Mackay

Demographics & education

In the 2006 Census, 66,874 people were usually resident in Mackay: of these 50.4% were male and 49.6% were female. Of the total population 4.3% were Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.

In the 2006 Census, 21.8% of people usually resident in Mackay were children aged 0-14 years, and 20.6% were people aged 55 years and over. The median age was 35 years.

In the 2006 Census, 86.4% of people usually resident in Mackay were Australian citizens, 10.3% were born overseas and 0.6% people were overseas visitors.

In the 2006 Census, 50.1% of people aged 15 years and over usually resident in Mackay were married, 11.6% were either separated or divorced, 5.7% were widowed and 32.7% were never married.

Cultural & language diversity

In the 2006 Census, 80.7% of people usually resident in Mackay, stated they were born in Australia. Other common responses for country of birth were New Zealand 2.3%, England 2.3%, South Africa 0.9%, Philippines 0.4% and Scotland 0.4%.

In the 2006 Census, the most common responses for religious affiliation for people usually resident in Mackay were Catholic 27.9%, Anglican 19.2%, No Religion 16.7%, Uniting Church 9.9% and Presbyterian and Reformed 3.5%.

In the 2006 Census, the most common responses for language other than English spoken at home by people usually resident in Mackay were Afrikaans 0.3%, Italian 0.3%, German 0.3%, Maltese 0.3% and Tagalog 0.2%. English was stated as the only language spoken at home by 89.0%.

Employment

During the week prior to the 2006 Census, 33,440 people aged 15 years and over in Mackay were in the labour force. Of these 65.6% worked full-time, 24.3% worked part-time, 3.4% were away from work, 2.8% were employed but did not state their hours worked and 3.9% were unemployed. 14,182 people were not in the labour force.

In the 2006 Census, the most common responses for occupation for Mackay were Technicians and Trades Workers 20.5%, Clerical and Administrative Workers 14.1%, Professionals 13.9%, Labourers 11.7%, Machinery Operators And Drivers 10.8%, Sales Workers 10.5%, Managers 9.6% and Community and Personal Service Workers 7.4%.

In the 2006 Census, of the employed people aged 15 years and over in Mackay, the most common responses for industry of employment included Coal Mining 5.5%, School Education 4.9%, Cafes, Restaurants and Takeaway Food Services 3.5%, Supermarket and Grocery Stores 2.5% and Hospitals 2.5%.

In the 2006 Census in Mackay, the median weekly personal income for people aged 15 years and over who were usual residents was $530, the median family income was $1,325 and the median household income was $1,139.

Family composition

In the 2006 Census, there were 17,329 families in Mackay: of these 37.4% were couple families without children, 46.5% were couple families with children, 14.8% were one parent families and 1.2% were other families.

Dwelling structure

Dwellings include visitor only and other not-classifiable households unless otherwise stated

In the 2006 Census 24,677 occupied private dwellings were counted in Mackay.

In the 2006 Census, of the occupied private dwellings in Mackay, 78.0% were separate houses, 5.9% were semi-detached, row or terrace houses, townhouses etc, 12.9% were flats, units or apartments and 3.2% were other dwellings.

In the 2006 Census in Mackay, 28.5% of occupied private dwellings were owned outright, 32.5% were owned with a mortgage and 29.9% were rented.

In the 2006 Census in Mackay, of the occupied private dwellings being rented, 49.4% were rented from a real estate agent, 15.9% were rented from a State or Territory housing authority and 32.5% were rented from other landlord type.

Dwelling characteristics

In the 2006 Census in Mackay, the median weekly rent was $200. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,300. The average people per household was 2.7 and the average number of people per bedroom was 1.1.

Household composition

In the 2006 Census in Mackay, 68.8% of occupied private dwellings were family households, 19.8% were single (or lone) person households and 3.3% were group households.