2016-11-08 Services & Organisation Committee Agenda

Noosa’s population is ageing, albeit faster than many           While the ageing population implies that a smaller
other regions. In 2011, the median age for the shire was        workforce will produce less in economic terms, it also
46 years compared to 38 and 36 years in the SEQ region          indicates there will be demand for a range of goods and
and Queensland respectively. Residents aged 45 years and        services specific to an older demographic.
over accounted for 39.3% of the population in 1991 and
50.9% at the 2011 census.




                                       Source: Noosa Shire Council (unpublished)




Employment                                                      •   Retail trade employs 16% of the total workforce, which
                                                                    is 50% higher than the Australian average
Employment trends in Noosa reflect both our ageing
                                                                •   Accommodation and foods services employ 14% of
population, national trends in health care, and a strong
                                                                    the total workforce which is double the Australian
tourism sector. Increased employment in professional,
                                                                    average
scientific and technical services signals growth in ‘smart’-
high value industry sectors. This is a trend that could be      •   Health care and social assistance employs 12% of the
exploited.                                                          total workforce
                                                                •   Education and training employs 9% of the total
Three of the top five employment sectors in Noosa are
                                                                    workforce, and
primarily geared towards population and tourism driven
industry sectors. These five sectors provide 60% of all local   •   Construction employs 8% of the total workforce.
jobs:




                                                                                         Noosa Shire | Local Economic Plan | Page 33