Work & income

Unemployment

Wodonga's modelled unemployment rate doubled from 3.0% in September 2023 to 6.0% in December 2025, the largest rise of the ten regional cities, before easing to 5.3% in March 2026.

• 5.3% Modelled unemployment rateMar 2026Second highest of 10 regional cities
• 4.2% Regional-city median, Wodonga excludedMar 20264.0% in Dec 2025, when Wodonga was 6.0%
• 3.0%Sep 2023→ 6.0%Dec 2025 Rise in Wodonga's rate+3.0 points, the largest rise of 10 regional cities; also 3.0% in Dec 2023
• 690Sep 2023→ 1,408Dec 2025 People modelled as unemployed1,252 in Mar 2026
• 23,764 Labour force: people working or looking for workMar 202622,847 in Sep 2023

These are modelled, smoothed estimates for small areas. They are not comparable with the national headline unemployment rate.

SourceSmall Area Labour Markets — smoothed local government area estimates · Department of Employment and Workplace Relations · Dec 2010 – Mar 2026

Jobs

Jobs held by Wodonga residents rose 21.5% between 2018–19 and 2022–23, the third-fastest rise of the ten regional cities, with more jobs in 17 of 19 industries.

• 39,779 Jobs held by Wodonga residents2022–2332,736 in 2018–19
• +21.5% Rise in jobs2018–19 to 2022–23Third fastest of 10 regional cities; regional-city median +14.3%
• 25,842 Wodonga residents with at least one job2022–2322,975 in 2018–19, +12.5%
• 5,449 Residents holding more than one job2022–2321.1% of job holders; 4,086 in 2018–19
• 17 of 19 Industries with more jobs2018–19 to 2022–23Fewer: Public administration and safety; Mining

A job is not a person: someone with two jobs is counted twice. The ABS counts each job where its holder lives, not where the work is done.

SourceJobs in Australia, 2022–23 — Victoria spotlights by local government area · Australian Bureau of Statistics · 2018–19 to 2022–23

Where people work

At the 2021 Census, 41.5% of people working in Wodonga lived outside the municipality, and Albury was the largest place of work and of residence beyond it.

• 59.9% Employed Wodonga residents who worked in Wodonga2021 Census12,359 of 20,633
• 5,707 Employed Wodonga residents who worked in Albury2021 Census27.7% of 20,633
• 41.5% People working in Wodonga who lived elsewhere2021 Census8,756 of 21,115; the ABS's own count of people working in Wodonga is 21,166
• 5,069 People working in Wodonga who lived in Albury2021 Census24.0% of 21,115

Census place-of-work counts show where people lived and where they worked, not how they travelled between the two.

SourceResidents' place of work — City of Wodonga community profile · .id (informed decisions), from the ABS Census · 2021 Census

SourceWorkers' place of residence — City of Wodonga economic profile · .id (informed decisions), from the ABS Census · 2021 Census

Roads, transport & safety

Businesses

Wodonga had 3,337 actively trading businesses in June 2025; 60.1% had no employees and 106 had 20 or more.

• 3,337 Actively trading businessesJun 20253,269 in Jun 2023
• 2,006 Businesses with no employeesJun 202560.1% of all businesses
• 844 Businesses with 1–4 employeesJun 202525.3% of all businesses
• 106 Businesses with 20 or more employeesJun 2025102 with 20–199 and 4 with 200 or more

Counts cover businesses actively trading in the market sector. Government bodies and non-profit institutions serving households are not included, and a business count is not a count of jobs.

SourceCounts of Australian Businesses, including Entries and Exits — local government area by employment size · Australian Bureau of Statistics · Jun 2023 – Jun 2025

Pay after inflation

Median employee income rose 17.1% between 2018–19 and 2022–23; after inflation, it rose 2.0%.

• $60,044 Median employee income2022–23Second highest of 10 regional cities; highest Greater Geelong, $60,480
• +17.1% Rise before inflation2018–19 to 2022–23$51,274 → $60,044
• +2.0% Rise after inflation2018–19 to 2022–23Regional-city median +2.4%, Wodonga excluded
• +14.8% Rise in consumer prices, Melbourne2018–19 to 2022–23Average of each financial year's four quarters

After-inflation figures use the Consumer Price Index for Melbourne, as a stated proxy: the ABS publishes no price index for regional Victoria.

SourcePersonal Income in Australia, 2022–23 · Australian Bureau of Statistics · 2018–19 to 2022–23

SourceConsumer Price Index, Australia — all groups, Melbourne · Australian Bureau of Statistics · 2018–19 to 2022–23

Rent vs income

After inflation, new-let rent rose 15.0% between 2018–19 and 2022–23, while median employee income rose 2.0%.

• +15.0% Median new-let rent, after inflation2018–19 to 2022–23+32.0% before inflation
• +2.0% Median employee income, after inflation2018–19 to 2022–23+17.1% before inflation
• $428/week Median new-let rent, averaged over the year2022–23$325 in 2018–19

Rent covers newly let properties; income covers employees living in Wodonga. The chart sets the same years side by side and is not a rent-to-income ratio.

SourcePersonal Income in Australia, 2022–23 · Australian Bureau of Statistics · 2018–19 to 2022–23

SourceRental Report — quarterly median rents and affordable lettings · Homes Victoria · Sep 2018 – Jun 2023

SourceConsumer Price Index, Australia — all groups, Melbourne · Australian Bureau of Statistics · 2018–19 to 2022–23

Renting, in Housing & property

Income spread

In 2022–23, personal income was spread more evenly in Wodonga than in any other regional city, and its Gini coefficient was the equal second lowest of Victoria's 79 councils.

• 0.423 Gini coefficient of personal income; lower is more even2022–23Equal second lowest of 79 Victorian councils, with Whittlesea; lowest of 10 regional cities
• 5.7% Share of personal income received by the top 1%2022–23Equal seventh lowest of 79 Victorian councils, with Frankston; lowest of 10 regional cities
• 4.80 Income at the 80th percentile, divided by income at the 20th2022–23Fifth lowest of 79 Victorian councils; lowest of 10 regional cities
• $57,650 Median personal income2022–2326th highest of 79 Victorian councils; highest of 10 regional cities

One year only, and individuals' income rather than households' income or wealth. Each tick is the median of the other 78 councils.

SourcePersonal Income in Australia, 2022–23 · Australian Bureau of Statistics · 2022–23