Capital cities like Melbourne continue to attract the majority of State population growth. This can create challenges for attracting skilled workers to, and retaining them in, regional locations. This paper reports on a survey of more than 1200 professional workers in the Victorian regional cities of Bendigo and Ballarat. The survey aimed to better understand...

In the field of labor economics, human capital refers to the stock of knowledge or characteristics of a worker that contributes to their productivity. Investment in education and training of individuals can enhance their level of human capital and this will be valued in the market because it increases firms’ profits. Various researchers have looked...

The exodus of young adults to capital cities is concerning as their loss has critical implications for regional areas.There has been a lot of focus on population loss in regional areas but less research attention has been paid to the people who stay in, or move to, regional Victoria. The findings presented in this report...

Stawell is a town of 5,737 people located in western Victoria. The local underground gold mine has operated for thirty years employing approximately 350 people at its peak in the last decade. In 2012, the mine's closure was announced because of reduced profitability caused by increased costs and the depth at which the gold needed...

Primary industries such as forestry and dairy have responded to economic change over the past four decades. Associated secondary industries such as sawmills and dairy processing factories have also been affected by such change. Globalisation and the reduction of trade barriers have brought greater competitive pressure to bear on local industries and this has had...