Do property developers create jobs, or just temporary construction roles disappearing once projects complete?

Most regional Victoria property developers deliver projects then leave, generating construction employment lasting 12-18 months before workers move to the next site. At Nexus Developments, our regional portfolio creates 70+ permanent jobs in Shepparton, Numurkah, and Eaglehawk, ongoing roles in childcare education, retirement village operations, property management, and community services remaining long after construction completes.

This isn’t incidental employment. It’s deliberate strategy recognising that regional Victoria property developers should contribute to regional economies through permanent employment, not just extract profits whilst leaving communities unchanged. Our Nexus Learning childcare centres in Numurkah (90 places) and Eaglehawk (100 places) employ early childhood educators, cooks, administrators, and support staff. Our Nexus Life Shepparton retirement village (90 homes) employs community managers, maintenance staff, lifestyle coordinators, and administration teams.

According to Regional Development Victoria’s employment impact research, projects creating permanent operational employment deliver 3-5 times greater long-term economic benefit than construction-only developments. Permanent jobs support local businesses, retain young families, and strengthen community viability.

This article examines Nexus’s regional employment creation, why permanent jobs matter more than construction roles, and how property developers can contribute meaningfully to regional economies beyond building projects.

The Construction Employment Myth

Property development generates substantial construction employment, trades, labourers, supervisors, engineers, but these roles are inherently temporary.

Typical residential subdivision employment:

• Construction phase: 30-50 workers for 12-18 months
• Post-completion: 0 permanent jobs

Workers move to the next project. Profit extracts to developers. Regional communities gain housing but no ongoing employment or economic contribution beyond rates revenue.

For metropolitan developers building city projects, this model works because construction activity is continuous across the city. One project completes, workers shift to another nearby. Metropolitan trades can sustain careers without leaving the region.

Regional Victoria differs fundamentally. Construction projects are episodic, not continuous. A Shepparton subdivision employs trades for 18 months, then nothing for years until the next project. Workers cannot sustain careers on sporadic regional projects, they relocate to Melbourne or larger centres, draining regional workforce capacity.

Regional Victoria property developers addressing this require operational assets creating permanent employment: childcare centres, retirement villages, commercial premises, community facilities. These assets require ongoing staffing, creating careers keeping workers and families in regional communities.

Nexus Learning: 45+ Permanent Childcare Jobs

Nexus Learning’s two regional childcare centres employ 45+ permanent staff in Numurkah and Eaglehawk.

Discovery Cove Numurkah (90 places):

• Early childhood educators: 12 positions
• Early childhood teachers: 3 positions
• Centre management: 2 positions
• Kitchen and support staff: 4 positions
• Administration: 2 positions
• Total: 23 permanent jobs

Eaglehawk Centre (100 places):

• Early childhood educators: 14 positions
• Early childhood teachers: 3 positions
• Centre management: 2 positions
• Kitchen and support staff: 5 positions
• Administration: 2 positions
• Total: 26 permanent jobs

These aren’t minimum-wage roles. Early childhood educators earn $60,000-$75,000 annually. Early childhood teachers earn $75,000-$95,000. Management roles range $85,000-$110,000. Combined annual payroll exceeds $3 million flowing into Numurkah and Eaglehawk economies.

Note: All figures mentioned are well-researched estimates and should be independently verified. They are provided for illustrative purposes only.

This employment supports families choosing regional living. Young parents can work locally in quality jobs rather than commuting to larger centres or relocating to Melbourne. This stabilises regional populations whilst providing essential childcare services enabling other parents’ workforce participation.

Nexus Life Shepparton: 25+ Retirement Village Operations

Nexus Life Shepparton (90 homes) requires 25+ permanent staff operating the resort-style retirement village.

Operational roles:

• Village management: 3 positions
• Lifestyle and activities coordinators: 3 positions
• Maintenance and grounds staff: 8 positions
• Administration and reception: 3 positions
• Cafe and hospitality staff: 5 positions
• Security and emergency response: 3 positions
• Total: 25 permanent jobs

These positions range from entry-level hospitality roles ($50,000-$60,000) to senior management ($90,000-$120,000). Annual payroll approaches $1.8 million in direct wages, plus additional economic activity through supplies, services, and contractor engagement.

Note: All figures mentioned are well-researched estimates and should be independently verified. They are provided for illustrative purposes only.

Retirement village operations create diverse employment opportunities: hospitality for younger workers, trades for maintenance staff, management for experienced professionals, lifestyle coordination for recreation specialists. This diversity strengthens regional employment markets.

Beyond Direct Employment: Multiplier Effects

The 70+ direct jobs Nexus creates generate additional indirect employment through economic multiplier effects.

Childcare centre supply chains: Food suppliers, cleaning services, educational resource providers, maintenance contractors, landscaping services. Each childcare centre supports 3-5 indirect jobs through ongoing purchases.

Retirement village services: Medical services, allied health providers, entertainment and activity providers, food and beverage suppliers, maintenance contractors. Each retirement village supports 8-12 indirect jobs.

Combined multiplier effect: 70 direct jobs likely generate 25-35 additional indirect positions across regional supply chains. Total employment impact approaches 95-105 jobs in Shepparton, Numurkah, and Eaglehawk regions.

This economic activity keeps money circulating locally rather than extracting to Melbourne-based developers taking profits without reinvestment.

Why Permanent Jobs Matter More Than Construction

Construction employment matters, especially in regional areas with limited opportunities. But permanent operational employment delivers greater long-term benefit.

Construction jobs (12-18 months):

• Temporary income for workers
• Limited household stability (workers know job ends)
• Families unlikely to relocate for temporary work
• No long-term community investment

Permanent operational jobs (ongoing):

• Stable household income enabling planning
• Workers purchase homes, enrol children in schools
• Families invest in community long-term
• Career progression opportunities retain talent

For regional communities facing population decline and workforce drain to metropolitan areas, permanent employment reverses these trends. Families stay. Young people see career opportunities locally. Communities stabilise and grow.

Regional Investment Beyond Melbourne

Most property developers concentrate in Melbourne where land values, sale prices, and profit margins peak. Regional investment requires accepting lower returns for community benefit.

Nexus deliberately targets regional opportunities:

Shepparton: 90-home retirement village serving regional seniors Numurkah: 90-place childcare centre bringing Montessori education to regional families Eaglehawk: 100-place childcare centre addressing childcare shortage in Bendigo region

These projects generate lower profit margins than equivalent Melbourne developments. Land costs less, but sale prices and rents also sit lower. We accept this because regional communities deserve quality infrastructure and employment opportunities.

Our 20-year commitment to regional Victoria demonstrates values beyond profit maximisation.

Looking Ahead: Expanding Regional Commitment

Nexus continues evaluating regional opportunities for childcare, retirement villages, and other operational assets creating permanent employment.

Our Project Management services and Land Lease options also enable regional landowners partnering with experienced developers delivering community infrastructure they couldn’t develop independently.

Regional Victoria needs private sector investment creating permanent jobs. Government alone cannot address employment challenges. Developers willing to accept metropolitan-comparable returns can meaningfully contribute.

Interested in regional development creating permanent employment? Explore Nexus Learning childcare centres in Numurkah and Eaglehawk, plus Nexus Life Shepparton retirement village delivering quality infrastructure and 70+ permanent regional jobs. Nexus also offers Project Management services and Land Lease options for regional development partnerships. Contact info@nexusdevelopments.com.au or call +61 3 9460 1865.