The sixth release in the Anticipating Future Skills series shows that employment in Queensland is projected to increase by 6.2% – more than 185,000 workers by 2029. Over the same period, more than 250,000 workers are needed to replace Queenslanders who retire or change jobs. In total, there are more than 430,000 job opportunities expected in Queensland in the near future.

You can access detailed data through our:

You can also view a table showing the projected job openings by industry division.

FAQs - understanding the projections

While much of AFS contains data about new jobs, this is not the only way that job openings occur. Job openings also arise when people leave an occupation, either for a new occupation or through retirement or even death. This is called replacement demand.

Combining the number of replacement-demand jobs and jobs arising from occupational growth provides total number of job openings.

AFS contains state-level data for occupations and industries for:

  • new jobs
  • replacement demand
  • total job openings.

Find out more about replacement demand.

Tourism is not defined as an industry by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). It is instead a combination of different industries, including:

  • food and accommodation services
  • retail trade
  • transport, postal and warehousing
  • rental, hiring and real estate services
  • arts and recreation services
  • administrative and support services.

Fastest growth refers to the rate of change and is measured by percentage. Largest growth refers to the actual number of new workers (also known as net growth).

Public administration and safety growth of 11.3% (or 23,800 new workers) in our sixth release includes expansion across all levels of government. Key drivers of public sector expansion include:

  • the expansion of demand for public order, safety, and regulatory services (particularly licensing and inspection)
  • decentralisation of the Australian Public Service (APS) to Brisbane
  • increased employment in local councils
  • defence sector growth.

No. This industry division includes businesses that mainly:

  • grow crops
  • raise animals
  • grow and harvest timber
  • harvest fish and other animals from farms or their natural habitats.

The division makes a distinction between 2 basic activities:

  • production
  • services that support production.

There are many other occupations, like accountants or mechanics, that support this industry. However, unless they are directly employed by this sector, they are counted in other industries, such as professional, scientific and technical services.

Last updated 28 April 2026

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