ABS unemployment rate - Geelong area
The ABS advises that their unemployment rate data should be adjusted to a 12-month rolling average to smooth out volatility in the monthly data.
The 12-month average unemployment rate to March 2023 for Geelong was 2.4 percent the same as the previous month yet 0.3 percentage points lower than the same time in 2022.
The 12-month average unemployment rate to March 2023 for Geelong was 1.2 points lower than both the Victorian and Australian unemployment rate of 3.6 percent.
| Geelong (SA4)* | Victoria | Australia** | ||||
| Twelve month average | Unemployment rate | Change percentage points | Unemployment rate | Change percentage points | Unemployment rate | Change percentage points |
| Latest month (March 2023) | 2.4% | 0.0 | 3.6% | -0.1 | 3.6% | 0.0 |
| Previous month (February 2023) | 2.4% | 3.7% | 3.6% | |||
| Same month previous year (March 2022) | 2.7% | -0.3 | 4.5% | -0.9 | 4.8% | -1.2 |
Unemployment rate
(12-month rolling average)
Click to enlarge image Youth unemployment rate (15–24 years)
The 12-month average youth unemployment rate to March 2023 for Geelong was 4.5 percent an increase of 0.3 percentage points compared to the previous month yet 2.5 points lower than the same time in 2022.
The 12-month average youth unemployment rate to March 2023 for Geelong was 3.9 points lower than the Victorian youth unemployment rate (8.4 percent) and 3.4 points lower than the Australian rate (7.9 percent).
| Geelong (SA4)* | Victoria | Australia** | ||||
| Twelve month average | Unemployment rate (15–24 years) | Change percentage points | Unemployment rate (15–24 years) | Change percentage points | Unemployment rate (15–24 years) | Change percentage points |
| Latest month (March 2023) | 4.5% | +0.3 | 8.4% | -0.1 | 7.9% | -0.1 |
| Previous month (February 2023) | 4.2% | 8.5% | 8.0% | |||
| Same month previous year March 2022) | 7.0% | -2.5 | 10.6% | -2.2 | 10.1% | -2.2 |
Youth unemployment rate
(12-month rolling average)
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) (Labourforce Australia Detailed).Note: Unemployment rate data for Geelong Victoria and Australia is based on ABS original data (sourced from survey respondents rather than trend or seasonally adjusted data). *The Geelong SA4 area includes the City of Greater Geelong Borough of Queenscliffe Surf Coast Shire and the majority of the Golden Plains Shire. See Australian Bureau of Statistics maps and choose 2016 Statistical Area Level 4 (SA4). **Data for Australia is sometimes revised from previously published data.
Small area quarterly unemployment rate
In the December 2022 quarter the unemployment rate fell in 13 of the 15 small areas across Greater Geelong compared to the September 2022 quarter. The largest quarterly falls were recorded in Corio - Norlane (-0.8 percentage points) and Newcomb - Moolap (-0.4 pts). The unemployment rate remained the same in Newtown and Point Lonsdale - Queenscliff. This is the 7th quarter in a row that all small area unemployment rates across Geelong are at their lowest levels in records going back to December 2010.
In the December 2022 quarter the unemployment rate fell again in all 15 small areas across Greater Geelong compared to the same quarter the previous year. The largest annual falls were recorded in Corio - Norlane (-2.4) Portarlington (-1.4) and Newcomb - Moolap (-1.3).
| Area (SA2)* | Smoothed Unemployment Rate (%) | |||
| Previous quarter (Sept. 2022) | Latest quarter (Dec. 2022) | Change quarter (Sept. 22 – Dec. 22) | Change annual (Dec. 21 – Dec. 22) | |
| Belmont | 2.4 | 2.2 | -0.2 | -0.8 |
| Corio - Norlane | 8.3 | 7.5 | -0.8 | -2.4 |
| Geelong | 2.9 | 2.6 | -0.3 | -0.9 |
| Geelong West - Hamlyn Heights | 2.1 | 1.9 | -0.2 | -0.8 |
| Grovedale | 1.8 | 1.6 | -0.2 | -0.7 |
| Highton | 1.1 | 1.0 | -0.1 | -0.5 |
| Lara | 2.0 | 1.8 | -0.2 | -0.7 |
| Leopold | 1.9 | 1.7 | -0.2 | -0.8 |
| Newcomb - Moolap | 4.7 | 4.3 | -0.4 | -1.3 |
| Newtown | 1.1 | 1.1 | 0.0 | -0.3 |
| North Geelong - Bell Park | 3.7 | 3.4 | -0.3 | -0.8 |
| Clifton Springs | 2.4 | 2.1 | -0.3 | -1.1 |
| Ocean Grove - Barwon Heads | 1.2 | 1.0 | -0.2 | -0.6 |
| Portarlington | 3.5 | 3.2 | -0.3 | -1.4 |
| Point Lonsdale - Queenscliff | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | -0.4 |
| | | | | |
| Torquay | 0.9 | 0.8 | -0.1 | -0.6 |
| Lorne-Anglesea | 1.1 | 0.9 | -0.2 | -0.6 |
| Winchelsea | 1.6 | 1.4 | -0.2 | -0.7 |
| | | | | |
| Bannockburn | 1.3 | 1.1 | -0.2 | -0.8 |
| Golden Plains (South) | 1.5 | 1.4 | -0.1 | -0.7 |
| Golden Plains (North) | 1.6 | 1.4 | -0.2 | -0.8 |
| Smythes Creek | 3.2 | 2.8 | -0.4 | -1.3 |
| | | | | |
| Colac | 2.5 | 1.9 | -0.6 | -2.6 |
| Colac Region | 1.2 | 1.0 | -0.2 | -1.3 |
| Otway | 3.2 | 2.8 | -0.4 | -1.3 |
| | | | | |
| City of Greater Geelong (LGA) | 2.7 | 1.3 | -1.4 | -2.0 |
| Surf Coast Shire (LGA) | 1.1 | 3.2 | +2.1 | +1.5 |
| Borough of Queenscliffe (LGA) | 0.9 | 1.9 | +1.0 | +0.4 |
| Golden Plains Shire (LGA) | 1.8 | 1.4 | -0.4 | -1.0 |
| Colac-Otway Shire (LGA) | 1.9 | 3.0 | +1.1 | -0.9 |
| | | | | |
| G21 region | 2.4 | 2.7 | +0.4 | -0.4 |
| Victoria | 4.0 | 3.7 | -0.3 | -1.4 |
Jobs and Skills Australia – quarterly unemployment rate - City of Greater Geelong
Click to enlarge image Source: Jobs and Skills Australia - Small Area Labour Markets.Note: These unemployment rate estimates (excluding data for Victoria) are smoothed and averaged over four quarters to dampen the variability inherent in small area estimates. Data series from December 2010. Figures revised each quarter. It is anticipated the March quarter 2023 figures will be released in June 2023. *See Australian Bureau of Statistics maps and choose 2016 Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2). -Percentage change is based on differences between the latest month and earlier figures as specified