Institute of Urban and Regional Development

This report reviews employment issues and employment forecasts for the Sydney metropolitan region over the next 25 years as a basis for long-term metropolitan planning strategy. In particular, it examines the major forces likely to influence the future size and intra-urban geography of the major sectors of urban economic activity. A brief examination of the intra-urban geography of unemployment in Sydney is presented to place the question of future employment issues in context. Then, five key issues are examined for metropolitan Sydney through the year 2011. These are (a) the future of the manufacturing sector, (b) trends in tertiary services and the growth of the "information economy," (c) the rise of an advanced producer services sector, (d) the future role of Sydney both in relation to the growing Asian Pacific region and the national and state economies, and (e) the impacts of new technologies on production and services.

A critical review is made of possible future employment structures for metropolitan Sydney and of scenarios for the intra-urban distribution of the work force as set out in the draft metropolitan strategy of the Department of Environment and Planning (DEP). Finally, the report considers the employment objectives of a metropolitan strategy, identifying policy areas and responsibilities of government. The report summarizes the strategic implications for state government policy on employment and future economic development.