Machinery operators and drivers |
7.9% |
6.4% |
| Labourers |
12.7% |
9.5% |
| Other |
1.7% |
1.9% |
Source: 2006 ABS Census
Income levels within the Shire reflect its occupation profile. The 2006 Census found that weekly individual and household incomes in Wyong Shire were below the State average – with the median weekly individual income for persons aged 15 years and over in Wyong Shire being $381, compared with $461 for NSW and $466 for Australia.
Table five: Median Weekly Individual Income 2001 - 2006
| |
2001 |
2006 |
| Wyong |
$306 |
$381 |
| NSW |
$386 |
$461 |
Source: ABS Census
The 2006 Census found that the most significant industries employing Shire residents were retail trade (14.5%), health care and social assistance (11.7%), manufacturing (11.3%), and construction (10.5%). This dependence on the construction, manufacturing and tourism sectors exposes the local economy to the cyclical variations in the demand for those products and services.
Table six: Industry of Employed Residents - 2006
| Industry |
Wyong Shire |
Percentage |
| Retail Trade |
7,827 |
14.5% |
| Health care & social assistance |
6,321 |
11.7% |
| Manufacturing |
6,074 |
11.3% |
| Construction |
5,651 |
10.5% |
| Accommodation & food services |
3,962 |
7.4% |
| Education & Training |
3,291 |
6.1% |
| Public administration & safety |
3,218 |
6.0% |
| Transport, postal & warehousing |
2,583 |
4.8% |
| Other services |
2,167 |
4.0% |
| Professional, scientific & technical services |
2,159 |
4.0% |
| Wholesale trade |
2,066 |
3.8% |
| Administrative & support services |
1,609 |
3.0% |
| Financial & insurance services |
1,553 |
2.9% |
| Rental, hiring & real estate services |
952 |
1.8% |
| Electricity, gas, water & waste services |
845 |
1.6% |
| Information media & telecommunications |
833 |
1.5% |
| Arts & recreation services |
701 |
1.3% |
| Agriculture, forestry & fishing |
435 |
0.8% |
| Mining |
240 |
0.4% |
| Inadequately described/Not stated |
1,368 |
2.5% |
| Total |
53,855 |
100.0% |
Source: 2006 ABS Census
During the past decades, the growth in local employment opportunities has not kept pace with population increases in the Shire. Around one-third of the Shire’s residents continue to commute beyond the Central Coast for employment, with the majority of these heading to Sydney. While the proportion of people commuting outside the region has remained stable, the numbers have increased by around 400 to 500 per year.
Table 7: Proportion of Wyong Shire’s Working Residents Employed in the Central Coast Region
| 1996 |
2001 |
2006 |
| 68.4% |
67.3% |
67.3% |
Source: Journey to Work data derived from the ABS Census