VIRTUAL HQ · AMY’S WORK DESK
Murray Bridge — Read text
Text extracted from the PDF. Page numbers refer to the original PDF. Images and charts are not reproduced; table layout and reading order may differ. Consult the original PDF for visual details.
All pages as plain text (.txt) · Original PDF · Folder
PDF page 51
16
Figure 14. RCMB Industry sector analysis – Agriculture 2022/23 compared to 2019/20.
Source: Agricultural industry statistics | RDA Murraylands and Riverland | economy.id
Value of Agricultural Commodities
RCMB’s total value of agricultural output in 2020/21 was $252M with the largest proportion
attributed to Livestock Slaughterings ($61.1M). Other significant contributors are displayed in
Figure 14, while industries that contributed less than $2.5M were Citrus fruit, Other broadacre
crops, Grapes, Other fruit, Nuts and Eggs. Data from the 2020/21 Agricultural Census shows
the gross value of agricultural commodities in broad categories.
Figure 15. Value of Rural City of Murray Bridge agriculture production 2020/21.
Economic Development and Growth Strategy 2026-2030 51
PDF page 52
17
5.2 Construction
Construction includes Building, Heavy and Civil Engineering, and Support Services.
In 2022/23, RCMB’s Construction industry contributed 1.0% of South Australia’s employment
and 1.6% of its value added (refer Figure 16).
Figure 16. RCMB Industry sector analysis – Construction 2022/23 compared to 2019/20
5.3 Health Care and Social Assistance
The Rural City of Murray Bridge Health Care and Social Assistance sector contributed 1.2% to
South Australia’s employment and 1.2% of its value add (refer Figure 17).
Figure 17. RCMB Industry sector analysis – Health Care and Social Assistance 2022/23 compared to
2019/20.
52 The Rural City of Murray Bridge
PDF page 53
18
5.4 Manufacturing
The Rural City of Murray Bridges’s manufacturing sector contributed 1.6% to South Australia’s
employment and 1.3% of its value added in 2022/23 (refer Figure 18).
Figure 18. RCMB Industry sector analysis – Manufacturing 2022/23 compared to 2019/20.
5.5 Tourism
Tourism is predominantly made up of the Accommodation & Food Services and Retail Trade
sectors. Although not listed as a top 5 industry in RCMB it is an enabling activity to economic
growth as visiting a region and experiencing its lifestyle and attractions is often part of the
decision-making process of economic growth drivers such as establishing a business,
investment decisions and choosing a place to live. Therefore, it is a useful and important metric
to understand and follow over time, especially given local government investment, including the
RCMB, in tourism related activities.
Figure 19. Value of Tourism RCMB and South Australia 2023/2 Source: National Institute of Economic
and Industry Research (NIEIR) ©2025.
Economic Development and Growth Strategy 2026-2030 53
PDF page 54
19
Figure 20. Breakdown of Tourism Value.
Source: National Institute of Economic and Industry Research (NIEIR) ©2025.
Direct employment in the Tourism Sector in Rural City of Murray Bridge increased from 305
people in 2021 to 556 in 2024, representing a strong recovery from the covid pandemic period
in 2020 and surpassing the 2019 figure of 486. The increases in indirect employment, the flow
on benefit from tourism, is important to note to understand the benefit and importance of tourism
into Rural City of Murray Bridge. Indirect employment increased from 207 people in 2021 to 378
in 2024, and surpassing the 2019 figure of 331.
Figure 21. Tourism Employment 2000-2024
Source: National Institute of Economic and Industry Research (NIEIR). Compiled and presented in
economy.id by .id (informed decisions).
54 The Rural City of Murray Bridge
PDF page 55
20
Regional Tourism
The South Australia Tourism Commission (SATC) defines
regions across the state as per the Regional Visitor Strategy
and the RCMB district is one of six Local Government Areas
that make up the Murray River, Lakes & Coorong Region
(refer Figure 22).
At the end of December 2024, the Murray River, Lakes &
Coorong Region visitor expenditure totalled $223M, already
exceeding the SATC Regional Visitor Strategy December
2025 target of $196M.
Figure 22. State context
Figure 23. The Murray River Lakes & Coorong region (green shaded area).
Source: Murray River, Lakes & Coorong Visitor Guide.
Economic Development and Growth Strategy 2026-2030 55
PDF page 56
21
Figure 24. Murray River, Lakes & Coorong data for the year end December 2024.Source: South
Australian Tourism Commission.
56 The Rural City of Murray Bridge
PDF page 57
22
Tourism Subsector – Retail Trade
Encouragingly retail trade sector analysis indicates RCMB’s worker productivity has increased
over the past decade to be greater than the South Australian average (figure 25), not the case
in 2012/13. Figures 25 & 26 $ values are expressed in 2022/23 base year dollar terms and data
figures are inflation adjusted each year to allow direct comparison, and annual data releases
adjust previous years’ figures to a new base year.
Figure 25. Rural City of Murray Bridge and South Australia Retail Trade industry overview & 10-year
comparison.
Source: Economy.id (2025)
Tourism Subsector – Accommodation & Food Services
Accommodation and Food Services sector analysis indicates RCMB worker productivity has
increased over the past decade and is now on par with the South Australian average, previously
more than 10% less.
Figure 26. Rural City of Murray Bridge and South Australia Accommodation & Food Services industry
overview & 10-year comparison.
Source: Economy.id (2025)
!"#ABC'!E)B*#!+!,-./AB.A!M)C1#/ ,2B.3#
41-.-RC1!R#B/S)# ",T8 9: ",T8!; !-<!9: ",T8 9: ",T8!; !-<!9:
!"#$%&"'EF*+F%FI$- .L01 0O345 1S ..L5 5T88T .S 434
!"#$%&"'EF*+VW!- ..O3 T.8O8 1S 55. T3430 .S 111
VW!*F%*F%FI$*'"#$%&"'EF*;IF<% O=T0 O=T5 O O=8T O=83 OS >O=O8
?@F#@FAW%FI$*BI$'C*+a"- 1O5=5 .O04T=T. 1S ..1=11 5581=40 .S 0T=L5
EI$@'*Icc*+a"- .33=43 T00L=84 1S 8.=85 LT8L=30 .S T.=TL
!d#%;FC*+a"- ...=0T 335T=.5 3S 1L=5. 1531=83 .S 5T=.L
!d#%;FC*+c%"'CF<e-*+a"- .O4=14 1531=03 4S 14=4T 1383=5. .S 80=85
!d#%;FC*+<EF';EIF<%EI$-*+a"- 8=81 LL3=1L .S .=3L 4L5=01 OS T=38
I"#%;FC+a"- 0=8L .03L=03 .S 0=O0 .818=50 .S O=TT
I "#%;FC*+c%"'CF<e-*+a"- 0=8L .03L=03 .S 0=O0 .818=50 .S O=TT
I "#%;FC*+<EF';EIF<%EI$-*+a"- O O OS O O OS O
J%eI$*BI$'C*+a"- 0T=54 8LTO=43 .S 5T=4 TO4O=OT .S .O=44
K%;i';*#;%c@eF<M<F&*+a*#';*k%;i';- 53l51Oa**** 88l43.a**** >a******************** T.l053a*********** TLl4O3a** >a******************** 1.l538a****
=>=?@=A =>B=@B?
!"#ABC
'E)A)*+E,*C#-./C M!12 34 M!12,R ,)S,34 M!12 34 M!12,R ,)S,34
!"#$%&"'EF*+F%FI$- .L0 .L1LO 13 .OO .O45. 13 5S
!"#$%&"'EF*+T8!- VWO V5.0S 13 VSL V.WVS 13 VV
T8!*F%*F%FI$*'"#$%&"'EF*;IF<% 4=0S 4=0V 43 4=05 4=0L 43 >4=4V
?@F#@FA8%FI$*BI$'C*+a"- .W=.5 .L.W=WL 13 .V=S. .LL0=VO 13 .=1O
EI$@'*Icc*+a"- V0=.0 V0OW 13 O0=W. V4VV=.S 13 L=51
!d#%;FC*+a"- 1S=. OOO0=SV 13 15=WV OO4S=VV 13 >V=VV
!d#%;FC*+c%"'CF<e-*+a"- 1V=SW 1S1S=OS 13 15=1L 15S.=VS 13 >V=51
!d#%;FC*+<EF';EIF<%EI$-*+a"- 1=4O W1O=1L 43 4=0V S.W=LL 43 4=VL
I"#%;FC+a"- .0=S .L11=WW 13 SL=W1 VW..=LO 13 0=.L
I "#%;FC*+c%"'CF<e-*+a"- S4=15 SOW0=50 13 VL=.0 OW41=.1 13 4=0
I "#%;FC*+<EF';EIF<%EI$-*+a"- 10=OS 10O.=1O 13 14=O. 14.S=S1 13 .=LL
J%eI$*BI$'C*+a"- SS=4W V5VO=S0 13 V.=0V V5L1=LL 13 W=S.
K%;i';*#;%c@eF<M<F&*+a*#';*k%;i';- 01lV55a******* 01lOLOa******* 4 .1lSOVa*********** .WlO.Sa** 4 LlL.Sa******
7879:7; 78<7:<9
Economic Development and Growth Strategy 2026-2030 57
PDF page 58
23
6. Workforce
6.1 Employment
The number of people who work in the Rural City of Murray Bridge is estimated at 9,566, while
the number of RCMB residents who are employed is estimated at 8,671.
RCMB has a workforce of 9,121 Full-time equivalent workers. Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing
is the largest employer, generating 1,466 FTE jobs in 2022/23. Health Care and Social
Assistance is the next largest employer with 1,437 FTE, followed by Manufacturing (975), and
Retail Trade (777).
Figure 27. Employment 2022/23 – Rural City of Murray Bridge v South Australia.
Source: Full time equivalent employment | RDA Murraylands and Riverland | economy.id National
Institute of Economic and Industry Research (NIEIR).
6.1.1 Changes in Employment
The number of full-time equivalent local workers in the Rural City of Murray Bridge increased by
702 between 2017/18 and 2022/23 (noting some left the workforce).
The most significant changes were for those employed in:
● Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing (+439 FTE)
● Health Care and Social Assistance (+425 FTE)
● Construction (+120 FTE)
● Education and Training (+101 FTE)
58 The Rural City of Murray Bridge
PDF page 59
24
Rural City of Murray Bridge experienced significant increases in employment in 2021/22 and
2022/23 with 3.8% and 6.4% respectively, surpassing the State’s combined increase of 8.9%
over the same period (refer Figure 28).
Figure 28. Employment annual change – RCMB v South Australia.
Source: Time series industry sector analysis | RDA Murraylands and Riverland | economy.id National
Institute of Economic and Industry Research (NIEIR). Compiled and presented in economy.id.
6.1.2 Jobs to Workers Ratio (Employment Capacity)
While the jobs to residents ratio for the RDA Murraylands and Riverland region in 2022/23 was
0.95, meaning that there were less jobs than resident workers, the Rural City of Murray Bridge’s
ratio of 1.13 meant there were more jobs than resident workers. Electricity, Gas, Water and
Waste Services had the highest ratio (1.56), while the lowest ratio was found in Mining (0.20).
A goal of economic development is to maximise the employment opportunities locally, leading to
a more socially sustainable community. Employment capacity is a simple way of looking at
Employment Capacity measures the balance between local job availability and resident
workforce participation within a specific industry. It is calculated by dividing the number of jobs
located in the area by the number of local residents employed in that industry, regardless of
where they work. A value greater than 1.0 indicates the region offers more jobs than it has
resident workers in that sector, suggesting it attracts workers from outside the area. A value
less than 1.0 implies more residents are employed in the industry than there are local jobs,
indicating a reliance on employment opportunities outside the region.
Economic Development and Growth Strategy 2026-2030 59
PDF page 60
25
whether the Rural City of Murray Bridge could theoretically provide jobs for all its residents if
they were to choose to work locally.
Figure 29. Rural City of Murray Bridge - Employment capacity by industry 2017/18 compared to 2022/23.
Source: Jobs to workers ratio | RDA Murraylands and Riverland | economy.id National Institute of
Economic and Industry Research (NIEIR). Compiled and presented in economy.id.
60 The Rural City of Murray Bridge
Public files shared from Amy’s work desk.