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QUEENSLAND KEY STATISTICS (This information was last updated on 13 January 2006.)

Links to ABS publications mentioned in the text can be found under 'Other Related Articles' at the bottom of the page.


This page contains the following selected tables on key economic and social indicators for the Queensland economy.

Population and Vitals

Table 1 - Population
Table 2 - Estimated Resident Population (ERP)

Table 3 - Civilian Labour Force Status
Table 4 - Labour Force - Employees by Industry

Table 5 - Average Weekly Earnings of Employees
Table 6 - Consumer Price Index

Table 7 - Building Activity
Table 8 - Building Approvals

Table 9 - Housing Finance

Table 10 - Value of Interstate Exports and Imports
Table 11 - Retail Trade - Turnover and Industry

Table 12 - Licensed Hotels, Motels, Guest Houses and Serviced Apartments

					Net migration				Increase during period
Period		Estimated resident population '000	Natural increase(b) '000		Interstate '000	Overseas(c) '000	Total '000		Number '000	Proportion(d) %
2004
	Jun qtr	3,888.1	6.0		9.1	3.9	13.1		19.1	0.5
2005
	Mar qtr	3,945.8	5.6		7.7	6.3	14.0		19.6	0.5
	Jun qtr(e)	3,964.0	8.6		7.4	2.2	9.5		18.1	0.5
(a) ERP data from September quarter 2001 to June 2004, inclusive, are revised and from September 2004 to March quarter 2004, inclusive, are preliminary. (b) Excess of births over deaths. (c) See Technical Note in the 3101.0 link below, under the heading: Other related articles. (d) The increase during the period expressed as a proportion of the population at the beginning of the period. (e) Estimates for interstate migration have been statistically modelled from partial data received from the Health Insurance Commission and past interstate migration trends. Source: Australian Demographic Statistics (cat. no. 3101.0).

Statistical Division	1999	2003r	2004p	Change 1999-2004(b)	Change 2003-04
	'000	'000	'000	%	%
Brisbane	1,592.3	1,735.2	1,774.9	2.2	2.3
Moreton	680.1	775.5	797.7	3.2	2.9
Wide Bay-Burnett	231.4	244.8	250.5	1.6	2.3
Darling Downs	204.8	215.9	218.5	1.3	1.2
South West	26.5	27.0	27.0	0.3	-0.3
Fitzroy	180.2	185.4	187.9	0.8	1.4
Central West	12.5	12.4	12.2	-0.4	-1.1
Mackay	135.6	141.7	143.7	1.2	1.4
Northern	184.2	197.6	200.9	1.8	1.7
Far North	219.9	231.5	234.8	1.3	1.4
North West	34.0	34.0	33.9	-	-0.3
Queensland(c)	3,501.4	3,801.0	3,882.0	2.1	2.1
- nil or rounded to zero (a) Estimates use the 2003 edition of the Australian Standard Geographical Classification (ASGC) (cat. no. 1216.0). Estimates for 1999 are final, based on results of the 2001 Census of Population and Housing, while those for 2003 are revised estimates and 2004 estimates are preliminary. (b) Average annual growth rate. (c) Including Off-Shore Areas and Migratory. Source: Regional Population Growth, Australia and New Zealand (cat. no. 3218.0).

	Period	Employed			Unemployed		Total labour force
		Full-time	Part-time	Total	Number	Unemploy- ment rate	Number	Partici- pation rate	Not in labour force	Civilian population aged 15 years and over
		'000	'000	'000	'000	%	'000	%	'000	'000
ORIGINAL DATA
2004
	Dec	1,416.5	544.7	1,961.2	97.9	4.8	2,059.1	66.2	1,053.1	3,112.2
2005
	Nov	1,432.7	564.7	1,997.4	89.3	4.3	2,086.7	65.8	1,085.4	3,172.1
	Dec	1,451.3	563.1	2,014.4	102.1	4.8	2,116.6	66.6	1,062.0	3,178.6
SEASONALLY ADJUSTED ESTIMATES(c)
2004
	Dec	1,390.6	na	1,938.6	97.5	4.8	2,036.1	65.4	na	na
2005
	Nov	1,431.6	na	1,994.7	100.8	4.8	2,095.5	66.1	na	na
	Dec	1,424.6	na	1,991.7	102.0	4.9	2,093.6	65.9	na	na
TREND ESTIMATES(c)
2004
	Dec	1,404.6	na	1,948.0	97.6	4.8	2,045.6	65.7	na	na
2005
	Nov	1,430.7	na	1,996.2	102.3	4.9	2,098.5	66.2	na	na
	Dec	1,427.1	na	1,994.0	102.1	4.9	2,096.1	66.0	na	na
na not available (a) From February 2004, labour force estimates have been compiled using benchmarks based on results of the 2001 Census of Population and Housing. (b) See Sampling errors in Labour Force Survey in Key Statistics Explanatory Notes below. (c) Revisions in Seasonally Adjusted and Trend estimates are explained in the section 'Seasonal Adjustment and Trend Estimation' in the Explanatory Notes of Labour Force, Australia (cat. no. 6202.0). For further information on changes to ABS labour force products see the following paper: Information Paper: Changes to Labour Force Survey Products (cat. no. 6297.0). Source: Labour Force, Australia (cat. no. 6202.0).

Industry division	November 2004	August 2005	November 2005
	'000	'000	'000
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing	39.9	36.0	46.5
Mining	25.5	35.6	37.0
Manufacturing	187.2	154.9	166.5
Electricity, gas and water	15.2	16.6	20.8
Construction	117.6	128.9	134.8
Wholesale trade	77.4	66.1	68.5
Retail trade	276.0	278.9	295.4
Accommodation, cafes and restaurants	103.5	96.3	97.1
Transport and storage	86.4	93.0	81.9
Communication services	25.8	25.8	25.1
Finance and insurance	46.2	51.1	51.2
Property and business services	170.5	182.9	176.5
Government administration and defence	84.6	90.2	86.8
Education	142.0	145.5	146.0
Health and community services	165.4	173.7	183.9
Cultural and recreational services	41.9	45.4	44.4
Personal and other services	51.3	62.3	62.9
Total all industries(b)	1,656.4	1,683.2	1,725.3
(a) Estimates have been revised using updated population benchmarks and incorporating a minor change to the definition of unemployed persons. Detail of these changes can be found in the following article; Australia's Labour Market Statistics, April 2004, Feature Article - Technical Report: Improvements to Labour Force Estimates (cat. no. 6105.0). (b) Estimates have been rounded and discrepancies may occur between sums of the component items and totals. Source: Labour Force, Australia, Detailed - Electronic Delivery, Quarterly (cat. no. 6291.0.55.001).

	Period	Males			Females			Persons
		Full- time adult ordinary time earnings	Full- time adult total earnings	All employees total earnings	Full- time adult ordinary time earnings	Full- time adult total earnings	All employees total earnings	Full- time adult ordinary time earnings	Full- time adult total earnings	All employees total earnings
		$	$	$	$	$	$	$	$	$
2004
	Aug	953.70	1,021.30	850.20	811.80	825.60	563.90	900.80	949.20	710.20
2005
	May	998.20	1,063.60	873.60	851.80	865.10	592.20	943.40	989.90	739.20
	Aug	1,016.30	1,077.30	885.80	862.60	876.90	596.60	957.60	1,003.60	746.50
Source: Average Weekly Earnings, Australia (cat. no. 6302.0).

	Period	Food	Alcohol and tobacco	Clothing and footwear	Housing	Household contents and services(b)	Health	Transportation
2004
	Sep qtr	152.5	219.8	106.5	133.5	123.0	202.6	143.4
2005
	Jun qtr	157.4	224.5	104.1	136.6	124.2	214.4	147.2
	Sep qtr	157.2	225.5	105.0	138.3	123.5	211.2	152.0
	Period	Communication	Recreation	Education	Financial and insurance services(c)(d)	All groups	All groups % change from previous quarter	All groups % change from same quarter previous year
2004
	Sep qtr	114.4	126.5	248.9	na	146.8	0.3	2.4
2005
	Jun qtr	114.1	125.7	265.9	100.0	150.0	0.5	2.5
	Sep qtr	113.3	126.7	266.6	99.4	150.9	0.6	2.8
na not available (a) Unless otherwise specified, base of each index: 1989-90 = 100.0. (b) Series renamed and change to composition (linked to 14th series equivalent), see Appendix 2 of Consumer Price Index, September quarter 2005 (cat. no. 6401.0). (c) New series. (d) Base: June quarter 2005 = 100.0. Note: Analytical Living Cost Indexes for Selected Australian Household Types are compiled once a year after each June quarter release of this publication. The latest update of these series, to June quarter 2003, was released in the September 2004 issue of the Australian Economic Indicators (cat. no. 1350.0). A link to this article can be found in Related Links on the ABS CPI web site page. Source: Consumer Price Index, Australia (cat. no. 6401.0).

	Period	Dwellings completed(d)			Value of building work completed
		New houses	New other residential buildings	Total(e)	New houses	New other residential buildings	Non- residential building	Total(f)	Value of work done in period(g)
		no.	no.	no.	$m	$m	$m	$m	$m
2004
	Jun qtr	6,823	3,340	10,212	1,254.2	573.6	866.4	2,935.0	3,050.0
2005
	Mar qtr	5,867	2,444	8,317	1,192.9	524.6	783.6	2,723.7	3,010.1
	Jun qtr	7,321	3,182	10,570	1,545.7	599.9	813.4	3,232.9	3,491.5
(a) The scope of building activity includes all new residential buildings; alterations and additions to residential buildings with an approval value of $10,000 and over; and non-residential building (including alterations and additions to existing buildings) with an approval value of $50,000 and over. (b) Data are inclusive of non-deductible GST payable on residential buildings. See paragraphs under 'GST on Building Activity' at bottom of page. (c) Some data items have been revised. For further information, see notes in the latest issue of Building Activity, Australia (cat. no. 8752.0). (d) Including alterations, additions and conversions. (e) Including dwellings created as a result of alterations and additions. (f) Including alterations and additions (valued at $10,000 and over) to residential buildings, which are not shown in the foregoing columns. (g) Including building work that is uncompleted during the period. Source: Building Activity, Australia (cat. no. 8752.0).

	Period	Dwelling units in new residential buildings				Value of all residential buildings			Value of all non-residential buildings
		Private sector	Public sector	Total		Private sector	Public sector	Total	Total
		no.	no.	no.		$m	$m	$m	$m
2004
	Nov	3,138	26	3,164		759.0	10.2	769.1	270.4
2005
	Oct	3,147	42	3,189		744.5	13.7	758.2	515.3
	Nov	3,167	55	3,222		748.9	14.5	763.4	581.3
(a) The scope of building approvals includes all approved new residential building jobs valued at $10,000 or more; all approved non-residential building jobs valued at $50,000 or more; and approved alterations and additions valued at $10,000 or more to residential buildings. (b) Revisions to previously published statistics are included in the table. Source: Building Approvals, Australia (cat. no. 8731.0).

	Period	By purpose						By type of buyer
								First home buyers			Non-first home buyers(d)
		For con- struction	For purchase of newly erected dwellings	For purchase of established dwellings(d)	Total	For refinancing of established dwellings		Number of dwellings financed	Average borrowing size		Number of dwellings financed	Average borrowing size
		no.	no.	no.	no.	no.		no.	$'000		no.	$'000
2004
	Oct	846	328	9,279	10,453	3,183		1,525	203.8		8,928	203.3
2005
	Sep	948	498	11,781	13,227	4,554		2,138	215.5		11,089	214.3
	Oct	916	507	11,082	12,505	3,900		2,213	208.4		10,292	216.9
(a) Excluding alterations and additions. (b) Seasonal effects and non-seasonal volatility can cause fluctuations in data. Seasonally adjusted and trend figures can be used to take these fluctuations into account and are available on request. (c) Revisions to previously published statistics are included in the table. (d) Including refinancing. Source: Housing Finance, Australia (cat. no. 5609.0).

	Period	Total exports	Change from previous period	Change from same qtr previous year	Total imports	Change from previous period	Change from same qtr previous year
		$'000	%	%	$'000	%	%
2004
	Sep qtr	2,215,930	9.7	4.3	6,840,991	21.8	17.8
2005
	Jun qtr	r2,231,774	6.7	10.4	r5,942,335	11.4	5.8
	Sep qtr	2,351,160	5.3	6.1	5,620,640	-5.4	-17.8
r Revised (a) Interstate exports and imports are compiled using a classification based on the Standard International Trade Classification (Revision 3). (b) In compiling the estimates of Interstate Trade for OESR, the ABS uses a partial coverage census based on businesses with more than $400,000 of interstate trade. This collection is now under review due to frame and coverage issues. New businesses are not well represented, so the estimates are likely to be understated. The estimates are prepared for use in the compilation of Treasury's State Accounts and users should exercise strong caution in their independent use. Source: Queensland Treasury, Office of Economic and Statistical Research (OESR).

	Period	Food retailing	Department stores	Clothing & soft goods retailing	Household goods retailing	Recreational goods retailing	Other retailing	Hospitality & services	Total
		$m	$m	$m	$m	$m	$m	$m	$m
2004
	Nov	1,274.2	273.3	245.4	518.3	^150.0	399.5	523.8	3,384.5
2005
	Oct	1,359.2	239.5	277.0	517.7	^144.4	364.8	653.6	3,556.2
	Nov	1,336.2	275.3	263.9	540.3	^150.1	387.9	654.5	3,608.2
^ Estimate has a relative standard error of between 10% and less than 25% and should be used with caution. (a) See paragraph 5 of the explanatory notes in Retail Trade, Australia (cat. no. 8501.0). (b) It should be remembered that seasonal effects and non-seasonal volatility can cause fluctuations in data. Seasonally adjusted and trend figures can be used to take these fluctuations into account and are available in Retail Trade, Australia (cat. no. 8501.0). Source: Retail Trade, Australia (cat. no. 8501.0).

	Period	Establish -ments	Guest rooms	Bed spaces	Room nights occupied	Room occupancy rate(b)	Guest nights	Bed occupancy rate	Guest arrivals	Takings from accomm- odation(b)
		no.	no.	no.	'000	%	'000	%	'000	$'000
2004
	Sep qtr	1,016	55,192	169,178	3,682.2	72.6	7,401.3	47.6	2,680.0	439,731
2005
	Jun qtr	1,063	56,652	173,124	3,197.1	62.0	6,131.6	38.9	2,395.3	378,395
	Sep qtr	1,069	56,896	174,612	3,783.8	72.3	7,500.0	46.7	2,739.5	475,123
(a) Comprising establishments with 15 or more rooms or units. (b) Seasonally adjusted and trend figures are available for room occupancy rates and takings from accommodation in the data cube; Tourist Accommodation, Small Area Data, Queensland (cat. no. 8635.3.55.001). Source: Tourist Accommodation, Australia (cat. no. 8635.0).

	Monthly change	95% Confidence interval
Total Employment	-3,000	20,200	to	-26,200
Total Unemployment	1,200	13,400	to	-11,000
Unemployment rate	0.1	0.7	to	-0.5
Participation rate	-0.2	0.6	to	-1.0