Full-time equivalent (FTE) employment is modelled by NIEIR and takes into account differences in hours worked between industry sectors. It is a measure that allows direct comparison of employment between industries in Cairns.
Typically, industries such as Retail Trade and Accommodation and Food Services, which employ many part-time workers, have lower FTE employment than total employment.
FTE employment is calculated directly by dividing the total hours worked in each industry by 38. By comparing the number of full-time equivalent jobs in each industry sector to a regional benchmark, you can clearly see the structure of Cairns's economy. This can be done by directly comparing the area to its benchmark, or by using a location quotient to look at the relative size of industries.
FTE employment should be viewed in conjunction with Employment by industry (Total) and Employment by industry (Census), for a full understanding of the industry breakdown in the area. Worker productivity data shows the value of a worker in each industry to the local economy. Employment locations shows where employment is taking place in each industry sector.
Data source
National Economics (NIEIR) - Modelled series
Current benchmark:
Comparison year:
| Full-time equivalent employment by industry sector | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cairns | 2023/24 | 2018/19 | Change | ||||||
| Industry | Number | % | Queensland | Number | % | Queensland | 2018/19 - 2023/24 | ||
| Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing | 1,064 | 1.4 | 2.9 | 1,191 | 1.8 | 3.4 | -127 | ||
| Mining | 408 | 0.6 | 3.2 | 360 | 0.5 | 3.2 | +48 | ||
| Manufacturing | 3,418 | 4.6 | 6.9 | 3,267 | 4.9 | 7.6 | +151 | ||
| Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services | 1,041 | 1.4 | 1.5 | 806 | 1.2 | 1.4 | +235 | ||
| Construction | 6,931 | 9.4 | 11.0 | 8,340 | 12.4 | 11.0 | -1,409 | ||
| Wholesale Trade | 1,692 | 2.3 | 2.7 | 1,859 | 2.8 | 3.2 | -167 | ||
| Retail Trade | 6,022 | 8.2 | 7.7 | 6,362 | 9.5 | 8.3 | -340 | ||
| Accommodation and Food Services | 5,995 | 8.2 | 5.5 | 6,288 | 9.4 | 6.1 | -293 | ||
| Transport, Postal and Warehousing | 5,789 | 7.9 | 6.0 | 4,124 | 6.1 | 6.0 | +1,664 | ||
| Information Media and Telecommunications | 386 | 0.5 | 1.2 | 553 | 0.8 | 1.4 | -167 | ||
| Financial and Insurance Services | 907 | 1.2 | 2.7 | 1,005 | 1.5 | 2.6 | -98 | ||
| Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services | 1,341 | 1.8 | 1.8 | 1,371 | 2.0 | 1.9 | -30 | ||
| Professional, Scientific and Technical Services | 4,136 | 5.6 | 8.1 | 3,026 | 4.5 | 7.0 | +1,110 | ||
| Administrative and Support Services | 3,293 | 4.5 | 3.0 | 2,353 | 3.5 | 3.2 | +940 | ||
| Public Administration and Safety | 5,626 | 7.6 | 7.0 | 5,278 | 7.9 | 6.9 | +348 | ||
| Education and Training | 6,972 | 9.5 | 8.6 | 5,776 | 8.6 | 8.4 | +1,196 | ||
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 14,185 | 19.3 | 14.9 | 10,404 | 15.5 | 13.0 | +3,781 | ||
| Arts and Recreation Services | 922 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 1,278 | 1.9 | 1.5 | -356 | ||
| Other Services | 3,422 | 4.7 | 4.0 | 3,438 | 5.1 | 4.1 | -16 | ||
| Total industries | 73,549 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 67,079 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +6,470 | ||
Source: National Institute of Economic and Industry Research (NIEIR) ©2025. Compiled and presented in economy.id by .id (informed decisions). NIEIR-ID data are adjusted each year, using updated employment estimates. Each release may change previous years’ figures. Learn more Please refer to specific data notes for more information | |||||||||
Dominant groups
An analysis of the jobs held by the full-time equivalent local workers in Cairns in 2023/24 shows the three largest industries were:
- Health Care and Social Assistance (14,185 people or 19.3%)
- Education and Training (6,972 people or 9.5%)
- Construction (6,931 people or 9.4%)
In combination these three fields accounted for 28,088 people in total or 38.2% of the local workers.
In comparison, Queensland employed 14.9% in Health Care and Social Assistance; 8.6% in Education and Training and 11.0% in Construction.
The major differences between the jobs held by the full-time equivalent local workers of Cairns and Queensland were:
- A larger percentage of full-time equivalent local workers employed in Health Care and Social Assistance (19.3% compared to 14.9%)
- A larger percentage of full-time equivalent local workers employed in Accommodation and Food Services (8.2% compared to 5.5%)
- A smaller percentage of full-time equivalent local workers employed in Mining (0.6% compared to 3.2%)
- A smaller percentage of full-time equivalent local workers employed in Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (5.6% compared to 8.1%)
Emerging groups
The number of full-time equivalent local workers in Cairns increased by increased by 6,470 between 2018/19 and 2023/24.
The largest changes in the jobs held by the full-time equivalent local workers between 2018/19 and 2023/24 in Cairns were for those employed in:
- Health Care and Social Assistance (+3,781 full-time equivalent local workers)
- Transport, Postal and Warehousing (+1,664 full-time equivalent local workers)
- Education and Training (+1,196 full-time equivalent local workers)
- Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (+1,110 full-time equivalent local workers)