Employment Change in Mining and Manufacturing in Australia, 2010/11 – 2015/16: Dissecting the Subnational Patterns and Concentrations

This paper recognises Krugman’s (1991) core-periphery model and analyses the reallocation of employment across the Australian metro and nonmetro regions over the period 2010/11-2015/16. The differences were interpreted using shift-share analysis and industry-specific location quotients, and patterns of change and concentrations for mining and manufacturing are highlighted, given the significance of these industries during this period. The industry-specific location quotients suggest that there was a shift in relative concentrations of mining and manufacturing industries in non-metropolitan regions. The shift-share results are consistent and suggest that regional specialisation and regional competitiveness are characteristic of employment change in metro regions. In nonmetropolitan regions, employment moved in line with the national effect. The causal factors that explain these employment disparities are the subject of ongoing research.