Population and Growth

The population of the Shire is estimated to be about 43,000. Officially it was 40,840 [19,812 males and 21,028 females] as at August 2001 and is currently estimated to be growing at a rate of 2.3% per annum, which translates to around 1000 people coming in each year. The state average is 1.1%.

The 1986 population was 28,542, in 1991 it was 34,180, jumping to 38,048 as at August 1996

The median age of people in 2001 was 38 years, while in 1991 it was 32 years.

For the 2001 census 32,552 people [80%] said they were Australian born.

Of all the occupied dwellings in 2001 there were 13,727 separate houses [91%], 728 semi detached, row or terrace houses and townhouses [4.8%], 386 flats, units or apartments [2.6%] and 196 other dwellings.

3358 [8.9%] live in lone person households.

31,346 are 15 or over, while 6,244 are 65 and over

Social and Economic Statistics

[from 1996 census]

In 1991, 1330 people were noted in the Census as being unemployed. This compares to 1197 in 1996. In 1991, 14,654 people in Wingecarribee Shire were in the labour force, compared to 15,961 in 1996.

The median annual household income in Wingecarribee Shire in 1996 was $24,230 compared to $34,000 for NSW.

The major occupation groups of the Wingecarribee workforce are Professionals (17%); Tradespersons (15.3%); Clerical/Sales (12.9%); Associate Professionals (11.4%); Labourers (10.2%) and Managers (10%).

For more info visit http://www.wsc.nsw.gov.au/about.html March 2006

This will provide you with population, education and income information for The Southern Highlands.

Wages and Salaries

The size of Wingecarribee’s labour force stands at 17,759. The main industry sectors where people are employed are in Retail Trading (15.8%); Manufacturing (12%); Health & Community Services (10.5%) and Construction (9.2%).

Currently 76.5% of the workforce, work within the LGA itself, whilst 3.2% travel to other places within the region (mostly to Wollongong) and 20.3% travel further mostly to places within the Sydney statistical district.

Just under 40% of people over the age of 15 years are reported to hold a post schooling qualification; 10.6% hold a Degree (Post & Bachelor) and 28.1% hold a Diploma or Certificate of some description.

© SouthernHighlandsBusiness.com 2006.™