MADE IN CAIRNS
Manufacturing leads job growth in region
MANUFACTURING has made a surprise resurgence in Cairns.
Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show 2500 extra jobs were created in the sector in the past five years, better than healthcare and retail, two of the region’s biggest employers.
MANUFACTURING has emerged as one of the region’s growth areas for jobs over the past five years, eclipsing healthcare and accommodation, according to recent figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Between February, 2013 and February, 2018 jobs in manufacturing grew by 2500 in Cairns to 8100.
Healthcare roles increased by 2000, while tourism mainstays accommodation and food services grew by 1800, as did public administration and safety.
Health remains the region’s largest employer however, with 17,300 positions, followed by retail with 11,700.
Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch said the growth in bureaucratic jobs was worrying because it meant fewer frontline positions were being created.
“When you’re looking at manufacturing it’s good to see it’s growing, that’s a positive trend,” he said. “But the growth in public administration means we haven’t been hiring frontline professionals like doctors and nurses. It worries me immensely that we will see a further decline, and it’s not because of automation, it’s because of productivity.”
Although, Mr Entsch said the data also showed strong diversification, he remained concerned about the drop in agriculture positions.
Lazco Fabrications sales manager Stephen Lazarus said he had noticed business pick up in his industry.
The Redden St steel fabricating business employs 18 people.
“Those years after the glocal financial crisis in 2009 there was a lot of inconsistency,” he said. “I’m not sur- prised there has been an improvement in manufacturing jobs here now. We have jobs lined up for months in front now, which is really nice.
“There are more big projects going on now and more locals are spending money because there is a bit more confidence around.”
But Conus director Pete Faulkner said the data was “very distorted and a lagged indicator”.
“The data on industry employment is presented as an average of the past four quarters ... and cannot be compared to the monthly trend data,” he said.
“We have healthcare as the largest gainer over the year at 2300, while on our data manufacturing has actually fallen slightly.”