As the mining boom continues, Queensland is the natural place to find the perfect Aussie job, says Emma Leask.
Known as ‘the sunshine state’, Queensland has long had a reputation of attracting blue-rinsed sun-seeking retirees. Brisbane, the capital of Queensland (nicknamed ‘Brisvegas’ by locals) is Australia’s third largest city after Sydney and Melbourne, home to more than a third of Queensland’s total population of just over 4 million.
Although it’s not as cool as Sydney or as chic as Melbourne, thanks to the recent construction and resources boom, investment in the arts has increased and a vibrant urban culture is emerging, with the sense that Brisbane is coming of age. Darren Buchanan, Director of Hays recruitment agency in Queensland, explains: “Queensland traditionally was seen as a holiday destination by most Australians. However, in the last five years there has been a rapid shift in this view. Nowadays, Queensland and Brisbane are thriving cultural centres with an exciting vibe and opportunities.
“Over the last few years, hiring levels have remained strong in Queensland. In fact, all eyes are on Queensland, which is rising as the nation’s employment powerhouse. Surging investment in mines, strong economic performance, a commodities boom, government spending and the ever-expanding population requiring infrastructure are all accounting for Queensland’s strong jobs growth across almost all employment categories.”
Indeed, Queensland has the lowest unemployment rate of all the states at 3.8% against a national average of 4.3%. The state is spending $1.6 million every hour building and maintaining infrastructure, with truckloads of opportunities to work on bridges, roads, rail and other transport networks, water and electricity grids, hospitals, telecommunications, refineries and mining projects. In Queensland alone, about 30,000 skilled workers are needed to meet the infrastructure needs of a population growing by about 70,000 people a year. Good places to look for work include Brisbane, Gold Cost, Maroochydore, Townsville and Ipswich and towns linked to mines such as Mt Isa, Rockhampton and Mackay. What’s more, with 26 per cent of Brisbane’s population born overseas you’ll be in good company.
Cost of living-wise, like the UK, there is a widespread view in Australia that the middle class are doing it tough. Media articles and political rhetoric reinforces this view that the typical Australian family is struggling thanks to rising prices and mortgage stress. Worryingly, Australian residential property values are currently double Britain’s historic high (six times average earnings in Brisbane, 12 times in Sydney) and a recent survey in The Economist magazine says Australia has the most overvalued residential property in the world. However, in the June 2008 quarter Brisbane seems to have bucked the trend with its average house price increasing by 0.6 per cent against a national average of 0.3 per cent decrease. With interest rates at 9 per cent, Australian homeowners are making the highest repayments in the developed world.
Read the full article in our October 2008 edition.
