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Economic Profile of Whitehorse
The City of Whitehorse provides immense opportunities for a wide range of businesses. Stretching across 64.3 square kilometres, it is one of Victoria’s largest municipalities with one of the lowest level of rates in metropolitan Victoria.
Whitehorse is home to one of Melbourne’s busiest suburban transport hubs and boasts the largest concentration of quality suburban office space outside the central business district and St Kilda Road.
Only 15 kilometres east of central Melbourne, Whitehorse is an exciting and growing city, popular for its tree-lined streets and exceptional access to metropolitan Melbourne. With a residential population of approximately 151,300 Whitehorse offers the best of both worlds – a relaxed and enjoyable lifestyle, coupled with economic opportunities comparable to anywhere in Australia.
There are more than 8000 businesses within Whitehorse that have access to a wide range of sites and buildings of varying sizes, significant commercial and industrial areas, attractive streetscapes, good infrastructure and excellent services and facilities. Whitehorse businesses capitalise on the advantages of good location, a highly skilled workforce and prime development opportunities.
The City of Whitehorse's economy has a number of economic strengths that have been consolidated over the past five years:
- A $6 billion economy that is strategically integrated within the wider regional economy
- About 60,000 jobs supported by a large proportion of the resident workforce
- More than 8000 businesses - a large proportion of which operate in high output areas such as property and business services (25% of output) and manufacturing (20% of output)
- High levels of economic diversity (the highest in Melbourne) that shield the economy from major fluctuations
- A strong economic backbone in Box Hill Transit City and Whitehorse Mega Mile
- A highly educated and skilled population that also has above average levels of medium and high income earners and high capacity to innovate with presence of two tertiary institutions
- A property market that continues to strengthen
- Prevalence of most lifestyle facilities and strategic infrastructure that are geographically accessible to residents
- One of the lowest cost rating councils in Melbourne
For more information, download the 
Economic Profiler 2010 (923.13kB).
The following information provides estimates for 17 industry sectors in Whitehorse. The information is a snapshot that provides a broad perspective of the local economy and should be considered in conjunction with other information and analysis.
The manufacturing sector:
- Employs 5552 people (9.3%) with $407.82M spent on wages and salaries
- Contributes $762.05M (11.7%) to the Gross Regional Product
- The sector exports $1647.17M outside the region, imports $1508.49M
- Spends $641.43M within the region
- The total sector output is $2911.97M
The electricity, gas and water supply sector:
- Employs 657 people (1.1%) with $64.65M spent on wages and salaries
- Contributes $235.35M (3.6%) to the Gross Regional Product
- The sector exports $230.65M outside the region, imports $92.21M
- Spends $87.94M within the region
- The total sector output is $415.50M
The construction sector:
- Employs 2778 people (4.7%) with $139.78M spent on wages and salaries
- Contributes $314.44M (4.8%) to the Gross Regional Product
- The sector exports $113.27M outside the region, imports $181.16M
- Spends $540.92M within the region
- The total sector output is $1036.51M
The wholesale trade sector:
- Employs 5014 people (8.4%) with $468.42M spent on wages and salaries
- Contributes $723.73M (11.1%) to the Gross Regional Product
- The sector exports $1561.83M outside the region, imports $943.60M
- Spends $560.03M within the region
- The total sector output is $2227
The retail trade sector:
- Employs 9560 people (16.1%) with $326.34M spent on wages and salaries
- Contributes $491.56M (7.5%) to the Gross Regional Product
- The sector exports $200.78M outside the region, imports $157.29M
- Spends $365.45M within the region
- The total sector output is $1014.30M
The accommodation, cafes and restaurants sector:
- Employs 1593 people (2.7%) with $57.16M spent on wages and salaries
- Contributes $92.64M (1.4%) to the Gross Regional Product
- The sector exports $21.00M outside the region, imports $57.49M
- Spends $63.80M within the region
- The total sector output is $213.94M
The transport and storage sector:
- Employs 870 people (1.5%) with $57.58M spent on wages and salaries
- Contributes $113.97M (1.7%) to the Gross Regional Product
- The sector exports $60.64M outside the region, imports $35.53M
- Spends $122.08M within the region
- The total sector output is $271.58M
The communication services sector:
- Employs 1634 people (2.8%) with $107.67M spent on wages and salaries
- Contributes $314.29M (4.8%) to the Gross Regional Product
- The sector exports $224.63M outside the region, imports $113.71M
- Spends $206.13M within the region
- The total sector output is $634.13M
The finance and insurance sector:
- Employs 1610 people (2.7%) with $193.50M spent on wages and salaries
- Contributes $344.29M (5.3%) to the Gross Regional Product
- The sector exports $130.01M outside the region, imports $27.57M and spends $227.92M within the region
- The total sector output is $599.79M
The property and business services sector:
- Employs 7574 people (12.8%) with $601.79M spent on wages and salaries
- Contributes $923.70M (14.2%) to the Gross Regional Product
- The sector exports $354.47M outside the region, imports $250.76M and spends $844.61M within the region
- The total sector output is $2019.08M
The government administration and defence sector:
- Employs 3371 people (5.7%) with $286.19M spent on wages and salaries
- Contributes $336.09M (5.2%) to the Gross Regional Product
- The sector exports $218.12M outside the region, imports $77.35M and spends $235.01M within the region
- The total sector output is $648.45M
The education sector:
- Employs 5887 people (9.9%) with $382.14M spent on wages and salaries
- Contributes $432.97M (6.6%) to the Gross Regional Product
- The sector exports $182.02M outside the region, imports $45.75M and spends $92.71M within the region
- The total sector output is $571.43M
The health and community services sector:
- Employs 9354 people (15.8%) with $518.27M spent on wages and salaries
- Contributes $651.07M (10.0%) to the Gross Regional Product
- The sector exports $302.73M outside the region, imports $50.41M and spends $116.25M within the region
- The total sector output is $817.73M
The cultural and recreational services sector:
- Employs 1354 people (2.3%) with $60.08M spent on wages and salaries
- Contributes $82.82M (1.3%) to the Gross Regional Product
- The sector exports $31.21M outside the region, imports $55.21M and spends $132.05M within the region
- The total sector output is $270.08M
The personal and other services sector:
- Employs 2509 people (4.2%) with $162.30M spent on wages and salaries
- Contributes $185.35M (2.8%) to the Gross Regional Product
- The sector exports $76.93M outside the region, imports $26.18M and spends $67.60M within the region
- The total sector output is $279.14M