RDA Darling Downs and South West Region
Employment by industry (FTE)
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 the RDA Darling Downs and South West Region.
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 the RDA Darling Downs and South West Region'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 area:
Current benchmark:
Comparison year:
| Full-time equivalent employment by industry sector | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RDA Darling Downs and South West Region | 2023/24 | 2018/19 | Change | ||||||
| Industry | Number | % | Queensland | Number | % | Queensland | 2018/19 - 2023/24 | ||
| Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing | 17,045 | 13.1 | 2.9 | 16,226 | 13.3 | 3.4 | +819 | ||
| Mining | 5,249 | 4.0 | 3.2 | 4,961 | 4.1 | 3.2 | +288 | ||
| Manufacturing | 8,687 | 6.7 | 6.9 | 8,335 | 6.9 | 7.6 | +351 | ||
| Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services | 3,121 | 2.4 | 1.5 | 2,738 | 2.3 | 1.4 | +383 | ||
| Construction | 14,692 | 11.3 | 11.0 | 13,383 | 11.0 | 11.0 | +1,308 | ||
| Wholesale Trade | 2,915 | 2.2 | 2.7 | 3,224 | 2.6 | 3.2 | -309 | ||
| Retail Trade | 9,411 | 7.2 | 7.7 | 9,623 | 7.9 | 8.3 | -212 | ||
| Accommodation and Food Services | 6,049 | 4.7 | 5.5 | 6,872 | 5.6 | 6.1 | -823 | ||
| Transport, Postal and Warehousing | 6,801 | 5.2 | 6.0 | 5,989 | 4.9 | 6.0 | +811 | ||
| Information Media and Telecommunications | 578 | 0.4 | 1.2 | 722 | 0.6 | 1.4 | -145 | ||
| Financial and Insurance Services | 2,332 | 1.8 | 2.7 | 2,312 | 1.9 | 2.6 | +20 | ||
| Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services | 1,727 | 1.3 | 1.8 | 1,361 | 1.1 | 1.9 | +366 | ||
| Professional, Scientific and Technical Services | 5,433 | 4.2 | 8.1 | 4,878 | 4.0 | 7.0 | +555 | ||
| Administrative and Support Services | 2,359 | 1.8 | 3.0 | 2,112 | 1.7 | 3.2 | +247 | ||
| Public Administration and Safety | 6,788 | 5.2 | 7.0 | 7,142 | 5.9 | 6.9 | -354 | ||
| Education and Training | 11,744 | 9.0 | 8.6 | 10,306 | 8.5 | 8.4 | +1,438 | ||
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 18,496 | 14.2 | 14.9 | 15,927 | 13.1 | 13.0 | +2,568 | ||
| Arts and Recreation Services | 948 | 0.7 | 1.4 | 829 | 0.7 | 1.5 | +119 | ||
| Other Services | 5,669 | 4.4 | 4.0 | 4,728 | 3.9 | 4.1 | +941 | ||
| Total industries | 130,043 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 121,669 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +8,374 | ||
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 the RDA Darling Downs and South West Region in 2023/24 shows the three largest industries were:
- Health Care and Social Assistance (18,496 people or 14.2%)
- Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing (17,045 people or 13.1%)
- Construction (14,692 people or 11.3%)
In combination these three fields accounted for 50,232 people in total or 38.6% of the local workers.
In comparison, Queensland employed 14.9% in Health Care and Social Assistance; 2.9% in Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing and 11.0% in Construction.
The major differences between the jobs held by the full-time equivalent local workers of the RDA Darling Downs and South West Region and Queensland were:
- A larger percentage of full-time equivalent local workers employed in Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing (13.1% compared to 2.9%)
- A smaller percentage of full-time equivalent local workers employed in Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (4.2% compared to 8.1%)
- A smaller percentage of full-time equivalent local workers employed in Public Administration and Safety (5.2% compared to 7.0%)
- A smaller percentage of full-time equivalent local workers employed in Administrative and Support Services (1.8% compared to 3.0%)
Emerging groups
The number of full-time equivalent local workers in the RDA Darling Downs and South West Region increased by increased by 8,374 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 the RDA Darling Downs and South West Region were for those employed in:
- Health Care and Social Assistance (+2,568 full-time equivalent local workers)
- Education and Training (+1,438 full-time equivalent local workers)
- Construction (+1,308 full-time equivalent local workers)
- Other Services (+941 full-time equivalent local workers)