Jobs Queensland released data yesterday showing the four fastest growth regions would be Wide Bay (13.6 per cent), Sunshine Coast (12.5 per cent), Townsville (12 per cent) and central Queensland (11.5 per cent).

Growth in Brisbane would be about 10 per cent, the Gold Coast 11.4 per cent and Ipswich 12.4 per cent.

The forecast would mean there would be close to 3 million by 2025-26 an increase of 207,000 since 2021-22.

It coincided with a report from Westpac which forecast higher than expected national economic growth.

The revision followed the pause in interest rate hikes which was now expected to be prolonged.

“We have lifted our forecasts for growth in the Australian economy in 2023 and 2024 from 0.6 per cent to 1 per cent in 2023 and from 1 per cent to 1.4 per cent in 2024,” Westpac said.

The fastest growth by industry was in health care, followed by professional, scientific and technical and then education and training.

The growth in qualifications would mostly be in management and commerce (14.8 per cent), engineering (9.1 per cent), health (16.1 per cent), society and culture (16.3 per cent) and education (13.7 per cent)

The State Government said there had been a bounce back in industries most affected by the pandemic restrictions. Accommodation and food services, retail and arts and recreation were all expected to show strong growth over the next two years.

Roy Morgan Research said unemployment had dropped to 9.1 per cent nationally in July. Its research differs significantly from the official data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics which puts unemployment at 3.5 per cent.