Employees
Hobart boasts a high labour force participation rate of 62 per cent[i] and a low unemployment rate of 3.5 per cent[ii]
Hobart’s working population comprises a skilled and qualified workforce comprising approximately 44,700 individuals of which over 50 per cent are employed in Professional or Clerical and Administrative roles[iii].
In December 2008, a record 2,566 students graduated from the University of Tasmania (UTAS) across 8 faculties and institutes[iv].
With over 30 per cent of the City’s resident population aged between 15 and 34 years and a high proportion (45 per cent) of individuals with bachelor or postgraduate degrees[v], the City of Hobart has a rich pool of knowledge-based workers from which business can recruit.
Customers
The City of Hobart has a resident population of around 49,600, supplemented by an additional 159,600 people across Greater Hobart[vi]. Being the Capital also brings many Tasmanian residents from around the State to the City for various activities.
The City hosts 52 per cent of total employment within Greater Hobart. This brings over half of the working population to the City most days, making it easy for them to access Hobart CBD shopping.
In addition, Hobart hosts most of the state tertiary sector and is the main destination for international students in Tasmania. There are around 33,000 primary, secondary and tertiary students studying in the City of Hobart of which around 10 per cent are international[vii].
The Parliament, Ministry offices and head offices of most State Government Agencies are located in Hobart, mostly in the CBD. In addition, the Commonwealth Government has a number of administrative roles based in the city.
In the 2008/09 financial year, Hobart hosted approximately 658,500 interstate visitors, staying an average of 3.8 nights in the City and spending an average of $1,600 per person[viii].
Furthermore, in 2008/09 77,000 cruise ship passengers and crew visited Hobart. With an average spend of $108 per person, this equates to $8.3 million dollars spent in Hobart and surrounds[ix].
As the Capital City of Tasmania, Hobart is head office for many of the state’s major exporters. Statistics for the 2008-2009 financial year show that total Tasmanian exports were valued at $3,489 million.
Japan is Tasmania’s largest market with over $533 million in exports. Mainland China is the second largest export market followed by the Republic of Korea, Hong Kong, Malaysia and the United States of America.
Major export products include:
- Zinc, aluminium and copper and iron ores
- Wood and paper products
- Food products including dairy, fruit and vegetables, meat and seafood
- Machinery and transport equipment[x]
The City of Hobart is noted for its easy accessibility. Hobart possesses a good public transport system, excellent road infrastructure and high standard information communications infrastructure and technology.
A range of walk and cycle-ways create easy accessibility to the City for shoppers, commuters and visitors.
Hobart has ample car parking options for customers and employees, with 1,455 on-street and 3,088 off-street car parks all within easy walking distance of key destinations in the city centre. Further information about parking can be found on the Parking in Hobart page of the website. Further information about getting around Hobart including a mobility map can be found on the Walking & Mobility Assistance page of the website.
As well as the seaport facilities operated by Tasports, the Hobart International Airport provides regular flights to and from all major Australian cities.
Notes
[i] ABS 2006 Census of Population and Housing
[ii] State of the Regions Report, 2008
[iii] ABS 2006 Census of Population and Housing
[iv] University of Tasmania, media release 12/12/08
[v] ABS 2006 Census of Population and Housing
[vi] ABS 2008 Estimated Resident Population
[vii] Hobart City Council research, 2009
[viii] Tourism Tasmania, Tasmanian Visitors Survey 2009
[ix] Tourism Tasmania, Tasmanian Cruise Ship Results 2008-09
[x] Tasmanian Department of Economic Development & Tourism 2009