Geelong’s fastest growing industries, best paying jobs

Greater Geelong is experiencing the fastest employment growth of any large regional city in Australia. Find out which jobs are the best paid.

According to new data detailing Geelong’s economic profile, the city of Greater Geelong’s Gross Regional Product was $17.58 billion in the year ending June 2022. Picture: Brad Fleet

Greater Geelong is experiencing the fastest employment growth of any large regional city in Australia, with new data showing the region is becoming a leader in job creation.

Data, extracted by .id Consulting, found as of June 2022 there were 135,500 jobs in the Geelong region, with 12,000 new jobs created over 12 months.

According to the analysis the growth rate was the fastest recorded since data was first collected two decades ago, with about 22,000 businesses operating in the region.

The fastest growing sectors included health care and social assistance (+3931 jobs), construction (+1603) and professional, scientific and technical services (+1423).

The job to resident ratio for the City of Greater Geelong in 2021/22 was 0.97, meaning that there were less jobs than resident workers.

Health care and social assistance had the highest ratio (1.09), while the lowest ratio was found in mining (0.65).

And many companies are offering high salaries for qualified workers, with 93 Geelong-based health sector jobs advertised through seek.com.au on Monday offering salaries of $150,000 and above.

A search found 60 jobs in the construction sector and 11 positions in the science sector had pay packets above $150,000.

Jobs with high pay packets include a grouting consultant which has a listed total remuneration package of up to $150,000 per year.

An operation manager position at Ranstad construction had a listed salary of $210,000 annually, while an advertised position for a skin specialist at Michael Little Healthcare Pty Ltd had a listed wage of up to $420,000.

According to the .id Consulting dataset the City of Greater Geelong’s gross regional product grew 10.3 per cent from $15.9bn in June 2021 to $17.58bn in the year ending June 2022.

Geelong Mayor Trent Sullivan. Library protest at Geelong West Town Hall. Picture: Alan Barber

Mayor Trent Sullivan said the diversification of the local economy, significant private and public investment, the growing number of major organisations calling Geelong home and population growth had increased the type and amount of employment opportunities available.

“More people are realising that not only does Greater Geelong have an enviable lifestyle and stunning natural environment, but there are competitive employment options in a range of fields,” Mr Sullivan said.

Deputy Mayor Anthony Aitken said the region’s economy was thriving.

“We have the size, scale and economic base to develop even further,” Mr Aitken said.

“As well as offering employment opportunities for our growing population, we’re looking to attract talent and private investment from the capitals to drive our economy forward,” he said.

Originally published as Geelong’s fastest growing industries, best paying jobs