Employment
Industries
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.
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 Health Care And Social Assistance, which increased by 51 people and 2.9 percentage points.
Section overview
Industry sector of employment
Cairns City - Employed persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises industries 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
Mining
Manufacturing
Electricity Gas Water And Waste Services
Construction
Wholesale Trade
Retail Trade
Accommodation And Food Services
Transport Postal And Warehousing
Information Media And Telecommunications
Financial And Insurance Services
Rental Hiring And Real Estate Services
Professional Scientific And Technical Services
Administrative And Support Services
Public Administration And Safety
Education And Training
Health Care And Social Assistance
Arts And Recreation Services
Other Services
Inadequately Described Not Stated
Chart view
Industry sector of employment change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Agriculture Forestry And Fishing
-1
-0.2pp
Mining
+9
+0.6pp
Manufacturing
+1
0.0pp
Electricity Gas Water And Waste Services
+2
+0.1pp
Construction
+22
+1.4pp
Wholesale Trade
+7
+0.4pp
Retail Trade
-23
-2.5pp
Accommodation And Food Services
+45
+1.9pp
Transport Postal And Warehousing
0
-0.5pp
Information Media And Telecommunications
-3
-0.3pp
Financial And Insurance Services
-16
-1.4pp
Rental Hiring And Real Estate Services
-10
-1.0pp
Professional Scientific And Technical Services
+2
-0.3pp
Administrative And Support Services
-2
-0.5pp
Public Administration And Safety
+2
-0.3pp
Education And Training
-11
-1.2pp
Health Care And Social Assistance
+51
+2.9pp
Arts And Recreation Services
-9
-0.9pp
Other Services
+6
+0.2pp
Inadequately Described Not Stated
-9
-1.0pp
Data table
Industries 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% | 20 | 1.7% | 1.6% | -1 | -0.2pp |
| Mining | 23 | 1.8% | 1.7% | 14 | 1.2% | 1.5% | +9 | +0.6pp |
| Manufacturing | 24 | 1.9% | 3.6% | 23 | 1.9% | 3.7% | +1 | 0.0pp |
| Electricity Gas Water And Waste Services | 10 | 0.8% | 1.1% | 8 | 0.7% | 0.9% | +2 | +0.1pp |
| Construction | 73 | 5.7% | 8.7% | 51 | 4.3% | 8.1% | +22 | +1.4pp |
| Wholesale Trade | 22 | 1.7% | 2.1% | 15 | 1.3% | 2.4% | +7 | +0.4pp |
| Retail Trade | 96 | 7.5% | 9.7% | 119 | 10.0% | 10.6% | -23 | -2.5pp |
| Accommodation And Food Services | 302 | 23.5% | 9.9% | 257 | 21.6% | 10.0% | +45 | +1.9pp |
| Transport Postal And Warehousing | 71 | 5.5% | 5.6% | 71 | 6.0% | 6.3% | 0 | -0.5pp |
| Information Media And Telecommunications | 7 | 0.5% | 0.6% | 10 | 0.8% | 0.8% | -3 | -0.3pp |
| Financial And Insurance Services | 19 | 1.5% | 1.3% | 35 | 2.9% | 1.5% | -16 | -1.4pp |
| Rental Hiring And Real Estate Services | 38 | 3.0% | 1.7% | 48 | 4.0% | 2.0% | -10 | -1.0pp |
| Professional Scientific And Technical Services | 70 | 5.4% | 4.7% | 68 | 5.7% | 4.7% | +2 | -0.3pp |
| Administrative And Support Services | 54 | 4.2% | 3.6% | 56 | 4.7% | 4.3% | -2 | -0.5pp |
| Public Administration And Safety | 68 | 5.3% | 7.3% | 66 | 5.6% | 8.0% | +2 | -0.3pp |
| Education And Training | 47 | 3.7% | 8.9% | 58 | 4.9% | 9.0% | -11 | -1.2pp |
| Health Care And Social Assistance | 215 | 16.7% | 18.1% | 164 | 13.8% | 14.4% | +51 | +2.9pp |
| Arts And Recreation Services | 23 | 1.8% | 1.6% | 32 | 2.7% | 2.0% | -9 | -0.9pp |
| Other Services | 43 | 3.3% | 4.5% | 37 | 3.1% | 4.2% | +6 | +0.2pp |
| Inadequately Described Not Stated | 45 | 3.5% | 3.7% | 54 | 4.5% | 3.9% | -9 | -1.0pp |
| Total | 1,285 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 1,189 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +96 | 0.0pp |