South East Tasmania Regional Profile
Regional Profile
South East Coast of Tasmania
Includes the Local Government Areas of Tasman and Sorell
Prepared by groupwork pty ltd
March 2009
Contents
List of tables
List of figures
Executive Summary and Methodology
No general skills shortage in Tasman or Sorell
Alike but different “A tale of two places”
Key similarities
Trainingis happening
Attitude counts
There are Challenges
Methodology
Geographic scope of the profile
Tasman
Sorell
Demographic Overview
Total population
Persons per square kilometer
Persons per property
Population growth
Age Profile
Indigenous persons
Income
Family characteristics
Ownership-occupied private dwellings
Education
Highest year of school completed (persons 15 and over)
Highest year of school completed by age
Non-school qualifications field of study (persons 15 years and over)
Non-school qualifications: (Persons 15 & over)
Type of educational institution attending
Labour force & employment
Unemployment percentage
Hours worked
Employed persons (15 years and over)
Occupation
Industry profile
Industry of employment
Incorporated enterprises
Training Profile
Enrolment by industry output group 2005 to 2007
Enrolments sorted by sex and age
Age distribution of enrolments
Source of student enrolments
Funding for enrolments
Commencements
Completion Data
Completions versus enrolments
Trend by industry output group and sub groups
Agriculture, Aquaculture, Fishing, Food and Beverages
Arts
Automotive
Building & Construction
Business & Financial Services
Energy Industry
Engineering and Manufacturing
Environmental Industries
Forestry Timber & Paper
General Education & Personal Development
Government Services
Hairdressing & Personal Services
Health & Community Services
Information Technology & Communications
Sport & Recreation
Marine Manufacturing
Other Manufacturing
Printing
Retail & Wholesale Sales
Textiles Clothing & Footwear
Tourism
Transport Distribution & Storage
Mining & Mineral Processing
Development organisations & training providers active in the region
Development organisations
Registered training organisations & enrolments
Developments that may influence the economy, workforce and skills training
Tasman
Tourism and Accommodation
Aquaculture
Sorell
Retailing
Construction
Skill development – issues & emerging pressures
Issues, barriers and opportunities
Small business looks after itself
Attitude matters
Seasonality presents challenges
Not enough accommodation
Transport in general
The needs of a mature demographic
Limited large employers
Observations by industry sectors
Tourism, accommodation and food
Local Government
Aquaculture
Agriculture (including horticulture)
Health care and social assistance
Arts, recreation and heritage
Construction
Retail
Food processing
Attachment (1) Organisations and businesses consulted
Attachment (2) Project overview and questionnaire used in consultations
List of tables
/Page
Table 1: townshippopulations Tasman & Sorell / 11Table 2: population Tasman & Sorell by sex & % ofTasmania’s population / 13
Table 3: persons per square kilometer Tasman & Sorell / 13
Table 4: persons per property Tasman & Sorell / 13
Table 5: population growth Tasman 1996 to 2006 / 14
Table 6: population growth Sorell 1996 to 2006 / 14
Table 7: median age Tasman, Sorell, Tasmania, Australia / 14
Table 8: age distribution, persons Tasman & Sorell / 15
Table 9: indigenous population: number and % of Tasman, Sorell, Tasmania, Aust. / 15
Table 10: weekly incomes Tasman & Sorell / 16
Table 11: median weekly incomes Tasman, Sorell, Tasmania, Australia / 16
Table 12: family characteristics, Tasman, Sorell, Tasmania, Australia / 16
Table 13: ownership of private dwellings Tasman & Sorell / 16
Table 14: highest year of school completed: sorted by sex Tasman & Sorell / 17
Table 15: highest year of school completed by age & percentage Tasman & Sorell / 17
Table 16: top seven non school fields of study Tasman & Sorell / 18
Table 17: fields of study: sorted by sex Tasman & Sorell / 18
Table 18: non school qualifications persons 15 & over Tasman & Sorell / 19
Table 19: type of educational institution attending Tasman & Sorell / 19
Table 20: type of educational institution attending sorted by sex Tasman & Sorell / 19
Table 21: unemployment percentage sorted by sex 1996 to 2006 / 21
Table 22: unemployment percentage for Tasman, Sorell, TasmaniaAustralia / 21
Table 23: hours worked Tasman & Sorell / 21
Table 24: hours worked by sex Tasman & Sorell / 22
Table 25: employed persons 15 years & over by age sorted by sex Tasman & Sorell / 22
Table 26: occupations sorted by sex Tasman & Sorell / 22
Table 27: industry of employment Tasman & Sorell / 24
Table 28: industries of employment 1996 to 2006 sorted by sex Tasman / 24
Table 29: industries of employment 1996 to 2006 sorted by sex Sorell / 25
Table 30: incorporated enterprises by number of employees Tasman & Sorell / 26
Table 31: incorporated enterprises by industry group Tasman & Sorell / 26
Table 32: enrolments by industry group 2005 to 2007 Tasman & Sorell / 28
Table 33: enrolments sorted by sex & age Tasman & Sorell / 29
Table 34: age distribution of enrolments 2005 to 2007 Sorell / 29
Table 35: age distribution of enrolments 2005 to 2007 Tasman / 29
Table 36: source of students 2005 to 2007 Sorell / 30
Table 37: source of students 2005 to 2007 Tasman / 30
Table 38: enrolment funding source Tasman & Sorell / 31
Table 39: Tasman top ten Commencements by qualification / 31
Table 40: Sorell Top Ten Commencements by qualification / 32
Table 41: top ten courses completed Tasman / 33
Table 42: top ten courses completed Sorell / 33
Table 43: enrolments & completions 2005 to 2006 Tasman & Sorell / 34
Table 44: completions by AQF level Tasman & Sorell / 34
Table 45: annual enrolments agriculture, aquaculture, fishing, food and beverages / 35
Table 46: annual enrolments arts / 36
Table 47: annual enrolments automotive / 36
Table 48: annual enrolments building & construction / 37
Table 49: annual enrolments business and financial services / 38
Table 50: annual enrolments energy / 38
Table 51: annual enrolments engineering & manufacturing / 39
Table 52: annual enrolments environmental industries / 39
Table 53: annual enrolments forestry, timber & paper / 40
Table 54: annual enrolments general education & personal development / 40
Table 55: annual enrolments government services / 41
Table 56: annual enrolments hairdressing and personal services / 41
Table 57: annual enrolments health & community services / 42
Table 58: annual enrolments information technology & communications / 42
Table 59: annual enrolments sport & recreation / 43
Table 60: annual enrolments marine manufacturing / 44
Table 61: annual enrolments other manufacturing / 44
Table 62: annual enrolments printing / 44
Table 63: annual enrolments retail & wholesale sales / 45
Table 64: annual enrolments retail & wholesale sales / 45
Table 65: annual enrolments tourism / 46
Table 66: annual enrolments transport distribution & storage / 46
Table 67: annual enrolments mining & mineral processing / 47
Table 68: percentage of enrolments for registered training organisations / 48
List of figures
/Page
Figure 1: map of North Tasman / 11Figure 2: map of South Tasman / 11
Figure 3: map of Sorell township & Midway Point / 12
Figure 4: map of Southern Beaches area / 12
Figure 5: map of Boomer Bay & Dunalley / 12
Figure 6: map of Orielton / 12
Figure 7: age profile Tasman & Sorell / 14
Figure 8: income Tasman, Sorell, TasmaniaAustralia (%’s weekly) / 15
Figure 9: commencements Tasman 1/7/04 to 30/6/08 / 31
Figure 10: commencements Sorell 1/7/04 to 30/6/08 / 32
Figure 11: annual enrolments agriculture, aquaculture, fishing, food & beverages / 35
Figure 12: annual enrolments Arts / 36
Figure 13: annual enrolments automotive / 36
Figure 14: annual enrolments building & construction / 37
Figure 15: annual enrolments business and financial services / 38
Figure 16: annual enrolments energy / 38
Figure 17: annual enrolments engineering & manufacturing / 39
Figure 18: annual enrolments environmental industries / 39
Figure 19: annual enrolments forestry, timber and paper / 40
Figure 20: annual enrolments general education & personal development / 40
Figure 21: annual enrolments government services / 41
Figure 22: annual enrolments hairdressing & personal services / 41
Figure 23: annual enrolments health & community services / 42
Figure 24: annual enrolments information technology & communications / 42
Figure 25: annual enrolments sport & recreation / 43
Figure 26: annual enrolments marine manufacturing / 43
Figure 27: annual enrolments other manufacturing / 44
Figure 28: annual enrolments printing / 44
Figure 29: annual enrolments retail & wholesale sales / 45
Figure 30: annual enrolments textiles clothing & footwear / 45
Figure 31: annual enrolments tourism / 46
Figure 32: annual enrolments transport distribution & storage / 46
Figure 33: annual enrolments mining & mineral processing / 47
Executive Summary and Methodology
No general skills shortage in Tasman or Sorell
In the Skills Tasmania Occupational Skills Shortage Analysis phase onethe following definition of a skill shortage was used:
A skill shortage exists where employers are unable to fill or have considerable difficulty filling, vacancies for an occupation at current levels of remuneration and conditions of employment.
Using this definition there is little evidence of a general skills shortage in the Tasman or Sorell municipalities. Most employers seem to have no difficulty recruiting and arranging training for employees. There are some areas that specific industries find challenging and these are detailed in section 9 of this report. The predominant employer view was:
“If the right employee attitude exists then training can be organised”.
Alike but different “A tale of two places”
Sorell and Tasman may appear to be similar rural communities but they are quite different:
- Sorell is a medium sized municipality and Tasman is small.
- Sorell’s population is growing, Tasman’s is falling.
- Tasman has an older retired community, Sorell has young families.
- Unemployment is higher in Tasman than Sorell.
- Income levels are lower in Tasman than Sorell.
- Home ownership in Tasman is higher than Sorell.
- The heritage attractions and dramatic landscapes of Tasman make it a tourism retirement and holiday destination.
- Sorell’s transport linkages are making it a dormitory for Hobart.
- Most employees in Tasman live and work locally. Most people who live in Sorell work elsewhere.
Key similarities
- There are few large employers in either municipality with most businesses being small and family owned.
- Both municipalities are similar in terms of education with around 35% of persons completing Year 11 and above.
- There is a transition from traditional farming to niche opportunities like flower growing and quail production.
Training is happening
- Between 2005 & 2007 there were 5,111 enrolments in Vocational Education & Training (VET) qualifications across the Tasman and Sorell municipalities.
- In Tasman between 1/7/04 and 30/6/08, 130 apprentice and trainee commencements occurred across 33 qualifications. Over the same periodin Sorell there were 376 apprentice and trainee commencements across 74 qualifications. However commencements have declined over the period.
- There is a significant gap in both municipalities between the number of people who start a training course and those who finish. Completed qualifications are only 19% of enrolments with a declining trend. This is caused by a variety of factors like data timing, job change, loss of interest and inappropriate enrolments.
- There may be an opportunity for small businesses to combine and coordinate training.
Attitude counts
Trying to find employees with the right attitude and work ethic was an overriding theme from employers in both municipalities. This has led to the employment of mature age workers in preference to young people. Concerns were also expressed about the capabilities of young people leaving school and their readiness for work.
There are challenges
Seasonality, the availability of transport and insufficient employee accommodation all affect the ability to recruit employees, offer full time work and provide training.
Even though Tasman is only a couple of hours drive from Hobart there is a sense of isolation caused by a general lack of services.
Methodology
This profile has been prepared through desk research and demographic analysis combined with 22 employer interviews.
It should be noted that since 2006 the national and international economic climate has changed and is changing rapidly. Consequently the impacts of this change will not be fully reflected in the historical data.
However the qualitativedata gathered from employers has consistent themes and will tend to reflect current circumstances.
Data has come from:
- The 2006 ABS census
- Enrolment statistics maintained by Skills Tasmania
- The Local Government “Measuring Council Performance KPI Report”
- Profiles prepared by the Demographic Change Advisory Council
- The Tasmanian Visitor Survey
Geographic scope of the profile
The South East Coast Region of Tasmania for the purpose of this profile includes the local government areas of Tasman and Sorell. There are 29 local government areas in Tasmania. In terms of population Tasman is the 4th smallest and Sorell is the 15th largest. Tasman is classified by the Tasmanian Local Government Division as a small LGA and Sorell as medium sized. Tasman is predominantly rural and State forest. Sorell is within commuting distance of Hobart and has a mix of urban and rural areas. The main townships or settlement areas are set out in the following table. The maps below show the location of the areas.
Table 1: township populations Tasman & Sorell
Tasman / Persons / Sorell / PersonsEaglehawk Neck / 269 / Dunalley / 313
Nubeena / 277 / Sorell / 1546
WhiteBeach / 275 / Midway point / 2244
Port Arthur / 499 / Dodges Ferry / 2244
Murdunna / 321 / Primrose Sands / 894
Taranna / 190 / Carlton / 994
Premaydena / 249 / Lewisham / 801
SaltWaterRiver / 156
Source ABS 2006 census data
Tasman
Maps showing the settlement areas for Tasman
Figure 1: map of North Tasman
Figure 2: map of South Tasman
Sorell
Maps showing the settlement areas for Sorell
Figure 3: map of Sorell Township & Midway Point
Figure 4: map of Southern Beaches area
Figure 5: map of Boomer Bay & Dunalley
Figure 6: map of Orielton
Demographic Overview
Total population
Combined the population of Tasman and Sorell is 13,808 persons or 2.9% of Tasmania’s population. There are more women than men in both local government areas.
Table 2: population Tasman & Sorell by sex & % ofTasmania’s population
Men / Women / Persons / % TasmaniaTasman / 1,092 / 1,112 / 2,204 / 0.5
Sorell / 5,778 / 5,826 / 11,604 / 2.4
Tasmania / 233,381 / 243,100 / 476,481
Source ABS 2006 census data
Persons per square kilometer
Both local government areas have a low number of persons per square kilometer. However Tasman is more sparsely settled.
Table 3: persons per square kilometer Tasman & Sorell
LGA / Area sq. km / Population / Persons per sq.kmTasman / 659.3 / 2,204 / 3.3
Sorell / 582.6 / 11,604 / 20
Source ABS 2006 census data
Persons per property
Tasman has a low number of persons per property which may be caused by the number of holiday homes in the area and the family structure.
Table 4: persons per property Tasman & Sorell
LGA / Number of rateable properties / Population / Persons per propertyTasman / 3,257 / 2,204 / 0.68
Sorell / 7,981 / 11,604 / 1.45
Source Measuring Council Performance Tasmanian Government
Population growth
Tasman has a falling population whereas Sorell is growing. Between the 1996 and 2006 censuses the population of Tasman has fallen by 1.86% whilst the population of Sorell has grown by 14.7%. Tasmania’s population over the same period grew by 3.7%.
There has been a 4.3% reduction in the number of males in Tasman whereas the number of females has increased by 0.54%. In Sorell males have increased by 13.9% and females by 15.5%.
Table 5: population growth Tasman 1996 to 2006
Tasman / 1996 / 2001 / 2006 / % Change 96-06Males / 1,139 / 1,143 / 1,092 / -4.30
Females / 1,106 / 1,105 / 1,112 / +0.54
Persons / 2,245 / 2,248 / 2,204 / -1.86
Source ABS census data 1996, 2001, 2006
Table 6: population growth Sorell 1996 to 2006
Sorell / 1996 / 2001 / 2006 / % Change96-06
Males / 5,071 / 5,223 / 5,778 / 13.9
Females / 5,042 / 5,291 / 5,826 / 15.5
Persons / 10,113 / 10,514 / 11,604 / 14.7
Source ABS census data 1996, 2001, 2006
Age Profile
Tasman is an ageing retirement community with a median age higher than Tasmania.
Sorell is a younger community with a median age similar to Tasmania as a whole.
Figure 7: Age profile Tasman & Sorell
Table 7: median age Tasman, Sorell, Tasmania, Australia
Median Age / 1996 / 2001 / 2006 / % changeTasman / 37 / 41 / 47 / 27.0
Sorell / 32 / 36 / 39 / 21.9
Tasmania / 39
Australia / 37
Source ABS census data 1996, 2001, 2006
Table 8: age distribution, persons Tasman & Sorell
Tasman / SorellAge / Persons / % / Persons / %
0-14 / 380 / 17.2 / 2,458 / 21.2
15-19 / 93 / 4.2 / 769 / 6.6
20-29 / 151 / 6.9 / 1,137 / 9.8
30-39 / 238 / 10.8 / 1,564 / 13.5
40-49 / 343 / 15.6 / 1,856 / 16.0
50-59 / 441 / 20.0 / 1,686 / 14.5
60-69 / 316 / 14.3 / 1,054 / 9.1
70+ / 242 / 11.0 / 1,080 / 9.3
Total / 2204 / 100.0 / 11,604 / 100.0
Source ABS 2006 census data
Indigenous persons
Tasman has a higher per capita percentage of indigenous persons than Sorell, Tasmania and Australia.
Table 9: indigenous population: number and % of Tasman, Sorell, Tasmania, Australia
Indigenous persons( comprises Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander) / Tasman / Sorell / Tasmania / Australia
Number of indigenous persons / 121 / 377 / 16,767 / 455,031
Total population / 2,204 / 11,604 / 476,481 / 19,855,288
% of total population / 5.4% / 3.2% / 3.5% / 2.3%
Source ABS 2006 census data
Income
Tasman is lower than Sorell in all income categories. This is probably a reflection of the number of retirees in Tasman. Since the 1996 census incomes have grown in Tasman by an average of 47% and in Sorell by 51%.
Figure 8: Income Tasman, Sorell, TasmaniaAustralia ($’s weekly)
Table 10: weekly incomes Tasman & Sorell
Tasman / 1996 / 2001 / 2006 / % increaseMedian individual income ($/weekly) / 197 / 261 / 308 / 56.3
Median family income ($/weekly) / 456 / 556 / 632 / 38.6
Median household income ($/weekly) / 402 / 465 / 581 / 44.5
Sorell
Median individual income ($/weekly) / 263 / 314 / 395 / 50.2
Median family income ($/weekly) / 632 / 738 / 983 / 55.5
Median household income ($/weekly) / 533 / 633 / 778 / 46.0
Table 11: median weekly incomes Tasman, Sorell, Tasmania, Australia
Income $/pw 2006 / Tasman / Sorell / Tasmania / AustraliaMedian individual income / 308 / 395 / 398 / 466
Median household income / 581 / 778 / 801 / 1027
Median family income / 632 / 983 / 1032 / 1171
Source ABS 2006 census data
Family characteristics
Tasman has a higher percentage of couple families without children than Sorell, Tasmania and Australia. Sorell is more comparable with Tasmania and has a higher percentage of couple families with children.
Table 12: family characteristics, Tasman, Sorell, Tasmania, Australia
Tasman / Sorell / Tasmania / AustraliaFamily characteristics / Number / % of total families / Number / % of total families / % of total families / % of total families
Total families / 634 / 3,344
Couple families with children / 210 / 33.1 / 1,410 / 42.2 / 41.4 / 45.3
Couple families without children / 345 / 54.4 / 1,322 / 39.5 / 40.5 / 37.2
One parent families / 75 / 11.8 / 587 / 17.6 / 16.7 / 15.8
Other families / 4 / 0.6 / 25 / 0.7 / 1.4 / 1.7
Source ABS 2006 census data
Ownership -occupied private dwellings
In Tasman 52.1% of occupied private dwellings are fully owned and 25.8% are being purchased. In Sorell 34.7% are fully owned and 42.3% are being purchased.
This reflects the retiree nature of Tasman and young families in Sorell.
Table 13: ownership private dwellings Tasman & Sorell
Tenure private dwellings / Tasman / SorellFully Owned / 52.10% / 34.70%
Being purchased / 25.80% / 42.30%
Rented / 16% / 17.30%
Education
Highest year of school completed (persons 15 and over)
In both Tasman and Sorell around 35% of persons completed year 11 and above in the 2006 census year. More females than males achieved this level of qualification.
In both Tasman and Sorell 55% of persons did not go beyond year 10.
Table 14: highest year of school completed: sorted by sex Tasman & Sorell
Tasman / SorellHighest year of school completed / Males / Female / Person / % / Males / Female / Person / %
Year 12 or equiv. / 231 / 280 / 511 / 28 / 1,181 / 1,406 / 2,587 / 27
Year 11 or equiv. / 54 / 77 / 131 / 7 / 393 / 437 / 830 / 9
Year 10 or equiv. / 316 / 293 / 609 / 33 / 1,776 / 1,732 / 3,508 / 37
Year 9 or equiv. / 155 / 117 / 272 / 15 / 545 / 493 / 1,038 / 11
Year 8 or below / 81 / 54 / 135 / 7 / 330 / 306 / 636 / 7
Did not go to school / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 10 / 8 / 18 / 0.2
Highest year of school not stated / 110 / 92 / 202 / 10 / 408 / 413 / 821 / 9
Total / 947 / 913 / 1,860 / 4,643 / 4,795 / 9,438 / 100
Source ABS 2006 census data
Highest year of school completed by age
The following table shows the percentage of each age group that completed each year of study.
Table 15: highest year of school completed by age & percentage Tasman & Sorell