Jobs Melbourne: hot trends for 2011

Jobs Melbourne, as in the rest of Australia, suffered during 2008's economic downturn. The forthcoming year is expected to show clear signs of continuing recovery in the employment market.

Industries – growth and decline

There will be several key areas where Jobs Melbourne will improve. Those industries where the upturn will be keenest will be property and business services, health and community services, retail trade and construction. The downside for Melbourne's employment will be that manufacturing will continue to decline. The main reason for this is increasing competition from foreign markets.

Resettlement

Another trend for the near future is that firms will leave Melbourne's inner city areas due to the limitations for redevelopment. New industrial areas will spring up, predominately in the Central South East and Western sub regions.

Population

As Melbourne's population continues to expand, so will its construction industry have to meet the increased demand for housing. The population growth will have a knock-on affect with other industries, particularly the retail trade.

This increase will be felt right across the board; in fact, Jobs Melbourne's top 5 for 2011 is as follows:

5. Construction – 184,000 (increase from 2006 - 20,000)
4. Health and community services – 221,000 (increase of 10,000)
3. Manufacturing – 263,000 (increase of 400)
2. Retail trade – 303,000 (increase of 24,000)
1. Property and Business Services – 306,000 (increase of 36,000)
(figures from Victorian Department of Transport)