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Adelaide Economy Underpins Jobs and Daily Life for City Residents

The City of Adelaide's recorded output and employment levels directly affect local work opportunities and business activity.

By Adelaide News Desk · Published 25 July 2026

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The City of Adelaide recorded a Gross Regional Product of $23.95 billion in 2022/23, representing 18 per cent of South Australia's total economy. This activity supported 169,940 jobs as of 2023.

Employment Base for Local Workers

Health care and social assistance stands as the largest employing sector in the broader Adelaide region, followed by education and training. These sectors provide steady positions for residents living within the municipality and those commuting into the city each day. The unemployment rate remained around 4.0 per cent in 2024, while employment growth slowed to 1.2 per cent that year after a larger increase the previous year.

Retail Activity in the City Centre

Rundle Mall recorded a retail vacancy rate of 4.1 per cent in the first half of 2022. This low vacancy level reflects ongoing retail operations that serve both local residents and visitors moving through the central business district. Knowledge-based sectors, services, ICT and retail together form key parts of the local economy alongside health care and education.

Population and Community Scale

The City of Adelaide had a population of 27,901 residents as of 2023. The local economy therefore operates at a scale that directly influences daily access to services, retail options and employment for people living in the municipality. Recent population growth reached 1.1 per cent in 2024, with the prime working-age group rising by 1.2 per cent.

These figures indicate continued economic activity that supports community stability through jobs and business operations. Residents can track updates on employment trends and retail conditions through official local government and state statistical releases.

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