Population Flows to Queensland: Fraser

More people are moving to Queensland than to any other state in Australia and they’re young and educated, State Treasurer Andrew Fraser said today.

Mr Fraser said the Government’s Office of Economic and Statistical Research reports that interstate migration has added 623,378 people to Queensland’s population in the two decades to 2006-07.

“That represents 41.3 per cent of total population growth over that period, well ahead of any other Australian State or Territory,” he said.

The two most populous states in Australia, New South Wales and Victoria, continue to dominate population flow to and from Queensland..

NSW and Victoria account for 58.1 per cent and 23.7 per cent respectively of interstate migration to Queensland.

“Over the 20 year period more than 1.5 million people moved from NSW and Victoria to Queensland while around 1 million moved the other way resulting in a net gain of 500,000 people,” Mr Fraser said.

Mr Fraser said the latest figures also dispell the common myth that retirees are the ones migrating from interstate in pursuit of a better lifestyle.

“The Census overwhemingly showed that interstate migrants are generally younger than the incumbent population,” he said.

“According to the latest Census data and over a 12 month period to August 2006, just five per cent of interstate migrants aged 65 or over moved to Queensland,” Mr Fraser said.

“However, 23 per cent of interstate migrants to Queensland were aged between 25-34 years as compared to 13 per cent of the incumbent population.

“This augurs well for the state’s labour force and highlights strong economic activity within the State.”

Mr Fraser said Queensland created 59,900 jobs in the last year and 4400 jobs in December.

“At present our unemployment rate stands at 3.7 per cent which compares favourably to the national rate of 4.4 per cent in December.”

The most recent data shows that 51.4 per cent of interstate migrants have some type of tertiary qualification.

“This compares to 44.7 per cent of the incumbent population and points to a higher skill level within Queensland’s labour force with flowing benefit to the economy,” Mr Fraser said.

The latest monthly report “Queensland Economic Review” from the Office of Economic and Statistical Research can be found at www.oesr.qld.gov.au

Media Contact: Chris Ward 0418 424 654