Economy, jobs and prices in Wollongong, Australia: official figures
The median total income of residents of the City of Wollongong who had income was $58,764 a year in 2022-23 (before tax, excluding government pensions and allowances), 12th highest of 26 areas; the Australian median was $58,216. Boundary: the City of Wollongong local government area (the council area), not the wider urban region around it.
What is the median wage in Wollongong?
The median employee income in the City of Wollongong was $63,053 for the year 2022-23, 11th highest of 26 areas; the Australian median was $61,966.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWhat is the median household income in Wollongong?
The median equivalised household income in the City of Wollongong was $1,031 a week at the 2021 Census (household income adjusted for household size), 10th lowest of 26 areas; for Australia it was $1,070.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Wollongong?
The unemployment rate in the City of Wollongong was 4.9% at the 2021 Census (census night, 10 August 2021), joint 13th lowest of 31 areas, below the national figure (5.1%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWhat is the labour force participation rate in Wollongong?
58.3% of residents of the City of Wollongong aged 15 and over were in the labour force (working or looking for work) at the 2021 Census, 3rd lowest of 31 areas, below the national figure (61.1%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWhat are the main industries in Wollongong?
Of the 98,020 employed residents of the City of Wollongong at the 2021 Census, the largest industries were health care and social assistance (17.3%; 14.5% nationally), education and training (11.2%) and construction (9.2%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many businesses are there in Wollongong?
16,278 businesses were registered in the City of Wollongong at 30 June 2025, which is 73 for every 1,000 residents (3rd lowest of 26 areas; Australia 99); 57% of them had no employees.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many new homes were approved in Wollongong in 2024-25?
Building approvals in the City of Wollongong in 2024-25 covered 1,568 new dwellings (7.0 per 1,000 residents; Australia 6.8) and building work worth $1,161 million in total.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWhat is the median house price in Wollongong?
The median price of an established house sold in the City of Wollongong in 2023-24 was $1,031,000, 8th highest of 26 areas (Australia $780,000); the median price of an attached dwelling (such as a unit or townhouse) was $730,000.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people rent in Wollongong?
18.5% of occupied homes in the City of Wollongong were flats or apartments at the 2021 Census (Australia 14.2%), and 31.0% of homes were rented (Australia 30.6%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many households in Wollongong do not own a car?
8.5% of households in the City of Wollongong had no motor vehicle at the 2021 Census, 8th highest of 26 areas (Australia 7.4%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many solar panels were installed in Wollongong in 2024?
2,347 small-scale solar panel systems were installed in the City of Wollongong in 2024, 10.6 per 1,000 residents (Australia 11.7).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow Wollongong compares with other cities in Australia
Unemployment rate, 2021 Census (2021 Census (10 August 2021))
Wollongong ranks 18 of 31, highest first. Values cover the 18 city council areas (ABS Local Government Areas), 8 greater capital city areas (Canberra is the whole Australian Capital Territory) and, where the 2021 Census community profile gives the figure, 5 Significant Urban Areas. The areas overlap (for example the City of Brisbane lies inside Greater Brisbane), so compare like with like.
| Rank | City | Unemployment rate, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | Townsville | 5.1% |
| 16 | Brisbane | 5.0% |
| 17 | Toowoomba | 5.0% |
| 18 | Wollongong | 4.9% |
| 19 | Newcastle | 4.9% |
| 20 | Newcastle-Maitland | 4.8% |
| 21 | Central Coast | 4.7% |
Median total income of income earners, 2022-23 (2022-23)
Wollongong ranks 12 of 26, highest first. Values cover the 18 city council areas (ABS Local Government Areas), 8 greater capital city areas (Canberra is the whole Australian Capital Territory) and, where the 2021 Census community profile gives the figure, 5 Significant Urban Areas. The areas overlap (for example the City of Brisbane lies inside Greater Brisbane), so compare like with like. Not published for Significant Urban Areas.
| Rank | City | Median total income of income earners, 2022-23 |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Newcastle | $61,846 |
| 10 | Greater Brisbane | $59,968 |
| 11 | Greater Melbourne | $59,784 |
| 12 | Wollongong | $58,764 |
| 13 | Hobart | $58,267 |
| 14 | Geelong | $57,523 |
| 15 | Greater Adelaide | $57,401 |
Businesses per 1,000 residents, 30 June 2025 (30 June 2025)
Wollongong ranks 24 of 26, highest first. Values cover the 18 city council areas (ABS Local Government Areas), 8 greater capital city areas (Canberra is the whole Australian Capital Territory) and, where the 2021 Census community profile gives the figure, 5 Significant Urban Areas. The areas overlap (for example the City of Brisbane lies inside Greater Brisbane), so compare like with like. Not published for Significant Urban Areas.
| Rank | City | Businesses per 1,000 residents, 30 June 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | Greater Darwin | 79 |
| 21 | Canberra | 76 |
| 22 | Greater Hobart | 76 |
| 23 | Central Coast | 76 |
| 24 | Wollongong | 73 |
| 25 | Bendigo | 72 |
| 26 | Townsville | 64 |
More on Wollongong: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · all cities in Australia
Sources
- Australian Bureau of Statistics: Data by region 2011-2025: Local Government Areas (ASGS Edition 3), 18 city councils, all indicators, read 28 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 788eca55906d…)
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