FACTBase Bulletin 75 - The Impacts of COVID-19 on Western Australia and Greater Perth

Our latest FACTBase Bulletin - The Impacts of COVID-19 on Western Australia and Greater Perth compares the actual effects of the pandemic to the predicted impacts, and examines variations in economic, social and workplace outcomes between different states, territories and cities in Australia with a focus on Greater Perth and Western Australia.

This bulletin is the sixth piece of research to be delivered under the Committee’s 2020-2021 major project the Future of Work: equipping WA and its people for the changing world of work.

Key Findings

• 1. Economic impacts in Western Australia have been cushioned by virus suppression and mining and resources specialisation.
• 2. Impacts on jobs in Western Australia have been highest for low-educated workers, people employed by small firms and males. Employment of females has been volatile and older workers have been more likely to suffer a decline in wages.
• 3. COVID-19 has accelerated the uptake of working from home, online services and e-commerce in Western Australia, but the shift has been less significant than in other States.
• 4. The City of Perth has been the local authority most heavily impacted by the decline in retail and recreation mobility in Greater Perth, yet it has shown some signs of recovery. Inner and middle local authorities have been most impacted by the decline in workers, yet they have also experienced increases in residential activity.