Whyalla Jenkins

An assessment of population growth drivers in Whyalla Jenkins reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Based on ABS population updates and AreaSearch validations, as of Nov 2025, Whyalla Jenkins's estimated population is around 2,038. This shows an increase of 77 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 1,961. AreaSearch estimated this resident population of 2,035 following analysis of ABS ERP data released in June 2024 and validated additional addresses. The population density is approximately 663 persons per square kilometer. Comparing Whyalla Jenkins's growth rate of 3.9% since the Census with the SA4 region's 5.3%, it demonstrates competitive growth fundamentals, differing by 1.4 percentage points. Overseas migration contributed around 91.0% to population gains in recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered post-2032, SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections by age category are adopted and adjusted using weighted aggregation methods from LGA to SA2 levels. By 2041, based on aggregated SA2-level projections, the area is expected to expand by 40 persons, reflecting a total growth of 0.8% over 17 years.

The level of residential development activity in Whyalla Jenkins is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Whyalla Jenkins has had minimal residential development activity in recent years. From 2017 to 2021 inclusive, there were a total of six dwelling approvals, with an average of one approval per year. This low level of development is characteristic of rural areas where housing needs are modest and construction activity is limited by local demand and infrastructure capacity.

It should be noted that due to the small number of approvals, individual projects can significantly impact annual growth and relativity statistics. Compared to other regions in South Australia and nationally, Whyalla Jenkins has much lower development activity. All recent developments have been detached houses, specifically designed for families seeking a rural lifestyle with ample space. The estimated population per dwelling approval is 1346 people, reflecting the quiet and low activity development environment.

According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, the area is projected to gain 16 residents by 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing favourable conditions for buyers and potentially supporting population growth beyond current projections.

Whyalla Jenkins has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 40thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 0 projects that may impact this area. Notable projects include Whyalla Airport Upgrade, Hydrogen Jobs Plan - Worker Accommodation Strategy, Whyalla Hydrogen Power Plant and Electrolyser Facility, and Whyalla Steelworks Green Steel Transformation. The following list details those most relevant.

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Whyalla Jenkins shows employment indicators that trail behind approximately 70% of regions assessed across Australia

Whyalla Jenkins has a skilled workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 7.4% as of the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 0.8%.

As of September 2025, 1,093 residents are employed, and the unemployment rate is 2.0% higher than Rest of SA's rate of 5.3%. Workforce participation in Whyalla Jenkins is high at 72.1%, compared to Rest of SA's 54.1%. Employment is concentrated in manufacturing, health care & social assistance, and education & training, with a particular specialization in the latter sector (1.7 times the regional level). Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing has lower representation at 0.4% versus the regional average of 14.5%.

The area offers limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by Census data comparing working population to resident population. In the past year, employment increased by 0.8%, while labour force grew by 4.9%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate by 3.7 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of SA experienced lower employment and labour force growth rates, with a smaller increase in unemployment rate. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, released in May-25, suggest potential future demand within Whyalla Jenkins. These projections estimate national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Whyalla Jenkins's employment mix indicates local employment should increase by approximately 5.3% over five years and 12.1% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localized population projections.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows that Whyalla Jenkins has one of the highest incomes nationally. The median income is $84,242 and the average income stands at $102,029. This contrasts with Rest of SA's figures of a median income of $48,920 and an average income of $58,933. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.8% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $91,655 (median) and $111,008 (average) as of September 2025. Census 2021 income data shows Whyalla Jenkins' incomes cluster around the 70th percentile nationally. The $1,500 - $2,999 bracket dominates with 35.5% of residents (723 people). After housing costs, residents retain 87.3% of their income. Area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

Whyalla Jenkins is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

In Whyalla Jenkins, as per the latest Census evaluation, 91.9% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 8.1% being semi-detached, apartments, or other types. This contrasts with Non-Metro SA's figures of 75.9% houses and 24.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Whyalla Jenkins stood at 20.0%, with mortgaged dwellings at 38.7% and rented ones at 41.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,580, higher than Non-Metro SA's average of $1,170. Median weekly rent in Whyalla Jenkins was recorded at $265, compared to Non-Metro SA's $195. Nationally, Whyalla Jenkins' median monthly mortgage repayment was lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and median weekly rent was substantially below the national figure of $375.

Whyalla Jenkins has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 75.4% of all households, including 35.6% couples with children, 28.3% couples without children, and 10.5% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 24.6%, with lone person households at 23.7% and group households comprising 1.5%. The median household size is 2.5 people, higher than the Rest of SA average of 2.3.

Whyalla Jenkins shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

The area has university qualification rates of 19.2%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 14.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.2%) and graduate diplomas (1.6%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 41.4% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas (8.2%) and certificates (33.2%).

Educational participation is high, with 28.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.8% in primary education, 7.9% in secondary education, and 2.6% pursuing tertiary education.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Whyalla Jenkins's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with prevalence of common health conditions quite low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Health data shows Whyalla Jenkins residents have relatively positive health outcomes. The prevalence of common health conditions is low among the general population but higher than the national average for older, at-risk cohorts. Approximately 67% of the total population (1,369 people) has private health cover, compared to 51.5% across Rest of SA and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions are asthma and mental health issues, affecting 9.5 and 7.5% of residents respectively. 69.9% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 65.6% across Rest of SA. The area has 12.7% of residents aged 65 and over (258 people), lower than the 22.1% in Rest of SA. Health outcomes among seniors require more attention due to presenting challenges.

In terms of cultural diversity, Whyalla Jenkins records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Whyalla Jenkins has a cultural diversity profile roughly similar to the broader region, with 78.3% of its population born in Australia, 88.0% being citizens, and 90.2% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Whyalla Jenkins, comprising 38.3% of the population. The most significant overrepresentation was observed in the 'Other' category, which accounted for 1.0% of the population compared to 0.6% across Rest of SA.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (30.4%), Australian (30.3%), and Scottish (9.6%). Notably, Welsh (1.0%) and Maori (0.9%) were overrepresented in Whyalla Jenkins compared to regional averages of 0.5% and 0.3%, respectively. Additionally, Croatian was similarly represented at 0.7%.

Whyalla Jenkins's young demographic places it in the bottom 15% of areas nationwide

The median age in Whyalla Jenkins is 33 years, which is lower than Rest of SA's average of 47 and significantly below the national average of 38. The age profile shows that those aged 25-34 make up 17.3% of the population, while those aged 65-74 constitute only 6.5%. Between 2021 and present, the percentage of people aged 65-74 has increased from 5.8% to 6.5%, while the 45-54 age group has decreased from 13.6% to 11.8%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate that the 75-84 age cohort is expected to increase by 41 people (41%) from 99 to 141. Notably, those aged 65 and above are projected to account for 69% of total population growth in Whyalla Jenkins. Conversely, the 55-64 and 15-24 age groups are expected to experience population declines.