Post-Census updates
JobSeeker recipients
About this topic
This page tracks JobSeeker and Youth Allowance (other) recipients for Greater Bendigo (C) at SA2 level. It provides a more current signal of labour-market stress and socio-economic pressure than Census-only views.
The current comparison uses January 2026 against June 2023. Rates are calculated against the available ERP 15-64 population for each period.
Related topics
Key insight
In January 2026, 5,471 people in Greater Bendigo (C) were receiving JobSeeker or Youth Allowance (other), equal to 7.1% of the working-age population, compared with 4,759 (6.2%) in June 2023. Bendigo had the highest current rate and Maiden Gully the lowest.
5,471
Recipients January 2026
7.1% of 15-64 population
+713
Change since June 2023
6.2% to 7.1%
11.5%
Highest SA2 rate
Bendigo
2.3%
Lowest SA2 rate
Maiden Gully
Chart view
Recipients by SA2
Current rate on the bar, comparison rate as the marker. Sorted by current rate.
Bendigo
11.5%
10.2%
Heathcote
10.2%
9.1%
California Gully - Eaglehawk
9.6%
8.7%
Kangaroo Flat - Golden Square
8.7%
7.6%
Castlemaine Surrounds (part)
7.4%
5.4%
Flora Hill - Spring Gully
6.7%
5.9%
Bendigo Surrounds - North (part)
6.6%
5.6%
East Bendigo - Kennington
6.2%
5.8%
White Hills - Ascot
5.8%
4.8%
Bendigo Surrounds - South (part)
3.3%
2.6%
Strathfieldsaye
2.8%
2.0%
Maiden Gully
2.3%
2.2%
Data table
JobSeeker rates by SA2
Download recipient counts and rates for the current and comparison months.
| SA2 | January 2026 recipients | January 2026 rate | June 2023 recipients | June 2023 rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bendigo | 1,085 | 11.5% | 970 | 10.2% |
| Heathcote | 300 | 10.2% | 270 | 9.1% |
| California Gully - Eaglehawk | 815 | 9.6% | 730 | 8.7% |
| Kangaroo Flat - Golden Square | 1,090 | 8.7% | 945 | 7.6% |
| Castlemaine Surrounds (part) | 16 | 7.4% | 11 | 5.4% |
| Flora Hill - Spring Gully | 420 | 6.7% | 365 | 5.9% |
| Bendigo Surrounds - North (part) | 213 | 6.6% | 175 | 5.6% |
| East Bendigo - Kennington | 515 | 6.2% | 480 | 5.8% |
| White Hills - Ascot | 560 | 5.8% | 455 | 4.8% |
| Bendigo Surrounds - South (part) | 182 | 3.3% | 143 | 2.6% |
| Strathfieldsaye | 190 | 2.8% | 135 | 2.0% |
| Maiden Gully | 85 | 2.3% | 80 | 2.2% |