More to Cairns than tourism
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Healthcare and social assistance is Cairns' biggest employer
Tourism has always been a huge part of the Cairns local economy, but contrary to popular perception, Cairns has one of the most diverse economies in Australia.
Figures from the National Institute of Economic and Industry Research, show that Health Care and Social Assistance is the largest employer in Cairns, accounting for 16% of employment in 2002/21. Construction is close behind at 11%,.
Retail, education and training, public administration, transport, manufacturing and professional service industries are also well-established employers.
As the capital of Far North Queensland, Cairns is the primary service centre for the wider region, which has established
economic strengths in Mining, Renewable Energy, and Agriculture.
Cairns has an opportunity to both benefit from and add value to these industries.
Tradies in demand in Cairns - try the construction industry or relocate your business
Currently, tradespeople are like gold dust so if that’s your industry, you will likely be spoilt for choice. Job vacancies in the 'trades and services' categories are consistently topping the list of available jobs advertised in Far North Queensland in early 2021.
Cairns Regional Council has also reported in February 2021 that a strong demand for construction in Cairns had been ongoing for several months; there's been a 71% increase in new dwelling approvals in the 20/21 financial year, compared with the same period last year. Significant private sector investment in Cairns is also delivering economic growth.
Vibrant start-up culture and online business hub
If you’ve been itching to start a business, give it a go in Cairns. You’ll find all the support you need right here and with a smaller population, there is a little less competition, giving your product or service a greater chance to shine. The work-from-home and online business culture in Cairns is strong. Last time the State Government measured the state's start-up scene, Cairns had the highest number of start-ups per capita of Queensland's regions (1 for every 5300 people). We also have many new, established and innovative co-working spaces where people can find support for new ideas and build networks.
Smart, green and innovative
Cairns is taking steps to position itself as the obvious location to lead the development of Australia's smart green economy. With many innovative local businesses already making a difference to the planet and the economy, Cairns is a region that supports a strong collective of professionals, scientists and innovators with a focus on promoting sustainable living, energy and working solutions.
Our natural world is what makes life great for many Cairns folk, and we're determined to protect it. Cairns has a competitive advantage in this growth area, with plentiful renewable resources, along with our deep desire to protect our natural assets.
Tourism - a strong and hopeful future
International tourism activity has been severely impacted by COVID-19 around the world and Cairns is no exception. In 2022, we are seeing increased traffic through the Cairns airport and increasing spending in our city.
Domestic passenger numbers returned to pre-COVID levels in April 2022, averaging more than 80,000 passenger movements per week.
While international travel remains well below pre-pandemic levels, in a sign of improvement, close to 1000 passengers passed through the international airport in the week beginning 26 April 2022, the most since March 2020
Cairns is one of few places in the world where two World Heritage areas meet. We are the gateway to many amazing sights, experiences and big nature on both land and sea. We have an advantage over many of our competitor destinations because our natural assets are unique, significant and have timeless appeal.
Australian travellers have been visiting Cairns in greater numbers since borders were shut. According to the December 2020 Conus report, intrastate expenditure is up 62%. Whilst the mix of visitors may have changed, tourism is still a vital part of our region.
Confidence in the future of the tourism and industry in Cairns can be seen in the substantial works taking place at key infrastructure around Cairns in 2020-21, which is creating opportunities in the construction industry.
The Cairns Convention Centre, our biggest venue for conferences and conventions, is undergoing significant expansion and refurbishment, due for completion in 2022. The 10,000sqm expansion by the Queensland Government includes significant increases in capacity and upgrades to meeting spaces in the existing centre.
Similarly the Cairns City Centre and our iconic Esplanade are getting a serious facelift. Construction is well underway on the $28 million Esplanade Dining Precinct project, which was fast-tracked in May 2020 to create a unique tropical dining experience for our residents and visitors.