Economy, jobs and prices in Greater Brisbane, Australia: official figures
The median total income of residents of Greater Brisbane who had income was $59,968 a year in 2022-23 (before tax, excluding government pensions and allowances), 10th highest of 26 areas; the Australian median was $58,216. Boundary: Greater Brisbane, the ABS Greater Capital City Statistical Area (the city and its commuting zone).
What is the median wage in Greater Brisbane?
The median employee income in Greater Brisbane was $62,853 for the year 2022-23, 12th highest of 26 areas; the Australian median was $61,966.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWhat is the median household income in Greater Brisbane?
The median equivalised household income in Greater Brisbane was $1,115 a week at the 2021 Census (household income adjusted for household size), 13th lowest of 26 areas; for Australia it was $1,070.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Greater Brisbane?
The unemployment rate in Greater Brisbane was 5.5% at the 2021 Census (census night, 10 August 2021), joint 8th highest of 31 areas, above the national figure (5.1%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWhat is the labour force participation rate in Greater Brisbane?
64.5% of residents of Greater Brisbane aged 15 and over were in the labour force (working or looking for work) at the 2021 Census, 11th highest of 31 areas, above the national figure (61.1%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWhat are the main industries in Greater Brisbane?
Of the 1,244,782 employed residents of Greater Brisbane at the 2021 Census, the largest industries were health care and social assistance (15.3%; 14.5% nationally), education and training (9.0%) and retail trade (9.0%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many businesses are there in Greater Brisbane?
242,271 businesses were registered in Greater Brisbane at 30 June 2025, which is 86 for every 1,000 residents (11th lowest of 26 areas; Australia 99); 62% of them had no employees.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many new homes were approved in Greater Brisbane in 2024-25?
Building approvals in Greater Brisbane in 2024-25 covered 21,582 new dwellings (7.6 per 1,000 residents; Australia 6.8) and building work worth $19,632 million in total.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWhat is the median house price in Greater Brisbane?
The median price of an established house sold in Greater Brisbane in 2023-24 was $850,000, joint 12th lowest of 26 areas (Australia $780,000); the median price of an attached dwelling (such as a unit or townhouse) was $565,000.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people rent in Greater Brisbane?
14.7% of occupied homes in Greater Brisbane were flats or apartments at the 2021 Census (Australia 14.2%), and 35.1% of homes were rented (Australia 30.6%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many households in Greater Brisbane do not own a car?
6.4% of households in Greater Brisbane had no motor vehicle at the 2021 Census, 12th lowest of 26 areas (Australia 7.4%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many solar panels were installed in Greater Brisbane in 2024?
35,537 small-scale solar panel systems were installed in Greater Brisbane in 2024, 12.8 per 1,000 residents (Australia 11.7).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow Greater Brisbane compares with other cities in Australia
Unemployment rate, 2021 Census (2021 Census (10 August 2021))
Greater Brisbane ranks 8 of 31, highest first. Values cover the 18 city council areas (ABS Local Government Areas), 8 greater capital city areas (Canberra is the whole Australian Capital Territory) and, where the 2021 Census community profile gives the figure, 5 Significant Urban Areas. The areas overlap (for example the City of Brisbane lies inside Greater Brisbane), so compare like with like.
| Rank | City | Unemployment rate, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Perth | 6.1% |
| 6 | Cairns | 5.7% |
| 7 | Sydney | 5.6% |
| 8 | Greater Brisbane | 5.5% |
| 9 | Greater Adelaide | 5.5% |
| 10 | Gold Coast | 5.4% |
| 11 | Gold Coast-Tweed Heads | 5.3% |
Median total income of income earners, 2022-23 (2022-23)
Greater Brisbane ranks 10 of 26, highest first. Values cover the 18 city council areas (ABS Local Government Areas), 8 greater capital city areas (Canberra is the whole Australian Capital Territory) and, where the 2021 Census community profile gives the figure, 5 Significant Urban Areas. The areas overlap (for example the City of Brisbane lies inside Greater Brisbane), so compare like with like. Not published for Significant Urban Areas.
| Rank | City | Median total income of income earners, 2022-23 |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Townsville | $62,262 |
| 8 | Greater Sydney | $62,180 |
| 9 | Newcastle | $61,846 |
| 10 | Greater Brisbane | $59,968 |
| 11 | Greater Melbourne | $59,784 |
| 12 | Wollongong | $58,764 |
| 13 | Hobart | $58,267 |
Businesses per 1,000 residents, 30 June 2025 (30 June 2025)
Greater Brisbane ranks 16 of 26, highest first. Values cover the 18 city council areas (ABS Local Government Areas), 8 greater capital city areas (Canberra is the whole Australian Capital Territory) and, where the 2021 Census community profile gives the figure, 5 Significant Urban Areas. The areas overlap (for example the City of Brisbane lies inside Greater Brisbane), so compare like with like. Not published for Significant Urban Areas.
| Rank | City | Businesses per 1,000 residents, 30 June 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Darwin | 90 |
| 14 | Greater Perth | 87 |
| 15 | Greater Adelaide | 87 |
| 16 | Greater Brisbane | 86 |
| 17 | Cairns | 85 |
| 18 | Ballarat | 83 |
| 19 | Geelong | 80 |
More on Greater Brisbane: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · all cities in Australia
Sources
- Australian Bureau of Statistics: Data by region 2011-2025: Greater Capital City Statistical Areas and Australia (ASGS Edition 3), all indicators, read 28 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 bf78744b9729…)
- Australian Bureau of Statistics: Data by region 2011-2025: Local Government Areas (ASGS Edition 3), 18 city councils, all indicators, read 28 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 788eca55906d…)
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