Regional population estimates show North lagging rest of QLD, Cairns-North still doing well.

The ABS have released their regional population estimates (up to mid year 2016) today and they show the North of the state lagging recent growth elsewhere. The data is provided at the Local Government Area (LGA) level as well at SA2 and above. Taking the LGA data first… LGA 2016 …read more

The changing face of work in Cairns and Townsville

Yesterday saw the ABS release their February monthly regional labour force data, and our own Conus Trend series (see here for details). The ABS also released their quarterly data on regional employment by industry sector for the February quarter. This is presented on a quarterly basis as a rolling 4-quarter average, and as …read more

Regional labour data shows Cairns slightly weaker, Townsville much better

The ABS released their regional labour force data for February this morning. As always, the original, unadjusted ABS data needs some analysis if we are to see a clear picture. Our preferred analysis tool is the Conus Trend series. In light of the generally weak QLD data for Feb released …read more

Pete on ABC Far North this morning talking about the SALM jobs data for Cairns

After our post about the SALM data earlier this week (see here), we spoke to Kier Shorey on ABC Far North this morning about the numbers, particularly for Cairns. You can listen below.

Small Area Labour Market data shows solid improvements in Far North; declines in Townsville

Friday saw the release of the Small Area Labour Market (SALM) data from the Dept. of Employment; and it was good news for the Far North and bad for Townsville…again. The SALM data is based on a range of indicators including ABS Labour Force data for the SA4 areas, Youth and …read more

The Participation Puzzle. The regions being hit harder by an aging population

Over the past few years there has been much discussion about the impact that demographic changes (particularly an aging population) are having on the labour market. In particular, focus has been on the effects of varying participation rates within different age groups and the impact these are having on the …read more

Residential Building Approvals dive in the North

The decline in Trend residential building approvals in QLD reported last week (see here) means that a similar fall in the North was to be expected. However the declines in both Cairns and Townsville are still larger than we might have hoped for. The original, unadjusted data from the ABS …read more

Cairns Watch even more bullish on Cairns employment

Last week our own Conus Trend estimates of employment and unemployment rate in Cairns for January had jobs up 8,000 since Jan 2016 and the Trend unemployment rate at 5.9% (see full details here). Today sees the release of Herron Todd White’s Cairns Watch (available in full here); and its …read more

Pete on ABC Far North talking Cairns and Townsville jobs

Pete spoke briefly to Keir Shorey on ABC Far North this morning about yesterday’s regional jobs data for Cairns and Townsville (read the post here). You can listen to the radio interview below.

More jobs added in the North

Today saw the release of the ABS Regional Labour Force data. As always, we focus on our own Conus Trend series to see through the highly volatile original, unadjusted ABS data; and what we see is more good news for the North. In Cairns Trend employment has lifted by another …read more

© Conus Business Consultancy Services 2026

Website created by RJ New Designs