8.2% ▼ -15.3%
Higher than 89% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
- 2011: 9.6%
- 2016: 9.3%
- 2021: 8.2%
Unemployed people as a share of the labour force (aged 15+).
Cairns City · Statistical Area 2 (SA2)
Jobs & Industry in Cairns City
Work across the area — who is in the labour force, in which industries and jobs.
A high unemployment rate of 8.2% marks the job market in Cairns City, which is well above the national figure. While many people work in the city, those who are working or looking for work make up a much smaller share of the adult population than in most other areas.
Labour force
Employment, participation and unemployment.
Only 54.8% of adults are working or looking for work, a figure well below the national average. Full-time employment has also dropped significantly, falling 10 points since 2011 to 56.9%.
54.8% ▼ -6.7%
Lower than 76% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
- 2011: 58.7%
- 2016: 57.6%
- 2021: 54.8%
Share of people aged 15+ who are in the labour force.
56.9% ▼ -15.5%
Lower than 66% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
- 2011: 67.3%
- 2016: 62.8%
- 2021: 56.9%
Share of employed people who worked full-time.
Industries
The industries that employ local workers.
Employment is heavily concentrated in two sectors, with 20.5% of people working in accommodation and food and 19.9% in health care and social assistance.
Occupations
The kinds of jobs people do.
Professionals make up the largest group of workers at 23.6%, followed by community and personal service workers who account for 18.8% of the workforce.
Sources
- Census of Population and Housing — Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2021 (CC BY 4.0).
More for Cairns City
Cite this page
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Jobs & Industry in Cairns City [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/306021145/cairns-city/topic/employment