成人大片

State and Federal government policy support for employment and training initiatives could play a crucial role in boosting SA鈥檚 population and recovery from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Reports published by the 成人大片鈥檚 SA Centre for Economic Studies (SACES) examine the nexus between population movements and the State鈥檚 economic health.

鈥淭he detailed insights we gained into the population and economic implications of the COVID-19 pandemic indicate there are a number of policy initiatives that could be adopted by the State and Federal governments to underpin South Australia鈥檚 recovery from the pandemic,鈥� said the 成人大片鈥檚 Associate Professor Michael O鈥橬eil, Executive Director, SACES.

SACES鈥檚 analysis identifies:

• Overseas migration is critical to SA鈥檚 population growth: Adelaide鈥檚 appeal should be actively marketed to potential migrants;
• An opportunity to expand the current turnaround of the historic 鈥榖rain drain鈥� that has compromised the State鈥檚 economic growth; and
• Policy initiatives like paid internships, payroll tax reductions (particularly for businesses in regional SA), and Age Pension incentives could boost the state鈥檚 population growth and labour force participation.

鈥淧opulation growth in South Australia will remain reliant on the resumption of overseas migration which was the largest source of overall population gains in the 15 years prior to the pandemic. This will be amplified in the future as deaths rise and births remain static,鈥� said Professor 翱鈥橬别颈濒.

鈥淩eversing the brain drain is a key public policy priority that can be partially achieved through much faster job creation in high valued added sectors such as pharmaceutical, artificial intelligence, and space sectors."Associate Professor Michael O'Neil

Net overseas migration to SA reached 16,630 people in 2019 鈥� not far below the all-time peak of 17,630 in 2008. The closure of Australia鈥檚 borders to international migrants saw the numbers dive to only 4,410 people in 2020. The 鈥榖rain drain鈥� 鈥� the loss of skilled people from the state 鈥� was reversed in the second half of 2020, a reflection, in part, of the impact of COVID-19 on labour mobility.

Associate Professor O鈥橬eil said that it鈥檚 important to get the balance right between encouraging overseas migration and supporting local young people.

鈥淪killed migrants tend to put downward pressure on wages and reduce the responsibility of local businesses to provide training to local staff,鈥� he said.

鈥淩eversing the brain drain is a key public policy priority that can be partially achieved through much faster job creation in high valued added sectors such as pharmaceutical, artificial intelligence, and space sectors. Paid commencement internships and payroll tax support are possible policy measures that could be implemented to achieve this.

鈥淲ith ongoing population ageing health, aged and disability care and related services are likely to be a driving force in employment growth with an additional 30,000 jobs in these areas by 2030.鈥�

The research, which produced three separate papers, was undertaken on behalf of the SACES Independent Research Fund, a group of key private and public sector individuals which sits under the umbrella of SACES.

Copies of the papers may be downloaded from the Independent Research Fund page of the SACES鈥檚 website.