Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED) is launching the second edition of the Auckland Index and Auckland Growth Monitor – a suite of complementary digital data tools that offer a wealth of information on the economy’s shape and future direction.
The 2018 Auckland Index is an interactive, data-driven look into what makes our economy tick and is updated quarterly. The Index – first launched in October 2017 – is complemented by The Auckland Growth Monitor, a digital magazine-style report (PDF) produced annually.
There are now 99 interactive graphs available on the index, nearly double that of the original, while the growth monitor complements the index by providing commentary on some of the trends and potential economic implications behind the data.
Understanding Auckland's economic development opportunities
ATEED Chief Executive, Nick Hill, says these interactive tools are designed to help keep industry informed on all aspects of the Auckland economy, as well as our place on the world stage, and sharing this intelligence provides a real understanding of Auckland’s economic development opportunities.
“The growth monitor and index are a ‘centralised, one source of truth’ and include information on Auckland’s diverse population, economic output, sectors of focus, the visitor economy, consumer and business confidence, labour productivity, migration trends and more.
“Our purpose is to support the growth of ‘quality jobs for all Aucklanders’ and ATEED’s vision is that Auckland’s firms and workers are increasingly productive; given that productivity is a key driver of prosperity and raising living standards”, he says.
New features and updated data
The 2018 Auckland Index and Auckland Growth Monitor include new features as well as updated data. The index now includes a new ‘Quarterly Snapshot’ section, as well as a section devoted to our financial ‘Markets’.
The Growth Monitor also includes the geographic (spatial) distribution of businesses and employment throughout the region.
Commenting on the second edition of the Auckland Growth Monitor Nick Hill says: “Having a spatial focus across Auckland enables us to better understand the strengths and challenges of each area so that working alongside social development organisations, Panuku Development Auckland and local boards – we can prioritise actions which will have the greatest outcomes.”
Auckland Council Chief Economist, David Norman, describes the 2018 Auckland Index and Auckland Growth Monitor as providing “a wealth of information, with our mix of industries as diverse as their location across the region.”
“It’s not all about the city centre, although there are more than 200,000 jobs there, 35 per cent of which are in high-end professionals and financial services.
“In fact, three-quarters of Auckland’s workforce is in other parts of the region such as the industrial and logistics precinct near Auckland Airport, or the rural hinterland which is an hour’s drive from the city centre,” he says.
Growth in Auckland
Although growth is slowing in Auckland after years of exceptional increases, David Norman believes it’s all relative.
“Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth is still well over two per cent a year, construction is surging again to deliver the tens of thousands of new homes we need for the burgeoning population, and retail trade growth remains positive in real terms.”
The 2018 Auckland Index can be found at aucklandnz.com/auckland-index and the Auckland Growth Monitor can be downloaded at aucklandnz.com/business-and-investment/economy-and-sectors/auckland-growth-monitor.
