Regional Overview
The Adelaide Hills, Fleurieu and Kangaroo Island region is made up of three distinct sub-regions with six local councils, spanning over 8,000 square kilometres and housing more than 130,000 residents. The region has 8 per cent of the State’s population, 5.7 per cent of the State’s jobs and 4.8 percent of Gross Regional Product.
The region has diverse economies, workforces and communities, with pockets of population growth, new developments and an increase in skill demand. Conversely, some areas have stable / low-growth industries, and others have pockets of long-term unemployed job seekers. Across the region, the unemployment rate...Read more
Regional Overview
The Adelaide Hills, Fleurieu and Kangaroo Island region is made up of three distinct sub-regions with six local councils, spanning over 8,000 square kilometres and housing more than 130,000 residents. The region has 8 per cent of the State’s population, 5.7 per cent of the State’s jobs and 4.8 percent of Gross Regional Product.
The region has diverse economies, workforces and communities, with pockets of population growth, new developments and an increase in skill demand. Conversely, some areas have stable / low-growth industries, and others have pockets of long-term unemployed job seekers. Across the region, the unemployment rate has fallen from 6.4 per cent in March 2016 to 5.4 per cent in March 2017.
Consistent across the region, tourism/hospitality and agriculture/primary production are crucial industries providing jobs and ongoing opportunities for the growth of the economy. However, agriculture is a seasonal industry, often employing a transient workforce (backpackers or teams moving across states to follow the availability of work). In addition, aged / disability care has become a significant employing industry in response to the region’s ageing population.
The 2016-2019 Regional Development Australia (RDA) Regional Roadmap has several focus areas - including matching the skills within the labour force to the needs of the region’s businesses and industries, and increasing the number of jobs available to local residents. There is a targeted focus on improving youth employment as well as supporting local organisations through business development activities and business improvement strategies.
To find out more, please download the Literature Review – Adelaide Hills, Fleurieu and Kangaroo Island (PDF 260KB)
Regions In Focus: Adelaide Hills, Fleurieu and Kangaroo Island
(Source: http://www.pir.sa.gov.au/regions)
Adelaide Hills (State Government Region)
The Department of State Development is implementing two strategic directions to respond to the challenges of economic change by:
- Better understanding the demand and need in relation to skills, training and employment in regional SA.
- Tailoring skills and employment investment to respond to local demand and need.
Population overview
The population of the Adelaide Hills region (73,000) represents around 4% of the State’s population and is growing at the State average rate.
Compared to South Australia, the Adelaide Hills region has higher shares of people aged 0 to 14 years, and 45-64; and lower shares of people aged 15 to 44 years, and over 65 years.
In the December quarter 2016, there were 2,459 unemployed people in the Adelaide Hills region, with an estimated unemployment rate of 6.0 per cent, lower than the State rate of 6.8 per cent.
Residents of the Adelaide Hills region have higher levels of school achievement compared to South Australia as a whole. In the Adelaide Hills region, 60.0 per cent of the population aged 15 to 64 years have completed year 12 (or equivalent), compared to 54.2 per cent in the South Australia.
Further reading
- Department of State Development, Regional Workforce Report (PDF 540KB) and Data File (XLS 530KB)
- Download the Department of Primary Industries and Regions SA Region In Focus report
- Download the Regional Development Australia Board Adelaide Hills Fleurieu and Kangaroo Island Regional Roadmaps:
Fleurieu and Kangaroo Island (State Government Region)
Population Overview
The population of the Fleurieu and Kangaroo Island region (50,000) represents around 3% of the State’s population and is growing faster that the State average rate.
Compared to South Australia, the Fleurieu and Kangaroo Island region has a lower share of people aged 0 to 44 years, and a higher share of people aged 45 and older.
In the December quarter 2016 there were 1,185 unemployed people in the Fleurieu and Kangaroo Island region, with an estimated unemployment rate of 5.1 per cent; lower than the State unemployment rate of 6.8 per cent
Residents of the Fleurieu and Kangaroo Island region have lower levels of school achievement compared to South Australia as a whole. In the Fleurieu and Kangaroo Island region, 43.3 per cent of the population aged 15 to 64 years have completed year 12 (or equivalent), compared to 54.2 per cent in South Australia.
Further reading
- Department of State Development Workforce Report (PDF 530KB) and Data File (XLS 500KB)
- Department of Primary Industries and Regions SA Region In Focus report (PDF)
- Regional Development Australia Board Adelaide Hills Fleurieu and Kangaroo Island
To find out more about the engagement process planned for the Jobs and Skills for Regional SA project, please download the Skills and Employment Division Engagement Plan (PDF 380KB).
