The Gold Coast economy is surging and is now one of the fastest growing in the country with the city diversifying far beyond just tourism.
The State of the City report shows the Gold Coast economy was worth $55 billion in 2024/25, the largest non-capital city economy in the country.
That’s up from $36 billion in 2020/21, a staggering increasing of 25 per cent.
The Gold Coast ranked second when it comes to economic complexity, a measure used to define the diversity and sophistication of our economy.
Only Sydney scored better, while Brisbane’s went backwards.
The Gold Coast now supports 350,000 jobs while our unemployment rate is at just 2 per cent, the lowest of any major Australian city.
Around 83,000 businesses help drive the city’s economy while the Gold Coast also generates $19 billion in annual exports.
The report found the city’s economic growth is being driven by six key sectors with tourism no longer at the top of that list.
The city’s Knowledge Economy contributes $7.9 billion in gross value add (GVA), followed by the Health and Wellbeing sector with contributes $5.2 billion.
While tourism, sport and major events remains a key component of the Gold Coast economy, its GVA was worth $2.9 billon, helping to generate $9 billion in expenditure.
The report says the Gold Coast has entered a new chapter.
“It is a more complex and broad-based economy than many assume, reflected in an economic complexity score that ranks second nationally behind only Sydney.
“That complexity gives the city a stronger platform for investment, industry growth and long-term economic resilience than older perceptions suggest.”
