Wollongong

Demographics & education

In the 2006 Census, 234,482 people were usually resident in Wollongong: of these 49.3% were male and 50.7% were female. Of the total population 1.9% were Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.

In the 2006 Census, 20.0% of people usually resident in Wollongong were children aged 0-14 years, and 25.8% were people aged 55 years and over. The median age was 37 years.

In the 2006 Census, 88.3% of people usually resident in Wollongong were Australian citizens, 21.1% were born overseas and 0.5% people were overseas visitors.

In the 2006 Census, 50.6% of people aged 15 years and over usually resident in Wollongong were married, 11.2% were either separated or divorced, 6.7% were widowed and 31.5% were never married.

Cultural & language diversity

In the 2006 Census, 72.5% of people usually resident in Wollongong, stated they were born in Australia. Other common responses for country of birth were England 4.9%, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 1.8%, Italy 1.5%, Scotland 1.0% and New Zealand 0.9%.

In the 2006 Census, the most common responses for religious affiliation for people usually resident in Wollongong were Catholic 29.3%, Anglican 23.3%, No Religion 14.5%, Eastern Orthodox 5.9% and Uniting Church 5.1%.

In the 2006 Census, the most common responses for language other than English spoken at home by people usually resident in Wollongong were Macedonian 2.9%, Italian 2.2%, Spanish 1.0%, Greek 1.0% and Serbian 0.7%. English was stated as the only language spoken at home by 80.2%.

Employment

During the week prior to the 2006 Census, 105,316 people aged 15 years and over in Wollongong were in the labour force. Of these 56.9% worked full-time, 29.1% worked part-time, 3.7% were away from work, 2.7% were employed but did not state their hours worked and 7.7% were unemployed. 71,636 people were not in the labour force.

In the 2006 Census, the most common responses for occupation for Wollongong were Professionals 19.0%, Technicians and Trades Workers 16.5%, Clerical and Administrative Workers 14.4%, Community and Personal Service Workers 10.1%, Labourers 10.1%, Sales Workers 10.1%, Managers 9.5% and Machinery Operators And Drivers 8.6%.

In the 2006 Census, of the employed people aged 15 years and over in Wollongong, the most common responses for industry of employment included Basic Ferrous Metal Manufacturing 5.8%, School Education 5.0%, Cafes, Restaurants and Takeaway Food Services 3.8%, Hospitals 3.6% and Tertiary Education 3.0%.

In the 2006 Census in Wollongong, the median weekly personal income for people aged 15 years and over who were usual residents was $387, the median family income was $1,125 and the median household income was $924.

Family composition

In the 2006 Census, there were 63,362 families in Wollongong: of these 36.0% were couple families without children, 45.3% were couple families with children, 17.4% were one parent families and 1.4% were other families.

Dwelling structure

Dwellings include visitor only and other not-classifiable households unless otherwise stated

In the 2006 Census 89,570 occupied private dwellings were counted in Wollongong.

In the 2006 Census, of the occupied private dwellings in Wollongong, 73.0% were separate houses, 10.4% were semi-detached, row or terrace houses, townhouses etc, 15.1% were flats, units or apartments and 1.5% were other dwellings.

In the 2006 Census in Wollongong, 35.5% of occupied private dwellings were owned outright, 29.4% were owned with a mortgage and 28.0% were rented.

In the 2006 Census in Wollongong, of the occupied private dwellings being rented, 46.7% were rented from a real estate agent, 29.6% were rented from a State or Territory housing authority and 21.5% were rented from other landlord type.

Dwelling characteristics

In the 2006 Census in Wollongong, the median weekly rent was $180. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,512. The average people per household was 2.6 and the average number of people per bedroom was 1.1.

Household composition

In the 2006 Census in Wollongong, 69.4% of occupied private dwellings were family households, 23.5% were single (or lone) person households and 3.2% were group households.