The Tasmanian Economic Review (TER) is RDA Tasmania's flagship publication providing comprehensive economic intelligence for Tasmania's business community, government, and regional stakeholders. Produced in partnership with Strategic Economic Solutions between January–July 2025, it spans economic performance, workforce dynamics, population trends, industry specialisations, and infrastructure gaps across Tasmania's three regions.

The Challenge:

• Economic volatility: Gross State Product (GSP) growth slowed from 4.5% (2021) to 1.2% (2023)
• Population turning point in March 2023 — inflows, house prices, and workforce participation all declined
• Tasmania's participation rate (60.7%) is the nation's lowest and widening against the national average
• 57% of Tasmania's regions are classified as 'childcare deserts', constraining women's workforce participation
• Significant regional disparities masked by statewide averages — Brighton LGA has 8.5% unemployment while southern Tasmania averages the state's lowest
• Previous economic analysis lacked the place-based, regularly updated intelligence needed for informed regional decision-making

The Response: RDA Tasmania took a three-phased approach:

• Phase 1 — Research and Analysis (Jan–Feb 2025): Comprehensive analysis of economic performance, labour markets, industry specialisation, and infrastructure with Strategic Economic Solutions.
• Phase 2 — Regional Workshops (May 2025): Three in-person workshops (North West, Northern, Southern) with councils, regional bodies, businesses, and community organisations to validate findings and develop regional addendums.
• Phase 3 — Publication and Dissemination (Apr–Jul 2025): 75-page core report, three regional addendums, board presentation, media engagement, and strategic briefings.

Key Findings: 

• Tasmania's competitive advantages include primary industries, healthcare, tourism and information/media/telecommunications.
• Renewable energy projects in the North West will bring 4,000–5,000 additional workers, creating a critical skills pipeline opportunity.
• Professional occupation vacancies rose from 18% to 33% of all vacancies over a decade — Tasmania is increasingly a net importer of skilled workers.
• Social enterprises contribute $0.71B (1.8% of GSP) and 6,843 jobs; Tasmania has the highest per-capita density nationally (700 per million residents).

Impacts:

• Councils and regional bodies are using TER data to inform strategic plans and funding applications.
• State government departments are referencing TER findings in workforce, housing, and infrastructure policy.
• Business organisations are using the TER to advocate for childcare, housing, and skills interventions.
• TER is directly informing RDA Tasmania's Strategic Regional Plan review and Annual Business Plan.
• Media coverage and opinion pieces — including 'A Thriving Tasmania' — have elevated the TER in policy and parliamentary discourse.