Waikato regional economic profile - Waikato Regional Council

Figure 94: Proportion of territorial authority labour force in occupation (2006 Census)5.3.3 Labour market areasA University of Waikato research report for the Department of Labour identified andmapped functional labour market areas within the Waikato region on the basis of travelto-workdata and provided a detailed statistical portrait of the regional labour marketsand their recent histories. It noted that territorial authority boundaries are less thanideal for this type of analysis because they do not necessarily reflect the relationshipsbetween workers and their jobs. 297The report noted that commute areas often follow the contour of the landscape, and theregion’s terrain and physical features can lead to the seclusion of labour market areasand contribute to their insularity, or can facilitate the potential for integration andinterdependence with other areas. 298In 1991, the Waikato region had 31 distinct labour market areas. The Kaimai Range inthe east of the region provided an effective geographical border with the Bay of Plentyregion, but in the north, the South Auckland and Glenbrook labour market areasextended into the Waikato region, and in the south the Taupō labour market areaincluded parts of the Bay of Plenty and Hawkes Bay regions. 299The number of labour market areas in the Waikato region declined markedly from 1991to 2006, from 31 to just 14, as shown in figures 95 and 96. Each of the remaininglabour market areas was located around a relatively large urban area or significantindustry. By 2006, it was clear that the Hamilton city labour market dominated theregion, covering the largest land area, and subsuming the former Te Akau, Whitikahu,and Waerenga labour market areas in the north and the Cambridge and Te Awamutulabour market areas in the south. 300297Barrett et al (2009, p. 1).298Barrett et al (2009, p. 9).299Barrett et al (2009, p. 11).300Barrett et al (2009, p. 13).Doc # 2069885 Page 85