Adelaide’s Economy

Adelaide at Night

Adelaide has the lowest average wage and the highest unemployment of any of Australia’s big five cities.

There is a recognised “Brain Drain” – a tendency for skilled and young people to leave Adelaide for brighter lights and more dynamic careers in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

People who move from Adelaide have been heard to complain of complacency and stuffiness in Adelaide’s work and business cultures. There is a perception of too many old-boy networks making it difficult for newcomers to do well or innovate.

To keep the economy healthy, the South Australian Government is very keen to attract people to move to Adelaide – the government works hard to promote the city as a destination for migrants.

Industries that play a big part in Adelaide’s economy include automotive manufacturing, bio-science, engineering, ICT, medical research, tourism and the wine industry – South Australia is Australia’s premier wine state, producing 65% of the nation’s wine exports.

If you are interested in private sector employment in Adelaide or South Australia, some of the larger companies operating in the region are:

Arrowcrest Group (manufacturer of alloy wheels, farming machinery); Civil & Allied Technical Construction Pty Ltd; Coopers Brewery Limited; Elders Australia (Head office: financial, insurance and agriculture); Hills Holdings (Head office: manufacturer of hardware, electronics, building and industrial products); Meatpak Australia; Ellex Medical Lasers; SAGE Group (automation and control systems engineering); Santos (Head office: energy/oil/gas); and (Seeley International (climate control systems).

Public sector employment opportunities in Adelaide are similar to those elsewhere: hospitals, schools, universities and local and state governments are major employers.

Education and healthcare jobs are particularly attractive in Adelaide – salaries are similar to those in other Australian cities, but Adelaide has much cheaper housing.