FACTBase Bulletin 3 - Boomtimes and Personal Income

This Bulletin reports on one component of a wider research programme that examines the socio-economic performance of Perth by considering how personal incomes have changed over the last decade.

Key Findings

• In 2007 Perth overtook Melbourne and closed the gap on Sydney in terms of having the highest personal incomes.
• In 1998-2007, Perth had the highest rate of growth for mean individual incomes in Australia at 30.3%
• The rise in Perth’s median personal incomes indicates economic success and prosperity, however it can also lead to inflation, rising costs of living and higher house prices.
• Higher incomes are often a pull factor for migration to the city.
• The spatial distribution of income growth within Perth’s suburbs has been uneven.