Urban Centre · Area profile
Gladstone
102 km²
Much younger and more family-oriented than most similar areas, Gladstone is a growing hub in Queensland with a population of over 34,700 people. The community is notably youthful, with the typical resident aged 35 and a high proportion of children under 15. This young profile is reflected in a large number of families and a workforce with a strong presence of technicians and trades. It is a place of shifting identities, where a rising number of people now claim no religion.
Explore Gladstone by topic
The area is noticeably younger than the state and national figures, with 21.8% of people under 15. This youthfulness is accompanied by a higher proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, who make up 7.1% of the population.
Most residents were born in Australia, though 14.8% were born overseas, a figure that has risen since 2011. English and Australian are the most common ancestries, while New Zealand is the most frequent overseas birthplace.
English is the primary language for 85.9% of the community. While the 7.9% who speak another language at home is higher than in similar areas, it remains far below the national average.
A significant shift in belief is evident here, as 46.1% of residents now report no religion. This is well above the national figure and represents a 23 point increase since 2011.
The workforce is strongly skewed toward technical skills, with 44.5% of residents holding a Certificate III or IV. While 48.2% completed Year 12, this is far below the national figure.
Typical weekly family incomes are about $2,054, which is consistent with the state average. High earners are more common than in similar areas, with 13.5% of people earning $2,000 or more per week.
Long-term health conditions affect 28.4% of the population, which is about the same as the national figure. Mental health conditions are slightly more common here than across Australia.
Unpaid care for children is much more common than in most areas, consistent with the high number of young families. However, volunteering has fallen since 2011 to 14.9%.
Family homes are common, with 55.4% being couples with children and a higher than average rate of one-parent families at 18.5%. People living alone also make up a significant 28.5% of households.
Renting is far more common here than nationally, at 41.6%, while outright home ownership is much lower than average. Most homes are large, with 83.1% having three or more bedrooms.
Cars are the primary way to get around, with 70.8% of people driving to work. Very few people work from home (3.7%) or use public transport to commute (0.7%).
The population is quite mobile, with 45.7% of residents having moved in the last five years. Recent overseas arrivals make up 12.5% of the community, though this is down significantly from 2011.
Full-time employment is well above the national average at 63.2%, though the unemployment rate is also much higher than most areas at 8.2%. Manufacturing and health care are the top industries.
Most homes are within a short walk of a park or public transport. However, fewer residents can walk to groceries or health services compared to the state average.