Census figures reveal more than 37,000 residents had to travel outside the Redlands to get to work when the nationwide survey was conducted in 2006, including almost 10,000 manufacturing and construction workers.

Redland City Council's annual economic snapshot confirms the extent of the local jobs exodus with about 60 per cent of workers employed outside the Redlands.

This percentage had dropped slightly since the previous Census in 2001, but the raw number of employees working outside the area increased.

The industries most reliant on commuting were manufacturing and construction. Council's economic report showed about 71 per cent of manufacturing employees and 70 per cent of construction workers had to travel outside the Redlands.

The release of the report this month comes amid turbulent economic times. The global economic crisis has sapped consumer and business confidence and fuelled the prospect of increased unemployment in Australia.

More than 300 local manufacturing jobs will be lost next year when Fisher and Paykel closes its Cleveland refrigerator factory and moves its manufacturing operators offshore where costs are cheaper.

However, next year will also usher in the first stages of a new business park at Redland Bay - a project intended to boost local jobs.

Semi-rural land in southern Thornlands is earmarked for employment growth but Redland City Council has not yet prepared a structure plan for the area. Councillors this month rejected a major integrated business and residential development proposal on Springacre Road because it breached the town plan.

The council's economic snapshot shows 1191 houses, apartments and townhouses were approved in Redland City last year with a total value of $281.3 million, while approvals were granted for business premises and other non-residential buildings worth $74.7 million.

Local residents are most likely to be employed in the retail trade sector (12.5 per cent), followed by manufacturing (12.3 per cent), construction (10.6 per cent) and health care and social assistance (9.9 per cent).

The full report can be viewed at www.more2redlands.com.au/business