More jobs are being created in Victoria than in the rest of the country combined, according to a new report by Deloitte Access Economics (DAE) that predicts greater than anticipated growth in 2017-18, underpinned by strong household consumption and private engineering investment.

Almost all of the jobs created in Australia over the past year were created in Victoria, with transport infrastructure projects employing over $48 billion of engineering activity.

Such projects, either planned or underway, are evidently generating population growth while creating jobs. These include building the Metro Tunnel, the West Gate Tunnel, and removing 50 dangerous and congested level crossings – all of which create jobs and drive more economic activity and productivity.

“Victoria is once again the jobs state and the engine room of the national economy,” Treasurer Tim Pallas said. “This jobs growth is happening while we continue to invest in the services that matter to Victorians, including better schools and classrooms, more nurses and paramedics, and more police.”

DAE also notes that a lower exchange rate and higher population growth are assisting Victoria’s economic growth with the state’s manufacturing, education and farm sectors all benefiting.

Having invested earlier and better in infrastructure than much of the rest of Australia, house and land packages on the outskirts of Melbourne are more affordable than their equivalents in Sydney, Brisbane and Perth.