MEDIA RELEASE
October 3, 2007	Embargoed 11.30 am (AEST)	104/2007
Western Australia - multicultural and earning more: ABS

Western Australia has the highest overseas born population along with some of the fastest growing incomes in Australia, according to an analysis released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

According to the 2006 Census, Western Australia has a diverse population, with:

• the highest proportion of overseas born people (27%, compared to 22% for Australia)
• a greater proportion of residents in Perth overseas born (38%) compared to residents in regional areas (24%)
• a large rise in overseas born people from South Africa (up 11,300 people)
• Mandarin and Arabic speaking populations growing strongly - up by 7,500 people (83% increase) for Mandarin and 3,900 people (103% increase) for Arabic
• large increases in the number of Catholics (up 37,700 people or 9%) and Buddhists (up 15,800 people or 86%); as well as fast growth in Hinduism (up 124% or 4,500 people).

Wage and salary earners

Employment opportunities in Western Australia have seen an influx of workers, which has brought significant change to where people live. Figures analysed by the ABS from the Australian Tax Office show that the average wage in WA was $38,284 in 2003/04.

Peppermint Grove and Cottesloe have seen the biggest increases in average wages ($10,209 and $10,135 respectively), but areas with fast income growth were Chapman Valley and Mingenew (average wage up 24% since 2001/02), Victoria Plains (up 23%) and Mount Marshall (up 21%).

The largest influx of wage earners has been in Rockingham, which grew by 3,131 people since 2001/02, along with Gosnells (3,032) and Swan (2,746), while the fastest growing areas were Perth - Inner, with a 45% increase, along with Greenough - Part B (42%), Chapman Valley (41%) and Capel - Part A (40%).

Further information is available in Western Australian Statistical Indicators (cat. no. 1367.5), available free from the ABS web site <https://www.abs.gov.au>.