We're a happy lot!

Great Southern residents are some of the happiest and safest in the State, a regional lifestyle survey has found.

The results of the 2013 Living in the Regions survey also revealed the region polled highly in volunteer participation and community connection.

Statewide, the survey found the longer people had lived in a regional area, the more likely they were happier and felt safer.

The survey also found the Great Southern had the largest proportion of residents who had lived for more than 21 years in a regional area.

However, their financial position was at the second lowest compared to the rest of the State while employment prospects in the Great Southern came in as below average.

ATC Work Smart recruitment consultant Greg Hunter said the job market had been quiet for the past six months.

“(There are) more people looking for work than there are jobs and that’s in all areas from labour, to hospitality, to retail,” he said. “We’re hoping building and road construction will pick in the next month or so – that’s what we’re hoping.

Mr Hunter said the issue could be fixed if governments brought more big industries to the city.

“That’s the main problem, we don’t have enough big industry, and that affects the whole town,” he said.

Residents also ranked Great Southern education and training opportunities at the third highest in the State, with the South West and Peel

Only 19 per cent of the region’s residents were seriously considering moving out of the Great Southern, compared to 58 per cent of Pilbara residents and the region was the second highest ranking location for people to move to from around WA.

Regional Development Minister Terry Redman said the results gave the State Government a much clearer perspective on what experiences and desires were driving residents in regional WA.