2021 Central Highlands Economic Profile - Report Highlights

COVID-19 impact modeling shows employment loss peaked in May 2020 (↓474 jobs). However, by March 2021 job numbers exceeded pre-COVID-19 levels.

While the resident population remained stable, the non-resident population decreased 11.1%.

The unemployment rate is 4.2%, well below Central Queensland (6.2%) and Queensland (7.2%).

Goods and services exported outside of the region increased 4% to $8.05bn.

Gross regional product (GRP) increased 2.2% to $6.45bn, accounting for 1.8% of Queensland’s GRP.

Median land price increased 27.0% to $82,500 and median house price increased 9.9% to $280,000.

The number of businesses with a turnover of $10 million or more increased 44.0%.

The average number of visitors to the region increased 4.4% to 708,000.*

Passengers through the Emerald Airport decreased 9.6% to 156,707, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent impact on air travel.

Agricultural output increased 6.0% to $891m.

Figures compare 2020 to 2019 unless otherwise stated. *four-year average to 2019