The Sunshine Coast economy is dominated by two sectors – Healthcare (including age-care) and Retail, which provide 30% of the regional employment.
Other significant areas are accommodation and food services, education, construction, manufacturing and professional services.
Efforts are being made to diversify the regional economy by the Sunshine Coast Regional Council.

Local educational institutions, government and community groups have funded a number of initiatives to encourage entrepreneurial and innovative businesses to the area.
The University of the Sunshine Coast's Innovation Centre acts as an incubator startup companies, as does the Spark Bureau.
The University site at Sippy Downs is designated as a 'Knowledge Hub' as part of the Queensland Government's South East Queensland Regional Infrastructure Plan and is master planned as Australia's first university town based on the UK models with the potential for over 6,000 workers in knowledge-based businesses.
Sippy Downs was highlighted as an 'Innovation Hotspot' in July 2010, by top European Business magazine CNBC Business, with the potential to be 'Australia's no-worries-answer to Silicon Valley'.
The Sunshine Coast economy is dominated by two sectors – Healthcare (including age-care) and Retail, which provide 30% of the regional employment. Other significant areas are accommodation and food services, education, construction, manufacturing and professional services. Efforts are being made to diversify the regional economy by the Sunshine Coast Regional Council.
Local educational institutions, government and community groups have funded a number of initiatives to encourage entrepreneurial and innovative businesses to the area. The University of the Sunshine Coast's Innovation Centre acts as an incubator startup companies, as does the Spark Bureau. The University site at Sippy Downs is designated as a 'Knowledge Hub' as part of the Queensland Government's South East Queensland Regional Infrastructure Plan and is master planned as Australia's first university town based on the UK models with the potential for over 6,000 workers in knowledge-based businesses. Sippy Downs was highlighted as an 'Innovation Hotspot' in July 2010, by top European Business magazine CNBC Business, with the potential to be 'Australia's no-worries-answer to Silicon Valley'.
Sunshine Coast Region