Local sales by industry measures the output of local industries that is sold locally. This includes sales to local consumers, businesses and other organisations.
To get the full picture how each industry sector contributes to the regional or state economy, local sales data should be viewed alongside the other industry characteristics in the Industry sector analysis section.
Detailed notes about how the figures are derived can be found in the specific topic notes section.
Data source
National Economics (NIEIR) - Modelled series
Current benchmark:
Comparison year:
| Local sales by industry sector | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cairns - Constant prices | 2023/24 | 2018/19 | Change | ||||||
| Industry | $m | % | Queensland | $m | % | Queensland | 2018/19 - 2023/24 | ||
| Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing | 252.0 | 1.7 | 1.6 | 180.0 | 1.3 | 1.8 | +72.0 | ||
| Mining | 85.4 | 0.6 | 5.2 | 69.4 | 0.5 | 2.1 | +16.0 | ||
| Manufacturing | 1,017.1 | 6.7 | 7.5 | 960.0 | 7.1 | 8.9 | +57.2 | ||
| Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services | 791.9 | 5.3 | 4.4 | 589.4 | 4.4 | 4.0 | +202.4 | ||
| Construction | 2,877.8 | 19.1 | 22.1 | 3,340.4 | 24.7 | 24.6 | -462.5 | ||
| Wholesale Trade | 505.0 | 3.3 | 3.2 | 446.6 | 3.3 | 3.5 | +58.5 | ||
| Retail Trade | 786.6 | 5.2 | 4.5 | 713.1 | 5.3 | 4.7 | +73.5 | ||
| Accommodation and Food Services | 472.5 | 3.1 | 2.8 | 353.2 | 2.6 | 2.6 | +119.3 | ||
| Transport, Postal and Warehousing | 1,085.2 | 7.2 | 6.1 | 888.9 | 6.6 | 6.4 | +196.3 | ||
| Information Media and Telecommunications | 155.3 | 1.0 | 2.2 | 164.9 | 1.2 | 2.2 | -9.7 | ||
| Financial and Insurance Services | 462.0 | 3.1 | 5.2 | 495.0 | 3.7 | 5.6 | -33.0 | ||
| Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services | 774.7 | 5.1 | 4.6 | 667.2 | 4.9 | 4.5 | +107.4 | ||
| Professional, Scientific and Technical Services | 986.8 | 6.5 | 7.2 | 741.3 | 5.5 | 7.2 | +245.5 | ||
| Administrative and Support Services | 670.0 | 4.4 | 3.5 | 580.5 | 4.3 | 3.7 | +89.5 | ||
| Public Administration and Safety | 1,232.3 | 8.2 | 4.9 | 1,056.9 | 7.8 | 4.6 | +175.4 | ||
| Education and Training | 733.3 | 4.9 | 3.7 | 593.0 | 4.4 | 3.7 | +140.4 | ||
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 1,620.5 | 10.7 | 8.0 | 1,213.9 | 9.0 | 7.3 | +406.6 | ||
| Arts and Recreation Services | 229.4 | 1.5 | 1.2 | 211.5 | 1.6 | 1.0 | +17.9 | ||
| Other Services | 343.3 | 2.3 | 2.0 | 260.3 | 1.9 | 1.7 | +83.0 | ||
| Total industries | 15,081.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 13,525.4 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +1,555.6 | ||
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. Note: All $ values are expressed in 2022/23 base year dollar terms. NIEIR-ID data are inflation adjusted each year to allow direct comparison, and annual data releases adjust previous years’ figures to a new base year.Learn more | |||||||||
Dominant groups
An analysis of the local sales by industry sectors in Cairns in 2023/24 shows the three largest industries were:
- Construction ($2,878million or 19.1%)
- Health Care and Social Assistance ($1,621million or 10.7%)
- Public Administration and Safety ($1,232million or 8.2%)
In combination these three industries accounted for $5,731 million in total or 38.0% of the total local sales by total industry in the Cairns.
In comparison, the same 3 industries in Queensland accounted for 22.1% in Construction; 8.0% in Health Care and Social Assistance and 4.9% in Public Administration and Safety.
The major differences between local sales by industries of Cairns and Queensland were:
- A smaller percentage of local sales by Mining (0.6% compared to 5.2%)
- A larger percentage of local sales by Public Administration and Safety (8.2% compared to 4.9%)
- A smaller percentage of local sales by Construction (19.1% compared to 22.1%)
- A larger percentage of local sales by Health Care and Social Assistance (10.7% compared to 8.0%)
Emerging groups
The total local sales by industry in Cairns $increased by 1,556 million between 2018/19 and 2023/24.
The largest changes in the local sales by industries between 2018/19 and 2023/24 in Cairns were for:
- Construction (-$463 million)
- Health Care and Social Assistance (+$407 million)
- Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (+$245 million)
- Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services (+$202 million)