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This section sets out the characteristics of the region identified through a comprehensive environmental scan and local consultations. The information detailed in this section is not exhaustive of the characteristics of the region, but provides an overview and insight to some of the challenges facing the region.

The Northern Territory in general has a young population with 22.7 per cent aged between 0 to 14 years, 71.8 per cent aged 15 to 64 years and 5.5 per cent of people aged 65 years and over.

The ABS estimated the residential population of the Northern Territory at 30 June 2011 was 231,331— approximately 0.4 per cent more than the estimated population in 2010. The majority of the population resides in the Darwin, Palmerston and Litchfield Region (approx. 55.5%), with 12.3 per cent in Alice Springs and the rest dispersed across the Northern Territory.

Table 1 : Percentage of Indigenous Persons, by Local Government Area

 

Jobs, Skills and workforce Development :

Labour force statistics released by the ABS in January 2013 showed employment growth (0.8%) was lower than the national average (1%) over the year to January 2013. In January 2013, the unemployment rate in the Northern Territory (3.9%) continues to be lower than the national figure (5.4%), although it has been decreasing in recent months (an overall fall of 0.3% since January 2012), indicating a tightening in the Northern Territory labour market.

As at December 2012, the Northern Territory labour force participation rate was 74 per cent (higher than the national rate of 65%). There were 125,200 people employed (67,200 males and 58,000 females), an increase of 992 since January 2012. Of the 125,200 people employed, 24,200 were employed part-time.

However, participation rates and unemployment rates in regional communities vary significantly in comparison to major towns and cities such as Darwin.

The Economy:
The characteristics of the Northern Territory’s economy can be summarised as follows:

• In the 10 years from 2001-01 to 2010-11, there was a 3.6 per cent annual average growth in gross state product (GSP)
• In 2010-11, the value of the Territory’s GSP (inflation adjusted) increased by 1.6 per cent, to $16.3 billion
• The Northern Territory GSP accounts for 1.2 per cent of Australia’s gross domestic product

Growth in the Northern Territory economy is driven by a higher trade surplus and a recovery in household consumption. The Territory’s future economic outlook is expected to strengthen with a number of major projects in the pipeline.

The mining industry remains the largest industry sector of the Territory economy. In 2010-11, major contributions to the Northern Territory’s GSP include:

• mining ($2.8 billion, 17.4% of GSP)
• construction ($1.7 billion, 10.7% of GSP)
• public administration and safety ($1.5 billion, 9.3% of GSP)
• manufacturing ($1.4 billion, 8.4% of GSP)
• retail and wholesale trade ($760 million, 4.7% of GSP)

These five sectors together make up 50.5 per cent of the total of industry sector contributions to the Territory’s GSP, with combined value of their contribution to the Northern Territory’s economy being over $8.2 billion.

ISSUES,Goals and strategies

This section sets out the issues and goals identified through local consultation. It also details the specific strategies that will help achieve the community’s objectives. The issues and strategies will be reviewed and may be modified throughout the implementation of the plan to June 2014 to ensure they respond to emerging issues and opportunities or changing community or government priorities in the Northern Territory.

Issue 1 : A high percentage of children are assessed as developmentally vulnerable under the Australian Early Development Index (AEDI).

Goals :

• AEDI assessment results are closer to the national average
• Improved access to suitable early childhood education and care services

Issue 2 : Shortage of qualified early childhood educators in the Northern Territory to meet the requirements under the new National Quality Framework.

Goals :

• A skilled, inclusive and sustainable workforce that meets industry and the requirements under the new National Quality Framework
• Quality and flexible training and recognition of prior learning are available for

Issue 3 : Low school attendance rates and low completion rates leading to varying educational outcomes, in particular with Indigenous students in remote regions.

Goals :

• Improve attendance rates across schools
• Improve results of students to reflect levels in ‘similar’ schools as measured by NAPLAN assessments
• Improve students’ completion of education at all levels
• Improve Vocational Education and Training (VET) participation and completion rates

Issue 4 : Youth disengaged from school, training or work.

Goals :

• Engage young people into meaningful activities and pathways to training and work
• Encourage young men and women to be role models for younger children
• early childhood educators particularly in remote regions

Issue 5 : Meeting current skill shortages for emerging and growth industries.

Goals :

• Develop a skilled workforce to meet industry demand
• Have a strong and sustainable workforce in all industry sectors
• Increase the number of apprenticeships and traineeships
• Increase the number of migrants working in trade positions

Issue 6 : Indigenous job seekers in the Northern Territory have
significantly high levels of disadvantage and barriers to work.

Goals :

• Increase the employment rate for people with significant barriers
• Increase job retention rates by improving people’s transition to work, on the job support and mentoring
• To prepare local job seekers to take up new employment opportunities.

Issue 7 : Limited employment opportunities for the working age population in remote communities.

Goals :

• Increase the number of local people employed in local jobs

Issue 8 : Meeting the significant and rapidly growing workforce demands of the resources sector.

Goals :

• Working with employers and major projects to encourage a ‘locals first’ approach to recruitment, training and pathways to employment for unskilled and semiskilled job seekers
• Consider and implement strategies to connect people in regions of high unemployment with work
• Encourage private investment to support more sustainable communities.

Issue 9 : Maintaining community and corporate confidence in business areas outside major development areas (such as Darwin) to support more evenly spread economic growth and community stability across the Northern Territory.

Goals :

• Encourage businesses to invest in staff development
• Support Northern Territory businesses to develop and grow