Infometrics data, released yesterday, showed employment expanded in the district by a "stonking" 10.3% in the year to March 2016.
The growth was nearly four times the 2.7% rate of employment expansion seen nationally and well above the 5.9% employment growth recorded by second-placed Western Bay of Plenty, Infometrics senior economist Benji Patterson said.
Mrs Nicholls said the results were significant and lined up with population growth in Queenstown of 7.1% in the June 2016 year.
It also aligned with the BusinessNZ performance of manufacturing and services indices, which demonstrated sustained growth in tourism and construction during the period.
Infometrics estimated jobs in Queenstown grew 11.7% in the March 2016 year, while job numbers in Wanaka climbed 8.8% in the same period.
The BusinessNZ indices had continued to report growth in both areas continuing into the latter part of last year, she said.
"Judging by the growth experienced in Wanaka at the end of 2016, I would estimate Wanaka may have overtaken Queenstown as a percentage increase during December and January."
Mr Patterson said Queenstown-Lakes led the pack over the past year for nearly every quarterly indicator of spending and investment Infometrics followed.
"The district is in the midst of a tourism surge and building boom that dwarfs those experienced in previous business cycles."
Predictably, the data showed it was those two sectors, and industries related to them, that accounted for most of the job creation over the past year, he said.
Of the 2267 additional jobs in Queenstown-Lakes in the March year, 416 were in construction.
There were 364 more jobs in accommodation and food services.
Other industries reliant on building and tourism also had strong job growth. Professional, scientific and technical services, arts and recreation services and retail trade rounded out the top five industries contributing the most to jobs growth, Mr Patterson said.
More details regarding the Queenstown-Lakes district 2016 performance, as well of those of Queenstown and Wanaka, would be available next Tuesday, he said.
The Central Otago district was also a top performer on 2.9% growth in the March year. Mrs Nicholls estimated growth had continued to increase there as the year progressed and more people moved to and were working in the district.
Businesses in the region were finding it challenging to attract skilled staff in a range of sectors, including construction and tourism.
"This continues to align with businesses asking for continued access to skilled migrants for the jobs New Zealanders are not available for," she said.
