Altona's Economy at Crossroads: Employment Growth, Housing Decisions Loom

Altona recorded 7,026 residents employed as of June 2025, with employment rising 5.6 per cent over the previous year and an unemployment rate of 2.2 per cent. These figures set the baseline for decisions on how to sustain workforce participation as the suburb continues its shift from heavy industry toward service-sector roles.

Employment and Income Trends

Median personal income stood at $947 per week, or $49,244 annually, with an estimated rise to around $72,941 by September 2025 linked to 12.16 per cent Wage Price Index growth since 2022. Leading sectors include health care and social assistance, education and training, and professional and technical services, supported by a highly educated local workforce. Local decisions on training programs and business attraction will determine whether these sectors expand to match population growth of 7.8 per cent since the 2021 Census figure of 11,490.

Population Drivers and Housing Supply

Overseas migration accounted for 76 per cent of recent population gains. At the same time, roughly 107 new dwelling approvals occur each year, with an estimated 539 new homes expected over five years. This supply trajectory intersects with the transition away from oil refinery and manufacturing activity, raising questions about how quickly residential capacity can align with incoming residents and job growth.

Decisions Ahead

Council and state agencies will weigh options for matching new housing approvals with infrastructure that serves the dominant employment sectors. Maintaining the current low unemployment rate while accommodating further migration-driven population increases requires coordinated choices on skills development and local job creation. The pace of these decisions will shape whether employment growth of 5.6 per cent can be sustained beyond the June 2025 baseline.