Geelong Job Market Guide: Industries, Salaries and Employment Opportunities

Geelong's employment market has undergone a remarkable transformation since the Ford factory closure in 2016, which was widely expected to devastate the city's employment base. Instead, Geelong's economy has diversified significantly, with the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) headquarters bringing 2,000+ federal public service jobs, the tech sector growing around the Carbon Nexus and the Deakin University Carbon Fibre research facilities, and the healthcare sector expanding in line with the city's population growth toward 280,000.

Federal government and NDIS — the National Disability Insurance Agency's relocation of its national headquarters to Geelong (Cunningham Pier precinct) has been transformative, bringing 2,000+ federal public service jobs with APS salary bands and conditions. This has created significant professional employment growth in Geelong that directly replaced some of the manufacturing sector losses.

Healthcare — Barwon Health (University Hospital Geelong, The Geelong Hospital) is the largest single employer in the Geelong area. The new hospital redevelopment and the growing aged care sector are expanding healthcare employment further. The Surf Coast and Bellarine Peninsula's growing population is also driving healthcare service demand beyond the metropolitan centre.

Education and research — Deakin University (Waterfront and Waurn Ponds campuses) employs 4,000+ and hosts nationally significant research in composites, water engineering, and digital health. The Gordon TAFE provides vocational training and supports the trades employment pipeline.

Advanced manufacturing and tech — the Carbon Nexus facility at Deakin University (Waurn Ponds), the ManuFutures advanced manufacturing precinct, and the Geelong Technology Precinct at Geelong's Waterfront are developing a knowledge economy employment base in the city. Companies including the CSIRO, Boeing (aerostructures research), and various composites manufacturers have established Geelong operations linked to the Deakin research ecosystem.

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