Employment in Adelaide

For those who meet the minimum requirements set by the Australian government for moving to the country, whether temporary or permanently, a wide range of opportunities for working in Adelaide are available in a whole host of different industries. Whether you’re experienced in health and social care, manufacturing, retail, or defense technology, Adelaide has a lot to offer in terms of employment.

Local Economy

Although Adelaide is home to a wide range of different industries, the unemployment rate in the city – and in South Australian in general – remains is among the highest when compared to other Australian cities. It has also been described as a ‘brain-drain’, as many young, talented workers are deciding to move to other Australian cities and leaving Adelaide behind. For this reason, the Australian government has invested a lot of money in promoting the city as a good place to work for expats moving to Australia, and recent immigrants may be able to make the most of the jobs left behind by those moving elsewhere.

One of the largest industries in the city (behind the health and social care services) is the defense industry. In fact, more than 70 percent of Australia’s defense companies are situated in Adelaide. These include BAE Systems Australia, Lockheed Martin Australia, and the Defence Science and Technology Organisation, all of which are located just north of the city. The car industry also makes up a large proportion of Adelaide’s economy, with almost half of all Australian cars being manufactured in the area.

One of the largest companies to be affiliated with Adelaide is the now defunct News Corporation, the worldwide news conglomerate that used to own Sky, Fox, and a whole host of newspapers and other media outlets. The company was founded in Adelaide and until 2004 was incorporated in the city. However, it had  subsequently moved elsewhere and finally split into two different companies in 2013., Rupert Murdoch, Australian media mogul and owner of News Corp,  still considers Adelaide to be the  company’s ‘spiritual home’, however.

Job Hunting in Adelaide

One of the key requirements needed in order to obtain a visa and move to Australia is that you possess skills which Australia as a country needs – if your employer isn’t sending you Australia and taking care of visa matters for you, that is. Such needed skills could include tech skills, manufacturing experience, engineering, or something else, and are likely to change year by year in line with the country’s changing skills requirements.

If you are in possession of these skills, however, two options are available to you; you can either get sponsored by an Australian employer for a visa before moving, or you can apply to the Australian government for a visa and search for a job upon arrival.

One tried and tested way of job hunting is to refer to the local newspaper. In Adelaide’s case, this would be the Advertiser, a daily tabloid focusing on news in the city. The newspaper advertises many local jobs, and is a good resource for finding one upon moving the city.

Alternatively, anybody searching online for a job in Adelaide can refer to sites such as Seek, Australia’s most popular site for finding a job. Other online sites include Indeed.com and Gumtree.

Income Taxation in Adelaide

Income tax varies depending on how much you earn while working in Adelaide, and runs according to the Australian tax year (July to June). The taxation rates are as follows:

• $0 – $18,200 – No tax
• $18,201 – $37,000 – 0 to 9.7%
• $37,001 – $80,000 – 9.7 to 21.9%
• $80,001 – $180,000 – 21.9 to 30.3%
• Over $180,000 – 30.3 to 44.9%

However, please note that depending on your fiscal residence status, different rates may apply. For more information on this topic, please refer to the Australian Tax Office.

Do you plan on working in Adelaide? Visit the InterNations Guide for expat advice on job-haunting, work permits, taxation and the local economy.