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Adelaide CBD Growth Creates Jobs and Boosts Local Spending
Job increases and business activity in the city centre are directly tied to higher worker spending and community stability.
How we reported this
The City of Adelaide recorded a Gross Regional Product of $23.95 billion in 2023 after 5.7% growth that year. Local jobs in the CBD rose from approximately 142,000 in 2019 to about 170,000 in 2023, a 19% increase that lifted the modelled job count to 159,812. These figures show how the city centre economy has expanded in ways that reach residents through employment and daily activity.
Job Increases Link Directly to Resident Livelihoods
More positions in the CBD mean more people earning wages that circulate back into nearby shops, services and housing. The 19% rise in local jobs between 2019 and 2023 added thousands of workers whose daily presence supports retail trade, hospitality and transport services used by residents. GST-registered businesses grew from 11,129 in 2019 to 12,338, a 10% increase that has widened the range of local employers and service providers available to people living in the city centre.
Business Activity and Spending Patterns Affect Community Life
The top three industries by output and value added are Public Administration and Safety, Professional Scientific and Technical Services, and Financial and Insurance Services. These sectors together account for 17.6% of Gross State Product and employ many of the additional workers now present in the CBD. Their presence keeps foot traffic steady on weekdays, which in turn sustains the small businesses and services that residents rely on for everyday needs.
Office Market Conditions Shape Future Resident Access
Adelaide CBD office vacancy reached 15.5% in January 2025, mainly from new supply rather than weaker demand. A-grade space continues to draw most net absorption. This pattern suggests that established employers are holding or expanding their presence, which supports the job numbers already recorded and the worker spending that follows from them. Residents benefit when these employers remain active because it maintains the level of economic activity that funds local services and keeps the city centre viable for living and working.
Current trends point to continued emphasis on matching workers with the services and housing already in place. Residents can track updates through City of Adelaide economic reports and local business networks to understand how these figures translate into day-to-day opportunities in the city centre.