The increase represented a rise of almost 13 per cent since June 2019, when Covid restrictions were in full swing.

But the Conus/CBC report showed extraordinary jobs growth in some the regions. Cairns’ annual jobs growth is at 8.3 per cent and Townsville 11.3 per cent, compared with just 5.3 per cent in Brisbane.

Townsville’s unemployment rate is now 3.5 per cent, a steep contrast to the days following the collapse of the city’s nickel refinery and unemployment rates in double figures.

Cairns has also struggled with employment in recent years because of its reliance on tourism.

The time it takes people to get a job in Townsville is down to six weeks, compared with more than 30 weeks in 2018.

Conus economist Pete Faulkner said both cities were at full employment and many businesses were struggling with the inability to source workers.

Faulkner said this was being masked by a rising unemployment level that was created by more people coming into the workforce, particularly women, who were taking advantage of the new flexibility in many jobs.

Closer to Brisbane, Logan has jobs growth just above 10 per cent, Moreton is at 8 per cent but the Gold Coast just 3 per cent. The Sunshine Coast is at 5.5 per cent.

“Normally 3 per cent would great, but it’s way down on some of the other centres,” Faulkner said.

Brisbane’s inner city has also shown strong full-time employment with a record 160,000 in June, compared with 141,000 a year ago, a growth rate of 13 per cent.

The coal capital of Mackay has employment growth of 6.5 per cent.

Faulkner said female participation was surging and Queensland was showing the strongest growth in the nation.