National economic and social datasets and research

Leanne Johnson

Regional Research Leader, BITRE

Outline of presentation

• BITRE datasets

• How we use these datasets

• Data issues

• Themes from our research: Major cities

About BITRE

• Dedicated research unit within Department of Infrastructure– Regional research function added in 2002

• What we do:– Undertake research projects and publish reports– Provide advice on research related issues– Build and maintain networks– Events

• Our work typically covers all Australian regions, from major cities to the most remote areas

BITRE small area datasets

• Industry Structure Database• Education and Occupation Databases• Social capital indicators database• Taxable Income Database• Income support payments database• Household wealth database• Cost of remoteness dataset • Regional aviation database

BITRE small area datasets

• Industry Structure Database• Education and Occupation Databases• Taxable Income Database• Income support payments database• Household wealth database• Cost of remoteness dataset • Regional aviation database• Social capital indicators database

Census

Admin data

Small area estimation

Surveys /

Industry Structure Database

• Detailed data on employment for 53 industries– SLAs– Working zones: based on commuting patterns

• 1991, 1996 and 2001– Being updated to 2006

• Available from <www.bitre.gov.au>

Largest sources of employment growth, 2001 to 2006

Working zone Largest source of jobs growth 2nd largest source of jobs growth

Sydney Education Community services

Melbourne Government administration Health services

Brisbane Government administration Business services

Adelaide Community services Government administration

Perth Government administration Construction trade services

Hobart Government administration Community services

Darwin Government administration Education

Canberra Government administration Health services

AUSTRALIA Government administration Community services

Largest sources of employment decline, 2001 to 2006

Working zone Industry Job loss

Sydney Machinery & equipment manufacturing -8 746

Melbourne Textile, clothing, footwear & leather manufacturing

-9 708

Brisbane Storage -2 103

Adelaide Machinery & equipment manufacturing -2 618

Perth Communication services -1 258

Hobart Health services -357

Darwin Food retailing -221

Canberra Business services -1 804

AUSTRALIA Agriculture - 39 072

Regional economic growth

• Three measures– Real income per taxpayer– Number of taxable individuals– Aggregate real taxable income

• Taxable Income Database– LGAs: 1980-81 to 2004-05– SLAs, working zones: 1990-91 to 2004-05– Currently being updated

ARTI growth, Sydney2000-01 to 2001-02 2001-02 to 2002-03

2003-04 to 2004-052002-03 to 2003-04

ARTI growth, Perth2000-01 to 2001-02 2001-02 to 2002-03

2003-04 to 2004-052002-03 to 2003-04

Household wealth database

• Estimates of wealth (what a household owns)– major components: superannuation, owner occupied housing,

mortgages, shares, business assets– 2003-04– SLAs, LGAs, working zones

• Relationship between regional income & wealth

Average household wealth, Melbourne

Wealth and income, Melbourne

Social capital

• Identified six social capital profiles for Australians• Cluster 2: Lonely, limited support, weak family & community bonds

• Who are they?• 11% of Australians• More likely to be: male, 35-44, renters, unemployed, employed• Less likely to be: 55+, owners, degree holders, not in labour force

• Where are they?• Concentrated in NT, QLD & cities of 50 000 to 99 999• Capital cities: SW Perth, Northern Adelaide, Blacktown, Logan

How we use this data

Input into policy formulation

Input into local decisions

Input into briefings

• For: Minister, Department, regions

• On: Specific region, Type of region, National• Most useful datasets

• Industry structure• Population• Taxable income• Unemployment

• Aim to identify key issues• Statistical data only goes so far

Input into research publications

• Drivers of economic growth in the Greater Sydney Metropolitan Region

• A regional economy: a case study of Tasmania

• Investment trends in the Lower Murray Darling Basin

• Skill shortages

• Costs of remoteness

Data issues

• Nationally comparable data for regions• Geography

• Spatial disaggregation• Coverage

• Time• Regularly updated• Timely• Historic time-series

• Access: confidentiality• Gaps: economic data

Themes from our research: major cities

• Dominant role of capital cities– 60 – 70% of population, income, employment– 60 – 70% of growth– Urban sprawl– Congestion

Capital cities population growth, 2002 to 2007

Average annual growth rate (%) Contribution to national growth (%)

Themes from our research: major cities

• City economies• Strong dependence on national economy• More diverse stability

• Significant differentiation in social & economic conditions within cities

• Same areas tend to emerge as disadvantaged• Spatial disadvantage is very persistent over time• Important role of housing

Low income households, Adelaide

20061996

• Functions of cities• Interconnections between cities & their hinterlands

• Major cities as attractors of • Commuters from surrounding areas• International migrants• Young people• Advanced health & education services• Skilled labour: knowledge workers• High order business and financial services• Global capital

Themes from our research: major cities

Overseas migration, 2001 to 2006 Degree holders, 2006

Business services jobs, 2006 Finance & insurance jobs, 2006

Where to from here?

• Major cities emerging as new priority for BITRE

• What issues require further research?• Urban transport infrastructure• Other?

• Opportunities for data sharing, collaboration etc