Cairns

Worker productivity

In Cairns, Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services had the highest productivity by industry, generating $347,501 per worker in 2021/22.

Worker productivity by industry is calculated by dividing the industry value add by the number of persons employed in that industry. It shows which industries generate the most value add per employee. Some industry sectors, such as retail trade, are not highly productive per worker, but they employ a lot of people. Other industries, such as mining, employ fewer people but generate high levels of productivity. Each plays an important role in the economy.

Worker productivity data should be viewed in conjunction with Employment by industry (Total)and Employment by industry (FTE), to see the relative size of employment in each industry, and with Local workers income to see how many local workers are actually each in each industry, and with Sources of income data to see whether employment is the main way income is derived.

Detailed notes about how the figures are derived can be found in the specific topic notes section. National Economics (NIEIR) - Modelled series

Data source

National Economics (NIEIR) - Modelled series

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Productivity per worker (annual) by industry
Cairns - Constant prices2021/222016/17Change
Industry$Queensland$$Queensland$ 2016/17 - 2021/22
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing181,703195,122147,621168,670+34,082
Mining252,587376,397298,734428,959-46,147
Manufacturing114,064126,518123,537137,806-9,473
Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services347,501330,475381,792371,837-34,291
Construction99,044120,53799,355128,901-311
Wholesale Trade160,162183,977160,406181,783-243
Retail Trade69,54574,11364,48068,050+5,065
Accommodation and Food Services45,93948,40156,38452,293-10,444
Transport, Postal and Warehousing127,947142,645178,916161,599-50,969
Information Media and Telecommunications166,620172,607106,807117,679+59,813
Financial and Insurance Services293,671295,519296,545319,263-2,874
Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services189,315223,207188,438213,133+877
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services113,799129,913120,020130,041-6,221
Administrative and Support Services127,499147,883122,497132,242+5,002
Public Administration and Safety119,250119,057113,080113,772+6,170
Education and Training79,93079,75275,21083,221+4,720
Health Care and Social Assistance81,84880,05677,00676,356+4,842
Arts and Recreation Services68,43877,87257,56958,028+10,869
Other Services72,41170,77467,81171,430+4,600
Total worker productivity101,246122,025104,262123,574-3,015

Source: National Institute of Economic and Industry Research (NIEIR) ©2023. ©2023. Compiled and presented in economy.id by .id (informed decisions). Data are based on a 2020-21 price base for all years. NIEIR-ID data are inflation adjusted each year to allow direct comparison, and annual data releases adjust previous years’ figures to a new base year.Learn more

Please refer to specific data notes for more information
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Dominant groups

An analysis of the jobs held by the full-time equivalent local workers in Cairns in 2021/22 shows the three highest industries were:

  • Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services ($347,501)
  • Financial and Insurance Services ($293,671)
  • Mining ($252,587)

In comparison, the same 3 industries in Queensland were for $330,475 in Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services; $295,519 in Financial and Insurance Services and $376,397 in Mining.

The major differences between the jobs held by the full-time equivalent local workers of Cairns and Queensland were:

  • A lower worker productivity in Construction ($99,044 compared to $120,537)
  • A lower worker productivity in Wholesale Trade ($160,162 compared to $183,977)
  • A lower worker productivity in Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services ($189,315 compared to $223,207)
  • A lower worker productivity in Mining ($252,587 compared to $376,397)

Emerging groups

The total worker productivity by industry in Cairns decreased by -3,015 between 2016/17 and 2021/22.

The largest changes in worker productivity by industries between 2016/17 and 2021/22 in Cairns were for those employed in:

  • Information Media and Telecommunications (+$59,813)
  • Transport, Postal and Warehousing (-$50,969)
  • Mining (-$46,147)
  • Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services (-$34,291)

Cairns Regional Council

economic profile