Employment
Industry sector of employment
About this topic
Industry sector of employment shows the industry in which employed residents work, based on the main business activity of their employer. It describes the sectors residents are connected to through work, whether they work locally or commute elsewhere.
This topic helps explain the economic profile and skill base of a resident workforce. It is best read together with occupations, employment status, and travel to work, because it reflects resident employment rather than the number of jobs located in the area.
Interpretation notes
- Industry describes the main business activity of the employer in a person's main job, not the occupation they perform.
- It applies to employed people aged 15 years and over and reflects resident workers, not the number of jobs located in the area.
Key insight
In 2021, Accommodation And Food Services was the most common industry of employment among employed residents in Cairns City, accounting for 23.5% (302 people). This share was higher than Cairns (R) (9.9%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Accommodation And Food Services, which increased by 299 people and 13.5 percentage points.
Section overview
Industry sector of employment
Cairns City - Employed persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises industry sector of employment for Cairns City in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Cairns (R) and change since 2016.
Industry sector of employment snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Cairns City, with comparison markers for Cairns (R).
Agriculture Forestry And Fishing
2021 count
19
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
-35.2pp
19
1.5%
-35.2pp
Mining
2021 count
23
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
23
1.8%
+1.8pp
Manufacturing
2021 count
24
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
+1.9pp
24
1.9%
+1.9pp
Electricity Gas Water And Waste Services
2021 count
10
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
10
0.8%
+0.8pp
Construction
2021 count
73
% of total
5.7%
Change from 2016
+5.7pp
73
5.7%
+5.7pp
Wholesale Trade
2021 count
22
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
22
1.7%
+1.7pp
Retail Trade
2021 count
96
% of total
7.5%
Change from 2016
-2.5pp
96
7.5%
-2.5pp
Accommodation And Food Services
2021 count
302
% of total
23.5%
Change from 2016
+13.5pp
302
23.5%
+13.5pp
Transport Postal And Warehousing
2021 count
71
% of total
5.5%
Change from 2016
+5.5pp
71
5.5%
+5.5pp
Information Media And Telecommunications
2021 count
7
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
7
0.5%
+0.5pp
Financial And Insurance Services
2021 count
19
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
19
1.5%
+1.5pp
Rental Hiring And Real Estate Services
2021 count
38
% of total
3.0%
Change from 2016
+3.0pp
38
3.0%
+3.0pp
Professional Scientific And Technical Services
2021 count
70
% of total
5.4%
Change from 2016
+5.4pp
70
5.4%
+5.4pp
Administrative And Support Services
2021 count
54
% of total
4.2%
Change from 2016
+4.2pp
54
4.2%
+4.2pp
Public Administration And Safety
2021 count
68
% of total
5.3%
Change from 2016
+5.3pp
68
5.3%
+5.3pp
Education And Training
2021 count
47
% of total
3.7%
Change from 2016
-6.3pp
47
3.7%
-6.3pp
Health Care And Social Assistance
2021 count
215
% of total
16.7%
Change from 2016
+16.7pp
215
16.7%
+16.7pp
Arts And Recreation Services
2021 count
23
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
23
1.8%
+1.8pp
Other Services
2021 count
43
% of total
3.3%
Change from 2016
+3.3pp
43
3.3%
+3.3pp
Inadequately Described Not Stated
2021 count
45
% of total
3.5%
Change from 2016
+3.5pp
45
3.5%
+3.5pp
Chart view
Industry sector of employment change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Agriculture Forestry And Fishing
+8
-35.2pp
Mining
+23
+1.8pp
Manufacturing
+24
+1.9pp
Electricity Gas Water And Waste Services
+10
+0.8pp
Construction
+73
+5.7pp
Wholesale Trade
+22
+1.7pp
Retail Trade
+93
-2.5pp
Accommodation And Food Services
+299
+13.5pp
Transport Postal And Warehousing
+71
+5.5pp
Information Media And Telecommunications
+7
+0.5pp
Financial And Insurance Services
+19
+1.5pp
Rental Hiring And Real Estate Services
+38
+3.0pp
Professional Scientific And Technical Services
+70
+5.4pp
Administrative And Support Services
+54
+4.2pp
Public Administration And Safety
+68
+5.3pp
Education And Training
+44
-6.3pp
Health Care And Social Assistance
+215
+16.7pp
Arts And Recreation Services
+23
+1.8pp
Other Services
+43
+3.3pp
Inadequately Described Not Stated
+45
+3.5pp
Data table
Industry sector of employment for Cairns City. Industry sector of employment. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Cairns (R).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Cairns (R)% | Count | % | Cairns (R)% | Count | pp | |
| Agriculture Forestry And Fishing | 19 | 1.5% | 1.6% | 11 | 36.7% | 1.6% | +8 | -35.2pp |
| Mining | 23 | 1.8% | 1.7% | 0 | 0.0% | 1.5% | +23 | +1.8pp |
| Manufacturing | 24 | 1.9% | 3.6% | 0 | 0.0% | 3.7% | +24 | +1.9pp |
| Electricity Gas Water And Waste Services | 10 | 0.8% | 1.1% | 0 | 0.0% | 0.9% | +10 | +0.8pp |
| Construction | 73 | 5.7% | 8.7% | 0 | 0.0% | 8.1% | +73 | +5.7pp |
| Wholesale Trade | 22 | 1.7% | 2.1% | 0 | 0.0% | 2.4% | +22 | +1.7pp |
| Retail Trade | 96 | 7.5% | 9.7% | 3 | 10.0% | 10.6% | +93 | -2.5pp |
| Accommodation And Food Services | 302 | 23.5% | 9.9% | 3 | 10.0% | 10.0% | +299 | +13.5pp |
| Transport Postal And Warehousing | 71 | 5.5% | 5.6% | 0 | 0.0% | 6.3% | +71 | +5.5pp |
| Information Media And Telecommunications | 7 | 0.5% | 0.6% | 0 | 0.0% | 0.8% | +7 | +0.5pp |
| Financial And Insurance Services | 19 | 1.5% | 1.3% | 0 | 0.0% | 1.5% | +19 | +1.5pp |
| Rental Hiring And Real Estate Services | 38 | 3.0% | 1.7% | 0 | 0.0% | 2.0% | +38 | +3.0pp |
| Professional Scientific And Technical Services | 70 | 5.4% | 4.7% | 0 | 0.0% | 4.7% | +70 | +5.4pp |
| Administrative And Support Services | 54 | 4.2% | 3.6% | 0 | 0.0% | 4.3% | +54 | +4.2pp |
| Public Administration And Safety | 68 | 5.3% | 7.3% | 0 | 0.0% | 8.0% | +68 | +5.3pp |
| Education And Training | 47 | 3.7% | 8.9% | 3 | 10.0% | 9.0% | +44 | -6.3pp |
| Health Care And Social Assistance | 215 | 16.7% | 18.1% | 0 | 0.0% | 14.4% | +215 | +16.7pp |
| Arts And Recreation Services | 23 | 1.8% | 1.6% | 0 | 0.0% | 2.0% | +23 | +1.8pp |
| Other Services | 43 | 3.3% | 4.5% | 0 | 0.0% | 4.2% | +43 | +3.3pp |
| Inadequately Described Not Stated | 45 | 3.5% | 3.7% | 0 | 0.0% | 3.9% | +45 | +3.5pp |
| Total | 1,285 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 30 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +1,255 | 0.0pp |