Western Australia’s population increased by just 0.8 per cent in the year to March, continuing its recent trend of soft growth, while nationally population growth slumped to a two-year low, new data out today shows.
Western Australia’s population increased by just 0.8 per cent in the year to March, continuing its recent trend of soft growth, while nationally population growth slumped to a two-year low, new data out today shows.
The data, from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, reveals WA’s population grew by 21,200 people during the year, taking the state’s total to an estimated 2,591,900.
Over the year, WA recorded natural increase (births less deaths) of about 20,000, while net overseas migration boosted the state's population by 13,000.
Net interstate migration remained negative, with 12,000 people leaving for other states.
WA’s annual population growth rate troughed at a historical low of 0.6 per cent in the middle of 2016, but has slowly increased.
The modest growth over the past two years contrasts with peak growth rates of 3.5 per cent in late 2008, and then again at 3.4 per cent in September 2012.
On a quarterly basis, WA added nearly 8,000 people in the three months to March.
Overseas migration registered a significant boost in the March quarter, with more than 5,000 people moving to WA from other countries during the three-month period.
Nationally, Australia’s population increased by about 390,000, or 1.55 per cent, to 24.9 million in the year to March.
That was the slowest national population growth in two years.
Net overseas migration slowed to 236,800 over the year to March – the lowest intake in 18 months – accounting for 62 per cent of total population growth.
Housing Industry Association principal economist Geordan Murray attributed the slowdown to changes to visas for skilled workers.
“Australia’s overseas migration fell by 9 per cent since changes to visa requirements came into force in April 2017, slowing the population growth rate to 1.6 per cent,” Mr Murray said.
He cautioned about the impact of slower migration to Australia.
"Skilled migration is necessary to offset the impact of our aging population," Mr Murray said.
“The slowing rate of population growth, while it remains high for a developed economy, will contribute to slower growth of household consumption.
“This means slower growth in sectors such as retail and residential building.
"Given that these two sectors are amongst the nation’s largest employers the risks presented a decline in population growth should not be underestimated."
A review of the data by CommSec higlighted variations across states.
“Once again, Tassie stands-out in another key statistic,” CommSec senior economist Ryan Felsman said.
“While population growth remains strongest in Victoria (up 2.18 per cent) and the ACT (up 2.08 per cent), people additions in the Apple Isle grew by 1.02 per cent over the year to March – the strongest pace since September 2009.
“And Queensland continues to be a beneficiary of net interstate migration with its population growth lifting to 1.70 per cent in March, up from 1.65 per cent in December.
“But annual population growth in the Northern Territory is the lowest in three years at just 0.12 per cent.”
