A newly-released Growth Outlook Report from Hamilton City Council shows the city has experience higher levels of population, GDP and job growth than national rates during the past five years.
Council data from 2017 – 2021 shows that the city’s population grew by 8%, GDP lifted 15% and there was a 12% increase in jobs. This compares to 6%, 10% and 8% increases respectively for New Zealand, the Council said in a statement.
At 10% each, the healthcare and manufacturing sectors are Hamilton’s largest contributors to GDP. Professional, scientific and technical services are also significant, representing 9% of GDP, the report found.
Construction, retail trade, and education and training are three of several other sectors that comprise at least 5% of Hamilton’s total GDP.
Although not explicitly captured by ANZSIC industry data, the technology and innovation sector has been part of Hamilton’s economy for many years, led by companies such as Company-X, Dynamo6, Aware Group, Enlighten Designs and The Instillery, the Council said.
Agritech
In 2021, nearly two-thirds of the country’s agritech employment as in the Waikato, and its average wage was more than $105,000. The sector is increasingly dominated by high-tech manufacturers based in Hamilton, including Gallagher Group, TOMRA Fresh Food and NDA Group.
Warehousing and Logistics
Consents for new warehouse, cool store and storage facilities in Hamilton has surged with more than 100,000m2 lodged in the current calendar year. This is approaching the total for the entire period from 2017 – 2021 when 124,000m2 of new warehouse cool store and storage facilities were lodged.
Tech in the Tron
Launched in July, TechintheTron.com is a social media and website project designed to engage with tech talent across Aotearoa and the world.
Its goals are to promote tech sector job opportunities in Hamilton, grow professional networks within the sector, and showcase innovative people and businesses. In its first six weeks, the effort reached more than 1 million people and created 2.5 million impressions.
