Essential workers are ... essential
Fewer workers living close to their places of work can diminish the liveability, attractiveness and service provision of communities. Without an adequate level of key worker labour supply that can afford to live close to work:
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local industry will face additional costs and experience impacts on competitiveness (e.g. job retention, recruitment costs, etc ).
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workers will face additional costs in the form of transport or housing, resulting in a fall in disposable income and leisure time, which in turn, impacts the local economy and the liveability of residents.
This mismatch between industries and the workforce has implications for economic growth and the success of key employment precincts.
Understand key workers at the local level
Understanding local key workers – who they are, their occupations, where they live and how they travel to work, their housing situation – empowers decision-making that benefits everyone.
Understanding key-worker transport patterns informs transport infrastructure planning. Understanding housing affordability for particular occupations can be used to attract investment in housing for workers from developers and industry. The list goes on.
