Cairns Economy Snapshot: The Data Statistics and Numbers Behind the Story

The Cairns region recorded a Gross Regional Product of $11.46 billion, reflecting a 5.06 per cent increase from the previous year.

Regional Output and Scale

This output figure establishes the overall size of economic activity across the Cairns area. The data comes directly from local government economic tracking and provides a baseline for understanding total production value generated within the region.

Workforce Indicators

Local employment reached 88,563 jobs after 4.86 per cent growth. The estimated resident population stands at 175,000. Unemployment stood at 2.8 per cent in the Cairns Local Government Area as of March 2024, while the Cairns Chamber of Commerce reported a trend rate of 4.5 per cent in January 2026. These numbers together show the labour market position at different points in recent reporting periods.

Major Sectors

Healthcare and Social Assistance ranks as the largest industry by employment and contributes 19 per cent of the economy by dollar value. Tourism generates approximately $2.5 billion in annual revenue and employs around 15,000 people. Construction ranks as the second-largest employer and supports more local businesses than any other industry. These sector details come from economic profiles compiled by id and chamber monitoring.

Business and Building Activity

The region supports 14,800-plus registered businesses. Building approvals reached $297 million for the 2024-25 financial year. These counts and values track the level of commercial registration and construction-related investment recorded in official statistics.

Residents and businesses can review the latest chamber economic monitor reports for ongoing updates on these indicators. The figures provide a factual basis for tracking changes in output, jobs and key industries without additional assumptions.