Economy, jobs and prices in Sunshine Coast, Australia: official figures
The median total income of residents of the Sunshine Coast Region who had income was $52,638 a year in 2022-23 (before tax, excluding government pensions and allowances), 3rd lowest of 26 areas; the Australian median was $58,216. Boundary: the Sunshine Coast Region local government area (the council area), not the wider urban region around it.
What is the median wage in Sunshine Coast?
The median employee income in the Sunshine Coast Region was $55,763 for the year 2022-23, 3rd lowest of 26 areas; the Australian median was $61,966.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWhat is the median household income in Sunshine Coast?
The median equivalised household income in the Sunshine Coast Region was $983 a week at the 2021 Census (household income adjusted for household size), 5th lowest of 26 areas; for Australia it was $1,070.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Sunshine Coast?
The unemployment rate in the Sunshine Coast Region was 4.4% at the 2021 Census (census night, 10 August 2021), joint 6th lowest of 31 areas, below the national figure (5.1%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWhat is the labour force participation rate in Sunshine Coast?
59.3% of residents of the Sunshine Coast Region aged 15 and over were in the labour force (working or looking for work) at the 2021 Census, 5th lowest of 31 areas, below the national figure (61.1%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWhat are the main industries in Sunshine Coast?
Of the 160,291 employed residents of the Sunshine Coast Region at the 2021 Census, the largest industries were health care and social assistance (18.0%; 14.5% nationally), construction (12.1%) and retail trade (9.8%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many businesses are there in Sunshine Coast?
39,239 businesses were registered in the Sunshine Coast Region at 30 June 2025, which is 103 for every 1,000 residents (10th highest of 26 areas; Australia 99); 60% of them had no employees.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many new homes were approved in Sunshine Coast in 2024-25?
Building approvals in the Sunshine Coast Region in 2024-25 covered 3,221 new dwellings (8.4 per 1,000 residents; Australia 6.8) and building work worth $2,606 million in total.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWhat is the median house price in Sunshine Coast?
The median price of an established house sold in the Sunshine Coast Region in 2023-24 was $1,015,000, 9th highest of 26 areas (Australia $780,000); the median price of an attached dwelling (such as a unit or townhouse) was $710,000.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people rent in Sunshine Coast?
12.8% of occupied homes in the Sunshine Coast Region were flats or apartments at the 2021 Census (Australia 14.2%), and 27.3% of homes were rented (Australia 30.6%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many households in Sunshine Coast do not own a car?
3.9% of households in the Sunshine Coast Region had no motor vehicle at the 2021 Census, the lowest of 26 areas (Australia 7.4%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many solar panels were installed in Sunshine Coast in 2024?
5,615 small-scale solar panel systems were installed in the Sunshine Coast Region in 2024, 15.0 per 1,000 residents (Australia 11.7).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow Sunshine Coast compares with other cities in Australia
Unemployment rate, 2021 Census (2021 Census (10 August 2021))
Sunshine Coast ranks 25 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | Greater Wollongong | 4.7% |
| 23 | Ballarat | 4.7% |
| 24 | Albury-Wodonga | 4.6% |
| 25 | Sunshine Coast | 4.4% |
| 26 | Geelong | 4.4% |
| 27 | Bendigo | 4.2% |
| 28 | Darwin | 4.1% |
Median total income of income earners, 2022-23 (2022-23)
Sunshine Coast ranks 24 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | Cairns | $55,547 |
| 21 | Central Coast | $55,035 |
| 22 | Bendigo | $55,007 |
| 23 | Gold Coast | $53,824 |
| 24 | Sunshine Coast | $52,638 |
| 25 | Melbourne | $48,184 |
| 26 | Adelaide | $47,492 |
Businesses per 1,000 residents, 30 June 2025 (30 June 2025)
Sunshine Coast 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 | Businesses per 1,000 residents, 30 June 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Greater Sydney | 115 |
| 8 | Greater Melbourne | 110 |
| 9 | Brisbane | 106 |
| 10 | Sunshine Coast | 103 |
| 11 | Toowoomba | 97 |
| 12 | Newcastle | 91 |
| 13 | Darwin | 90 |
More on Sunshine Coast: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · all cities in Australia
Sources
- 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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