Cairns

Worker productivity

In Cairns, Mining had the highest productivity by industry, generating $1,058,563 per worker in 2022/23.

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 prices2022/232008/09Change
Industry$Regional QLD$$Regional QLD$ 2008/09 - 2022/23
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing207,058225,632147,230179,506+59,828
Mining1,058,5631,332,8491,004,8701,259,387+53,693
Manufacturing112,307128,742109,362111,481+2,946
Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services306,301287,453372,972351,529-66,670
Construction98,669112,243102,204124,130-3,536
Wholesale Trade188,805208,824124,051134,008+64,754
Retail Trade73,94570,38257,13455,999+16,811
Accommodation and Food Services62,94960,66260,06154,630+2,887
Transport, Postal and Warehousing161,198148,672128,377131,897+32,821
Information Media and Telecommunications181,550168,78884,42979,946+97,120
Financial and Insurance Services294,199275,931274,913252,627+19,286
Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services260,372261,906162,546167,076+97,825
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services116,996117,664100,61099,419+16,385
Administrative and Support Services154,203137,090134,081117,791+20,122
Public Administration and Safety139,247115,457122,507114,226+16,740
Education and Training72,66976,02090,16990,686-17,500
Health Care and Social Assistance76,98180,98777,22575,834-243
Arts and Recreation Services69,79666,54777,35567,405-7,560
Other Services82,18074,47973,11670,265+9,064
Total worker productivity111,704160,265104,809145,769+6,896

Source: National Institute of Economic and Industry Research (NIEIR) ©2024. ©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 2022/23 shows the three highest industries were:

  • Mining ($1,058,563)
  • Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services ($306,301)
  • Financial and Insurance Services ($294,199)

In comparison, the same 3 industries in Regional QLD were for $1,332,849 in Mining; $287,453 in Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services and $275,931 in Financial and Insurance Services.

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

  • A higher worker productivity in Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services ($306,301 compared to $287,453)
  • A lower worker productivity in Wholesale Trade ($188,805 compared to $208,824)
  • A higher worker productivity in Public Administration and Safety ($139,247 compared to $115,457)
  • A lower worker productivity in Mining ($1,058,563 compared to $1,332,849)

Emerging groups

The total worker productivity by industry in Cairns increased by $6,896 between 2008/09 and 2022/23.

The largest changes in worker productivity by industries between 2008/09 and 2022/23 in Cairns were for those employed in:

  • Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services (+$97,825)
  • Information Media and Telecommunications (+$97,120)
  • Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services (-$66,670)
  • Wholesale Trade (+$64,754)

Cairns Regional Council

economic profile