UNEMPLOYMENT in the Wattle Range Council area is now below the national average, according to the latest Census data.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) found 6.2pc of Wattle Range residents are unemployed, compared to the Australian average of 6.9pc.
More than half of the 11,677 people in the area reported being in the labour force, with 53pc in full-time employment and 33.2pc in part-time employment.
While the 2016 data found a decrease in the number of people employed in full-time work compared to the 2011 Census, there was an increase in part-time work and a slight increase in unemployment in the five-year period.
In 2011, Wattle Range Council recorded an unemployment rate of 6.1pc compared to the state average of 5.7pc and Australian average of 5.6pc.
Wattle Range Mayor Peter Gandolfi said it was “heartening” to learn the region’s unemployment rate had eased since the last Census.
“There is still a need to push forward with further economic development in the region and attract and retain younger people in our district,” he said.
“The increase in part-time employment could reflect the ageing demographic of our community, which is higher than the national average.”
Agriculture remains the most common industry of employment, with more than 8pc of the council area’s total population working in the industry.
Between the 2011 and 2016 Census, workers in the agricultural industry has grown 15pc.
Farmers and farm managers remain in the most common occupation for men, followed by pulp, paper and converted paper product manufacturing and farm, forestry and farm workers.
For women, popular occupations include carers and aides, farmers and farm managers, sales assistants and salespersons and education professionals.
In line with national findings, the health care and social assistance industry showed growth in the region, with a 16pc increase in carers and aides and 27pc increase in protective service workers.
“Historically the Wattle Range Council area has a strong agricultural base and I would expect in future years we would see more of that and a continued growth of value adding of agricultural products,” Mr Gandolfi said.
“Between an ageing population as well as the roll out of the NDIS, we have seen an increase in people required to provide health and community services.”
The data found employment increases in education and training, public administration and safety, administrative and support services and professional, scientific and technical service in the last five years.
Significant declines were seen in accommodation and food services, pulp, paper and converted paper product manufacturing and wood product manufacturing.
