Greater Geelong has an estimated 147,230 local jobs and 23,560 businesses (June 2025). Jobs have been growing at an average 4.3 per cent per annum over the past five years, exceeding all other comparable cities in Australia. Jobs are growing at double the rate of the population, maximising employment opportunities for residents and attracting people to move here not only for the lifestyle but also the career opportunities. 

Greater Geelong’s estimated resident population reached 295,052 at 30 June 2025, an increase of 6,376 people or 2.2 per cent since 2023-24.  Internal migration remains the largest contributor to growth with a net increase of 3,281 people, followed by natural increase of 1,571 people and net overseas migration adding 1,524 people.  Natural increase jumped significantly in 2024-25, with an increase of 500 births compared to the previous twelve months.  The population is expected to increase by almost half its size again in the next twenty years to reach 442,000 people. 

Greater Geelong's Gross Regional Product (GRP) is now $21.5 billion, growing at 3.9 per cent per annum over the past five years, the fourth fastest growth amongst all large regional cities and greater capital cities in the country.

Local labour market conditions are strong with the unemployment rate at 4.6 per cent (December quarter 2025), sitting below the ten-year average of 4.8 per cent. 

The industries that provide the most jobs in Greater Geelong are:

• Health care and social assistance (30,245)
• Retail trade (15,526)
• Education and training (15,247)
• Construction (14,298)
• Manufacturing (11,409)
• Accommodation and food services (10,224)
• Professional, scientific and technical services (8,769)

Greater Geelong’s economy is a healthy mix of sectors spanning goods production, household, and business services.  Manufacturing had the largest employment growth for the second year in a row, adding 1,235 local jobs in the twelve months to June 2025.  This was followed by health care and social assistance (+868), education and training (+583), accommodation and food services (+525) and transport, postal and warehousing (+456). 

With an investment pipeline worth over $16.0 billion, the economic outlook is strong.  There are 168 major projects in the pipeline valued over $10 million, with a split of 22 percent proposed, 33 percent approved, 28 percent commenced and 17 percent recently completed.  The largest investment types by value are industrial and commercial projects ($5.2b), roads and transport ($2.4b), residential developments ($2.0b), medical and allied health projects ($1.6b) public building and utilities ($1.2b) and tourism related investments ($1.1b).

Source: Economic profile | Geelong | economy.id and Major Construction Projects - Greater Geelong.