City Analytics Snapshot 

• Thriving workforce and cultural diversity: The Georges River Local Government Area (LGA) has a larger working-age population than the Australian average. It has a significant multicultural community.
• Shifting job market: Healthcare and services are booming. Manufacturing and transport are in decline.
• Growing businesses: More small businesses are achieving higher turnovers in the Georges River LGA.
• Education on the rise: The area is becoming more educated, especially in tertiary education.
• Housing affordability challenge: Buying and renting pose significant challenges. Low-to-moderate income earners face steep obstacles in securing housing.

This table shows key demographic and economic statistics for the area, compared to Australia as a whole.

Key Statistics	Year	Georges River LGA	Australia
Estimated resident population	2023	158,051	26,648,878
Working age population	2022	66.9%	64.6%
Persons born overseas	2021	70,004	7,029,262
Median total income	2020	$48,250	$52,338
Total number of businesses	2023	16,624	2,589,873
Number of jobs	2020	128,997	19,990,090
Median weekly household rental	2021	$450	$375
Median monthly household mortgage	2021	$2,474	$1,863

(Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021).

Georges River LGA has a higher working-age population than the national average. This suggests a vibrant workforce. The area has a rich cultural diversity and a significant portion of its residents were born overseas.

Housing costs are high in Georges River LGA. Both median weekly rents and monthly mortgage payments are above the Australian average. This reflects the area's desirability and higher cost of living.
 

Employment

The table below shows the top ten industries, comparing 2011 and 2021 data. Notably, the healthcare and social assistance sector saw the most growth. Its share of employment rose by 37.61%. Professional, scientific, and technical services also saw a considerable rise of 12.36%.

Industry of Employment (Top Ten)	2021	2011	Percentage Change
Health care and social assistance	15%	10.9%	37.61%
Professional, scientific and technical services	10%	8.9%	12.36%
Retail trade	9.8%	10%	-2%
Education and training	7.8%	7.1%	9.86%
Financial and insurance services	7.4%	7.2%	2.78%
Construction	6.8%	6.2%	9.68%
Accommodation and food services	6.4%	7.6%	-15.79%
Transport, postal and warehousing	6.1%	7.3%	-16.44%
Manufacturing	4.8%	7.6%	-36.84%
Public administration and safety	4.8%	5.2%	-7.69%

(Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics 2021).

Occupation of employed persons tracks occupational changes from 2011 to 2021. The largest growth was in professionals at 12%. Community/personal service workers followed at 15%. Managers grew by 9%.

Occupation of Employed Persons	2021	2011	Percentage Change
Managers	13.1%	12%	9.17%
Professionals	28%	25%	12%
Technicians and trades workers	10.4%	12.3%	-15.45%
Community and personal service workers	10%	8.7%	14.94%
Clerical and administrative workers	14.9%	17.9%	-16.76%
Sales workers	8.9%	9.4%	-5.32%
Machinery operators and drivers	4.8%	5.3%	-9.43%
Labourers	7.8%	7.3%	6.85%

(Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics 2021).

Employment trends from 2017/18 to 2022/23 reveal a mixed landscape. Healthcare and social assistance led growth (+14.24%), followed by agriculture and construction. Manufacturing, wholesale trade, and information media faced significant declines.

Overall, total employment fell slightly (-0.86%). This points to a shifting job market. Gains in healthcare and some services offset losses in traditional industries.

Employment by Industry	2022/23	2017/18	Percentage Change
Agriculture, forestry and fishing	69	52	24.64%
Mining	29	39	-34.48%
Manufacturing	1,959	2,296	-17.20%
Electricity, gas, water and waste services	346	454	-31.21%
Construction	3,594	3,387	5.76%
Wholesale trade	935	1,375	-47.06%
Retail trade	4,378	4,637	-5.92%
Accommodation and food services	2,919	3,527	-20.83%
Transport, postal and warehousing	1,498	1,340	10.55%
Information media and telecommunications	337	468	-38.87%
Financial and insurance services	3,218	3,237	-0.59%
Rental, hiring and real estate services	1,206	1,131	6.22%
Professional, scientific and technical services	3,419	3,766	-10.15%
Administrative and support services	1,347	1,438	-6.76%
Public administration and safety	1,816	2,102	-15.75%
Education and training	4,706	4,540	3.53%
Health care and social assistance	14,490	12,426	14.24%
Arts and recreation services	470	658	-40%
Other services	1,765	2,043	-15.75%
Total industries	48,501	48,916	-0.86%

(Source: National Institute of Economic and Industry Research 2023).

The ABS 2021 Labour Force data shows a lower participation rate in Georges River LGA than in NSW. It also shows a higher percentage of people not in the labour force.

While full-time employment is prevalent in both areas, Georges River LGA has a higher proportion of part-time workers and a slightly higher unemployment rate.

Labour Force Status (2021)	Georges River LGA	%	NSW	%
In the labour force	74,332	58.1	3,874,012	58.7
Not in the labour force	47,285	36.9	2,341,417	35.5
Worked full-time	37,777	50.8	2,136,610	55.2
Worked part-time	21,989	29.6	1,151,660	29.7
Away from work	10,699	14.4	395,888	10.2
Unemployed	3,874	5.2	189,852	4.9

(Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021).
 

Business Growth and Change

From 2020 to 2023, we saw overall business growth of 5.2%, driven mainly by a surge in small businesses. While large businesses dipped slightly, new business entries rose. This was especially true for small and medium firms.

Number of Businesses	2023	2020	Percentage Change
Number of non-employing businesses	10,118	9,920	2%
Number of non-employing business entries	1,957	1,872	4.54%
Number of non-employing business exits	1,853	1,595	16.18%
Number of employing businesses: 1-4 employees	5,144	4,529	13.58%
Number of employing business entries: 1-4 employees	707	583	21.27%
Number of employing business exits: 1-4 employees	608	465	30.75%
Number of employing businesses: 5-19 employees	1,137	1,120	1.52%
Number of employing business entries: 5-19 employees	42	32	31.25%
Number of employing business exits: 5-19 employees	65	50	30%
Number of employing businesses: 20 or more employees	225	234	-3.85%
Number of employing business entries: 20 or more employees	6	3	100%
Number of employing business exits: 20 or more employees	3	6	-50%
Total number of businesses	16,624	15,803	5.20%
Total number of business entries	2,712	2,490	8.92%
Total number of business exits	2,529	2,116	19.52%

(Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics 2023).

The following table shows changes in the number of businesses by turnover between 2020 and 2023 in the area.

Overall, there was growth in businesses with higher turnovers, particularly those between $200k and $2m (10.78% increase). Businesses with turnover under $50k fell slightly. Those with $50k to $200k saw a 3.85% increase. Business entries rose for turnovers between $50k and $2m and exits increased across most categories.

Number of Businesses by Turnover	2023	2020	Percentage Change
Number of businesses with turnover of zero to less than $50k	4,570	4,578	-0.17%
Number of business entries with turnover of zero to less than $50k	966	1,051	-8.09%
Number of business exits with turnover of zero to less than $50k	1,275	1,079	18.16%
Number of businesses with turnover of $50k to less than $200k	5,777	5,563	3.85%
Number of business entries with turnover of $50k to less than $200k	1,189	1,002	18.66%
Number of business exits with turnover of $50k to less than $200k	1,275	1,079	18.16%
Number of businesses with turnover of $200k to less than $2m	5,332	4,813	10.78%
Number of business entries with turnover of $200k to less than $2m	524	411	27.49%
Number of business exits with turnover of $200k to less than $2m	401	351	14.25%
Number of businesses with turnover of $2m to less than $5m	624	531	17.51%
Number of business entries with turnover of $2m to less than $5m	25	21	19.05%
Number of business exits with turnover of $2m to less than $5m	40	35	14.29%
Number of businesses with turnover of $5m to less than $10m	184	182	1.10%
Number of business entries with turnover of $5m to less than $10m	7	3	133.33%
Number of business exits with turnover of $5m to less than $10m	10	7	42.86%
Number of businesses with turnover of $10m or more	137	136	0.74%
Number of business entries with turnover of $10m or more	0	3	-100%
Number of business exits with turnover of $10m or more	4	5	-20%

(Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics 2023).

From June 2015 to June 2023, new GST registrations and cancellations in the Georges River LGA have fluctuated. The net change was mostly positive but declined in recent years. New registrations initially outnumbered cancellations, so there was a gain. But, this reversed around mid-2022, leading to a loss in the latest period.

From 2017 to 2023, the Georges River LGA saw the largest growth in healthcare and social assistance (14%). Agriculture, forestry, and fishing followed (25%). Manufacturing fell by 17%. Wholesale trade dropped 47%. Information media and telecoms fell 39%. Total employment fell slightly (-0.86%). It shows a shifting job market. Gains in healthcare and some services offset losses in manufacturing and other industries.

Employment by Industry	2022/23	2017/18	Percentage Change
Agriculture, forestry and fishing	69	52	24.64%
Mining	29	39	-34.48%
Manufacturing	1,959	2,296	-17.20%
Electricity, gas, water and waste services	346	454	-31.21%
Construction	3,594	3,387	5.76%
Wholesale trade	935	1,375	-47.06%
Retail trade	4,378	4,637	-47.06%
Accommodation and food services	2,919	3,527	-20.83%
Transport, postal and warehousing	1,498	1,340	10.55%
Information media and telecommunications	337	468	-38.87%
Financial and insurance services	3,218	3,237	-0.59%
Rental, hiring and real estate services	1,206	1,131	6.22%
Professional, scientific and technical services	3,419	3,766	-10.15%
Administrative and support services	1,347	1,438	-6.76%
Public administration and safety	1,816	2,102	-15.75%
Education and training	4,706	4,540	3.53%
Health care and social assistance	14,490	12,426	14.24%
Arts and recreation services	470	658	-40%
Other services	1,765	2,043	-15.75%
Total industries	48,501	48,916	-0.86%

(Source: National Institute of Economic and Industry Research 2023).

Education and Qualifications

This table shows that education levels in the Georges River LGA improved from 2011 to 2021. There were notable increases in year 12 completion (up 14.9%) and non-school qualifications (up 10.8%).

There was a 44.6% increase in postgraduate degrees at higher education levels. However, there was a slight decrease in the percentage of people with certificates.

Overall, the data suggests an increase in qualifications during this period.

Education Level	2021	2022	Percentage Change
Completed year 12 or equivalent	70.8%	61.6%	14.9%
Total persons with non-school qualification(s)	65.3%	58.9%	10.8%
Postgraduate degree	9.4%	6.5%	44.6%
Graduate diploma/graduate certificate	1.9%	1.4%	35.7%
Bachelor degree	22.9%	17.9%	27.9%
Advanced diploma/diploma	10.5%	9.7%	8.2%
Certificate	13%	13.8%	-5.8%

(Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics 2021).
 

Travel to Work

This table shows where resident workers were employed in the Georges River Council area in 2021. It categorises employed residents based on their work locations. They may: live and work in the area, live in the area but work elsewhere, or have no fixed workplace.

The data shows a large commuter outflow from Georges River Council area. This suggests a mismatch between the local workforce and jobs.

	Number	%
Live and work in the area	17,008	24.2
Live in the area, but work outside	51,026	72.5
No fixed place of work	2,323	3.3
Total employed residents in the area	70,357	100

(Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021)

 

Household Income

From 2016 to 2021, income distribution in the Georges River LGA changed. Lower income brackets categories saw declines, while higher income brackets experienced significant growth.

Total Personal income (weekly)	2021	2016	Percentage Change
$1-$499 per week	21.7%	26%	-16.54%
$500-$999 per week	22.7%	22.9%	-0.87%
$1000-$1999 per week	25.7%	22.5%	14.22%
$2000-$2999 per week	7.6%	5.1%	49.02%
$3000 or more per week	4.9%	3%	63.33%
Nil income	10.8%	13.7%	-21.17%

(Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2021).
 

Housing Affordability

The table below compares weekly rent in the Georges River region to New South Wales. It highlights the median rent. It also shows the percent of renter households spending 30% or less of their income on rent, compared to those spending more than 30%.

Most renters in Georges River and New South Wales spend less than 30% of their income on rent. But, Georges River has a higher median rent ($450 per week vs. $420 for the state). Over 30% of renters in both areas pay more than 30% of their income on housing. This shows ongoing challenges with rental affordability and stress for many residents.

 

Rent weekly payments (2021)	Georges River	%	New South Wales	%
Median rent	$450		$420
Renter households where rent payments are less than or equal to 30% of household income	10,128	58.1	529,731	56.1
Renter households with rent payments greater than 30% of household income	5,919	33.9	335,404	35.5

(Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Rent (weekly) ranges 2021).

The next table provides data on mortgage monthly repayments, comparing homeowners in Georges River to New South Wales. It highlights the median mortgage repayment amount and the percentage of homeowners whose repayments are either less than or equal to 30% of their household income, or greater than 30%.

The higher median repayment in Georges River and the substantial percentage of homeowners with repayments exceeding 30% of their income highlight the challenges of housing affordability in the region.

Mortgage monthly repayments	Georges River	%		%
Median mortgage repayments	$2,474		2,167
Owner with mortgage households where mortgage repayments are less than or equal to 30% of household income	10,624	65.4	677,486	71.9
Owner with mortgage households with mortgage repayments greater than 30% of household income	3,880	23.9	163,060	17.3

(Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Rent (weekly) ranges 2021)