Regional Australia Institute aims to add additional 20,000 workers to Geelong by 2032
Geelong in 2032 would have an extra 20,000 workers under a plan but concerns about the city’s housing to keep pace have been raised.
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Enticing up to 20,000 workers from Melbourne to the City of Greater Geelong by 2032 is the aim of an initiative launched in the region on Tuesday.
As Geelong progresses toward a population of about 400,000 by 2041, the Regional Australia Institute (RAI) will run a campaign to increase the regional population beyond targets, by getting Melburnians to work in Geelong and other regional areas.
The It’s Your Move campaign run by recruitment agency Seek in partnership with RAI will aim to help bring 85,000 additional people to regional Australia by 2032.
RAI chief executive Liz Ritchie said Australians living in urban areas should consider a career in the regions.
“Whilst (the It’s Your Move campaign) is just one solution to the regional jobs challenge, we think it’s a very important one,” Ms Ritchie said.
“In the 12 months to March this year, Melburnians made up more than 50 per cent of the net outflows from capital cities to the regions, up from 44 per cent the year prior,” Ms Ritchie said.
“Greater Geelong was found to be one of the top five local government areas in regional Australia for attracting newcomers.
“Modelling undertaken by the National Institute of Economic and Industry Research shows that Australia’s GDP in 2032 would be $13.8bn larger under a scenario of a larger regional population rather than a ‘business as usual’ population scenario.”
Ms Ritchie said the medical, trades, education and childcare sectors were experiencing high demand for workers.
Jobs listed in the City of Greater Geelong, via the It’s Your Move webpage on Tuesday included a senior graphic designer at Grindstone Creative, a partnerships manager at Geelong council and a battery cell research technician based at Deakin University in Waurn Ponds.
About 3600 jobs based in the City of Greater Geelong and the Surf Coast Shire were advertised in May, according to the RAI.
Chief executive of advocacy body Committee for Geelong, Michael Johnston, said hospitality businesses were still struggling to attract staff.
“Some of our members that operate on the Bellarine Peninsula; they really struggled to get wait staff and other low paying roles that are fundamental to a business.”
Mr Johnston said getting the mix of housing right in Geelong was crucial to support population growth.
“Having more stock available in transport corridors so you can get the high density while maintaining with liveability (is the aim).
“Where we want to get to as a city is that people live and work here.”
Ms Ritchie said the share of overseas migrants settling in regional Victoria needed to rise from below 10 per cent to the national level of about 20 per cent.
“We need to let our new Australian residents know about the benefits of regional living – the space, the work-life balance and the welcoming communities.
The RAI’s Regionalisation Ambition 2032 plan outlines outline 20 goals to promote equality between regional and metropolitan residents when it comes to services, infrastructure and investment.
The plan aims to have 11m people living in regional areas by 2032, up from about 9.6m in 2023.
More information is available at: www.movetomore.com.au/living-in-regional-australia/jobs/
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Originally published as Regional Australia Institute aims to add additional 20,000 workers to Geelong by 2032
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