Population growth underlines need to create and plan for jobs

Treasurer Curtis Pitt says the latest forecasts showing Queensland’s population could reach close to seven million in the next 20 years underlines the importance of all levels of government working together to plan for growth and create jobs. 

Mr Pitt said the latest figures from the Queensland Government Statistician’s Office predicting a state population of 6.8 million by 2036 – up from the current 4.8 million — vindicated the Palaszczuk Government's long-term plan for infrastructure, business attraction, and record investments in health and education. 

Opening the Jobs Growth Summit in Brisbane, Mr Pitt said: “The projections, based on ABS Census data and which can always change over time, also indicate our state’s population could double in size by 2061 to 9.6 million persons. 

The Queensland Jobs Summit was organised by the Australia Institute and the University of Queensland’s School of Economics to highlight the contribution of industries towards employment in Queensland and prospects for growth. 

“The Palaszczuk Government is taking the right steps to meet the challenges of a growing population in a post-mining boom economy by creating jobs now and for the future,” Mr Pitt said. 

“Jobs come from setting the right pro-growth economic conditions, attracting more private investment, delivering services and infrastructure, and instilling confidence in the economy. 

“We have a clear State Infrastructure Plan and we are actively encouraging investment through innovative schemes such as our Market-Led Proposals to speed up project approvals and our Business Development Fund to back start-ups wanting to make bright business ideas a commercial reality. 

“We have also seen a business confidence rebound in just our first year in office which means more investment and more jobs as we promised at the election.” 

Mr Pitt said the forecasts were based on a growth rate that had slowed in recent times due to lower overseas and interstate migration — from an annual average of 2.3 per cent over the decade to 2011 to a projected 1.7 per cent over the decade to 2031, and 1.3 per cent over the decade to 2061. 

“These are all forecasts based on current ABS Census data and can change over time,” he said. 

“Actions we take now can change them. Which is why I believe we are on the right path with our focus on attracting investment and jobs to all parts of Queensland. 

“In particular, forecasts for continuing strong growth in the south-east corner confirm our efforts to attract new business and generate jobs in regional Queensland are the right approach to ensure all parts of our state benefit from growth. 

“We are also on the right path with our Economic Plan aimed at further diversifying the state’s already diversified economy. 

“The Australia Institute’s own discussion paper identified the recent jobs growth was driven by our service industries.

“That paper said while 22,000 jobs may have been lost in the resources sector over the past two years, four other sectors have created more jobs than were lost. 

“They are health, education, professional services and accommodation and food services,” Mr Pitt said. 

Key forecasts available at www.qgso.qld.gov.au 

• SEQ is projected to grow from 3.1 million in 2011 to 4.9 million by 2036 — an increase of 1.8 million or 1.8 per cent per year on average. The remainder of Queensland is projected to grow at 1.3 per cent per year on average. 
• Eight of the 10 most heavily populated local government areas will remain in SEQ as will seven of the LGAs expecting the greatest overall growth. 
• The Gold Coast is projected to experience the largest absolute population growth in the 25 years to 2036 — up by 351,000 persons. That equates to an average growth rate of 2.1 per cent. 
• Ipswich is projected to experience the highest growth rate to 2036 — 4.2 per cent a year on average.  
• Townsville and Cairns are projected to be the 7th and 8th most populous local government areas in Queensland by 2036 — at 289,000 and 228,000 persons respectively. 
• Growth in the number of school age children (5—17 years) is projected to increase from 768,000 in 2011 to 1.10 million by 2036, and to 1.45 million by 2061. As a proportion of the population however, this group is expected to decline from 17.2 per cent in 2011 to 15.2 per cent by 2061.  
• The number of Queenslanders aged 65 years and older is projected to more than double by 2036 to 1.35 million. A further projected increase to 2.29 million is forecast by 2061 and by then the age group would comprise 24 per cent of Queensland’s total population — up from 13.0 per cent in 2011. 

NSW recently forecast its population would rise from 7.2 million in 2011 to 9.7 million in 2036 and 10.1 million by 2041. Victoria was predicting a population rise from 5.5 million in 2011, to 7.7 million by 2031, and 8.8 million by 2041.

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