This page contains demographic information about Gold Coast's young people, that is, residents aged 12–24 years. The information is sourced from:
- Australian Bureau of Statistics (2021) Census of Population and Housing
Age structure and distribution
- According to the Australian Census of population and housing, in 2021 there were 99,143 residents aged 12–24 years, representing 15.8% of the total Gold Coast population.
- Secondary school aged residents (12–17 years) represented 7.3% of Gold Coast's population (45,492 residents), a proportion lower than in Queensland (7.7%) but slightly higher than in Australia (7.2%).
- Tertiary education and young adults (18–24 years), represented 8.6% of the population (53,651 residents), a proportion the same as Queensland's and slightly higher than Australia's (8.5%).
- A high percentage of children and young people live in areas such as Parkwood, Southport North and Coomera.
- While the number of 12–24 year-olds increased in number by 8,100 since 2016, the proportion as a percentage of the total Gold Coast population has decreased by 0.5%.
View an interactive map showing key statistics about young people on the Gold Coast.
Country of birth
- A higher proportion of young people on the Gold Coast (19%) were born overseas compared to Queensland (15%) and Australia (17%).
- After Australia, New Zealand was the highest stated country of birth for Gold Coast young people (representing 6% of Gold Coast's young people), followed by England (which represented 3% of all young people).
Need for assistance due to disability & health conditions
- Of young people aged 12–24 years, 3.5% needed assistance with a core activity, representing 9.7% of the total Gold Coast population who reported a need for assistance with a core activity.
- In Queensland, 4% of young people (12 to 24 years) needed assistance with a core activity, and Australia-wide the rate was 3.5%.
- Of young people aged 12–24 years, 3.3% of young people provided unpaid assistance to a person with a disability, health condition or due to old age. Young people aged 12–24 years represented 6.1% of all Gold Coast residents who provided unpaid assistance to a person with a disability, health condition or due to old age.
- A proportion of 16.5% of young people aged 12–24 years had at least one long-term health condition (28,804 residents), a proportion lower than for all Queensland 12–24 year olds (17.9%) or all Australian 12–24 year olds (17%).
- A mental health condition (including depression or anxiety) was the most common long-term health condition for young people, reported by 9.4% of young people aged 12–24 reported. This was followed by asthma (5.2% of young people).
Income
- Thirty-nine per cent of young people (12–24 years) on the Gold Coast had weekly incomes of less than $400.
- This was higher than the proportion for Queensland (38%) but lower than the proportion for all Australian young people (40%).
Indigenous status
- Indigenous young people represented 3.6% of young people of the Gold Coast, compared to 7.2% for Queensland and 5.1% for Australia.
- Indigenous young people (12–24 years) represented 26.2% of the Gold Coast's total Indigenous population.
Labour force, occupation and industry of employment
Note this information only applies to 15–24 year olds.
- Seventy-two point seven per cent of the Gold Coast’s 15–24 year olds participated in the labour force. By comparison in Queensland, 71.3% of 15–24 year olds participated in the labour force.
- Eighty nine point three per cent of Gold Coast 15–24 year olds in the labour force were employed and 10.7% unemployed. By comparison in Queensland, 88.9% of 15–24 year olds in the labour force were employed and 11.1% unemployed.
Industries
Top industries of employment for Gold Coast’s employed 15–24 year olds were:
- Accommodation and Food Services (24.9%)
- Retail Trade (19.9%)
- Construction (9.1%)
- Health Care and Social Assistance (8.9%)
- Education and Training (4.6%)
By comparison, the top industries of employment for Queensland’s employed 15–24 year olds were:
- Accommodation and Food Services (22.1%)
- Retail Trade (18.7%)
- Health Care and Social Assistance (10.1%)
- Construction (8.3%)
- Education and Training (5%)
Occupations
Top occupations of employment for Gold Coast’s employed employed 15–24 year olds were:
- Sales Workers (23.5%)
- Community and Personal Service Workers (19.8%)
- Labourers (15%)
- Technicians and Trades Workers (13.3%)
- Professionals (8.9%)
By comparison, the top occupations of employment for Queensland’s employed 15–24 year olds were:
- Sales Workers (21%)
- Community and Personal Service Workers (18.5%)
- Labourers (16.4%)
- Technicians and Trades Workers (14.4%)
- Professionals (9.1%)
Level of post-school education
- Fifty seven point seven per cent of Gold Coast’s 12–24 year olds are still attending secondary school. By comparison, in Queensland 60% of 12–24 year olds are attending secondary school.
- Twenty-two point three per cent of Gold Coast’s 12–24 year olds are attending a university or other higher education institution. By comparison, in Queensland 20.1% of 12–24 year olds are attending a university or other higher education institution.
- Seven point two per cent of Gold Coast’s 12–24 year olds are attending a vocational institution (including TAFE and private training providers). By comparison, in Queensland, 6.4% of 12–24 year olds are attending a university or other higher education institution
Voluntary work
Nine point two per cent (9.2%) of young people (15–24 years) on the Gold Coast volunteered for an organisation or group, compared to 9.8% for Queensland and 10.1% for Australia.
Young people (15–24 years) represented 15.6% of all Gold Coast residents who volunteered for an organisation or group.
Contact us
Please call 1300 GOLDCOAST (1300 465 326) or email communities@goldcoast.qld.gov.au.