White-collar workers are flocking to Whittlesea, according to a new report prepared by the council.
The council’s latest Place Profile Report, which provides a demographic snapshot of the municipality using Australian Bureau of Statistics census 2011 statistics and household surveys, reveals that between 2006 and 2011 almost 4000 professionals moved into Whittlesea.
Brad Wynter, Whittlesea’s organisation improvement manager, oversaw the research behind the 2015 report and says the findings surprised him.
“We’re seeing a change in the municipality’s demographics,” he said.
“Traditionally, this has been a blue-collar area, but with the demise in manufacturing and expanding residential developments in Mernda and Doreen, change is afoot.”
According to the report, the most common occupations for residents are clerical or administrative work (16.4 per cent) and technician’s or trade work (16.2 per cent).
The report reveals that almost 60 per cent of residents work outside Whittlesea, while seven out of 10 residents drive to work.
The 2015 Annual Household Survey indicates about one in six employed respondents have a daily combined average travel time for work of more than 90 minutes.
