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Cairns Regional CouncilCommunity profile

Cairns

Occupation of employment

There were more professionals in Cairns in 2021 than any other occupation.

Cairns's occupation statistics quantify the occupations in which the residents work (which may be within the residing area or elsewhere). This will be influenced by the economic base and employment opportunities available in the area, education levels, and the working and social aspirations of the population. When viewed with other indicators, such as Educational Qualifications and Individual Income, Occupation is a key measure for evaluating Cairns's socio-economic status and skill base.

Q:

Derived from the two Census questions:

'In the main job held last week, what was the person's occupation?' and 'What are the main tasks that the person himself/herself usually performs in that occupation?'

Occupation of employment
Cairns - Employed persons (Usual residence)20212006Change
OccupationNumber%Regional QLD %Number%Regional QLD %2006 to 2021
Managers8,81411.112.47,36711.713.3+1,447
Professionals16,23520.418.09,94015.914.2+6,295
Technicians and Trades Workers11,93115.015.110,46016.716.5+1,471
Community and Personal Service Workers11,88714.913.06,94111.19.4+4,946
Clerical and Administrative Workers9,53112.011.88,94014.313.1+591
Sales Workers7,5259.49.17,22411.510.6+301
Machinery Operators And Drivers4,4785.67.33,8156.17.8+663
Labourers7,8749.911.26,95511.113.4+919
Not stated or inadequately described1,3721.72.01,0701.71.8+302
Total employed persons aged 15+79,649100.0100.062,712100.0100.0+16,937
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2006 and 2021. Compiled and presented by .id (informed decisions).
Please refer to specific data notes for more information

Dominant groups

An analysis of the jobs held by the resident population in Cairns in 2021 shows the three most popular occupations were:

  • Professionals (16,235 people or 20.4%)
  • Technicians and Trades Workers (11,931 people or 15.0%)
  • Community and Personal Service Workers (11,887 people or 14.9%)

In combination these three occupations accounted for 40,053 people in total or 50.3% of the employed resident population.

In comparison, Regional QLD employed 18.0% in Professionals; 15.1% in Technicians and Trades Workers; and 13.0% in Community and Personal Service Workers.

The major differences between the jobs held by the population of Cairns and Regional QLD were:

  • A larger percentage of persons employed as Professionals (20.4% compared to 18.0%)
  • A larger percentage of persons employed as Community and Personal Service Workers (14.9% compared to 13.0%)
  • A smaller percentage of persons employed as Machinery Operators And Drivers (5.6% compared to 7.3%)
  • A smaller percentage of persons employed as Managers (11.1% compared to 12.4%)

Emerging groups

The number of employed people in Cairns increased by 16,937 between 2006 and 2021.

The largest changes in the occupations of residents between 2006 and 2021 in Cairns were for those employed as:

  • Professionals (+6,295 persons)
  • Community and Personal Service Workers (+4,946 persons)
  • Technicians and Trades Workers (+1,471 persons)
  • Managers (+1,447 persons)

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