Invest in NSW

Regional NSW

Regional NSW offers an abundance of business opportunities and a relaxed lifestyle.

With a population of more than 2,519,000, regional NSW covers 800,000 sq km.

Regional NSW is home to a range of geography and climates, from the humid coastal environment of the north, to the semi-arid desert in the west, and the alpine peaks and sheep-wheat belt of the south. This diversity encourages a variety of industries to flourish.

NSW Trade & Investment works with businesses and communities in regional NSW to help them grow and create local jobs. View our regional office locations.

NSW Trade and Investment Regional Indicators Report

The Regional Indicators Report provides current information employment conditions and population growth in regional NSW. It also features key major projects and job creation and economic development outcomes facilitated by NSW Trade & Investment.
This concise economic snapshot is derived from NSW Trade & Investment's regular analyses of Australian Bureau of Statistics data.

Regional Indicators Report, April 2013

Key points:

• Employment conditions in Regional NSW remain firm and the unemployment rate stands at 5.5%, below its 10‑year average of 5.9%
• More than 60% of the State's employment growth in the last 12 months has come from outside Greater Sydney
• In the nine months to March 2013, NSW Trade & Investment's Office of Regional Development has facilitated 28 regional investment projects worth over $300 million and supporting more than 650 jobs

• Read the full Regional Indicators Report [PDF - 330kb]
• Historic reports

Read more about NSW's economic and business climate.

The Regional Relocation Grant

The Regional Relocation Grant provides eligible families with a one-off payment of $7,000 to assist with the cost of relocating from a metropolitan home to a home in regional NSW. See www.newlifensw.com.au for finding your ideal regional centre. See  www.evoinvest.com.au to find the facts on doing  business in the seven Evocities (Albury, Armidale, Bathurst, Dubbo, Orange,  Tamworth and Wagga Wagga).  

The grant is administered by the Office of State Revenue. For more information on the program and eligibility requirements visit http://www.osr.nsw.gov.au/benefits/rrg.

Industries

The State's traditional manufacturing, mining and agribusiness activities have provided a firm foundation for diversification into high-growth areas such as aquaculture, biotechnology, viticulture and communications.

Infrastructure

All regional centres provide the full amenities and utilities of larger cities including mobile telephone and broadband internet access.

Electricity, natural gas and water are readily available throughout the State for business and commercial use. Residential and commercial real estate is cost competitive.

Transport

An extensive road and rail network connects regional and production centres to Australia's main metropolitan areas and transport hubs. A number of regional centres act as distribution and warehousing hubs for interstate and intrastate freight movement.

NSW's five ports are located at Sydney, Port Kembla, Newcastle, Eden in the far south and Yamba in the far north, and they service vessels from many international shipping lines.

Freight and passenger air services are available from most cities and towns throughout regional NSW.

Labour

Many highly qualified and skilled people live in regional NSW. The skills base covers the spectrum of business activity, from manufacturing to agriculture, and from technology to business and community services.

Regions

In addition to Sydney, the State is divided into 13 business regions.