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Job market reports

Australia's job markets

Online job ads and unemployment for Australia's 50 job market areas, 42 regional areas and 8 capital cities, from Jobs and Skills Australia and the Australian Bureau of Statistics. It also sets estimated employment by occupation in regional Australia beside the major cities. Each area has its own full report.

Latest data
JSA September 2026; ABS Regional Labour Force September 2026; JSA NERO September 2026
Updated
28 October 2026
Areas
50 job market areas
Sources
JSA and ABS

Key findings

  1. Steady: online job ads across Australia were up 0.6% on a year earlier, from 214,332 to 215,533 a month in the three months to September 2026.[1][2]

    Section 1: Job ads across Australia →

  2. Online job ads grew fastest in the Capital Region (up 26.7%), Coffs Harbour - Grafton (up 13.7%) and Outback South Australia (up 13.1%), comparing the three months to September 2026 with a year earlier.[1]

    Section 2: Where job ads are growing and falling →

  3. Online job ads fell most in Greater Darwin (down 11.7%), Greater Hobart (down 9.9%) and the Gold Coast (down 8.4%), comparing the three months to September 2026 with a year earlier.[1]

    Section 2: Where job ads are growing and falling →

  4. Unemployment was highest in Outback Queensland (6.8%), Outback Northern Territory (6.5%) and Outback South Australia (5.6%) in September 2026 (ABS modelled estimates).[3][4]

    Section 3: Unemployment by area, September 2026 →

1 Job ads across Australia

Jobs and Skills Australia's Internet Vacancy Index is a monthly count of online job ads, compiled from SEEK, CareerOne and Workforce Australia. Regional figures are three-month averages. It is not a count of ViewJobs' own ads. This page adds up the 50 areas' figures.

Australia
+0.6%
215,533 ads a month[1][2]
Areas with more ads
30
of 50[1]
Areas with fewer ads
19
of 50[1]

Online job ads, the three months to September 2026 against a year earlier. An area counts as more or fewer when its change shows as more than 0.0%.

Figure 1.1: Online job ads a month, AustraliaThree-month average, the sum of its 50 areas, October 2023 to September 2026.
175k200k225k250k275k300kJun 2024Mar 2025Dec 2025Sep 2026AustraliaAustralia, Sep 2026: 215,533215,533

Sources: Jobs and Skills Australia[1]; ViewJobs analysis[2].

Show the numbers
Online job ads a month, Australia
MonthOnline job ads a month
October 2023279,641
November 2023263,685
December 2023230,766
January 2024224,531
February 2024224,831
March 2024247,060
April 2024239,755
May 2024238,782
June 2024229,580
July 2024225,960
August 2024223,357
September 2024229,703
October 2024236,254
November 2024227,089
December 2024199,341
January 2025194,347
February 2025192,841
March 2025215,338
April 2025204,042
May 2025206,099
June 2025201,701
July 2025210,416
August 2025208,051
September 2025214,332
October 2025215,499
November 2025209,716
December 2025185,848
January 2026185,193
February 2026190,950
March 2026216,184
April 2026206,911
May 2026204,960
June 2026198,258
July 2026205,954
August 2026209,250
September 2026215,533

2 Where job ads are growing and falling

Each area's online job ads in the three months to September 2026, against the same three months a year earlier.

Figure 2.1: Online job ads, change on a year ago, by areaThe three months to September 2026 against a year earlier. Select an area for its report.
Capital Region: +26.7% on a year agoGreater Sydney: −2.6% on a year agoCentral West: +12.2% on a year agoCoffs Harbour - Grafton: +13.7% on a year agoFar West and Orana: +2.1% on a year agoHunter Valley: −3.3% on a year agoIllawarra: −0.7% on a year agoMid North Coast: +11.1% on a year agoMurray: +7.1% on a year agoNew England and North West: +2.9% on a year agoNewcastle and Lake Macquarie: −5.2% on a year agoRichmond - Tweed: −6.4% on a year agoRiverina: +6.9% on a year agoSouthern Highlands and Shoalhaven: +10.0% on a year agoBallarat: +9.0% on a year agoBendigo: +6.8% on a year agoGeelong: +6.4% on a year agoHume: −0.3% on a year agoLatrobe - Gippsland: −0.6% on a year agoGreater Melbourne: −0.6% on a year agoNorth West Victoria: +0.4% on a year agoShepparton: +0.1% on a year agoWarrnambool and South West: +3.4% on a year agoGreater Brisbane: +1.5% on a year agoCairns: +2.7% on a year agoDarling Downs - Maranoa: −5.8% on a year agoCentral Queensland: +0.7% on a year agoGold Coast: −8.4% on a year agoMackay - Isaac - Whitsunday: +3.4% on a year agoOutback Queensland: +2.4% on a year agoSunshine Coast: −3.4% on a year agoToowoomba: +1.5% on a year agoTownsville: +3.8% on a year agoWide Bay: +2.6% on a year agoGreater Adelaide: +1.9% on a year agoBarossa - Yorke - Mid North: 0.0% on a year agoOutback South Australia: +13.1% on a year agoSouth East South Australia: +6.4% on a year agoBunbury: +3.0% on a year agoGreater Perth: +8.6% on a year agoWheatbelt: −1.4% on a year agoOutback WA (north): −0.2% on a year agoOutback WA (south): +10.0% on a year agoGreater Hobart: −9.9% on a year agoLaunceston and North East: −1.2% on a year agoSouth East Tasmania: −5.2% on a year agoWest and North West: +7.3% on a year agoGreater Darwin: −11.7% on a year agoOutback Northern Territory: −1.7% on a year agoAustralian Capital Territory: −6.9% on a year ago
  • Down more than 10%
  • Down 5–10%
  • Down 2–5%
  • About the same (±2%)
  • Up 2–5%
  • Up 5–10%
  • Up more than 10%

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Show the numbers
Online job ads, change on a year ago, by area
AreaStateAds a month, September 2026Change on a year ago
Capital RegionNSW1,453+26.7%
Coffs Harbour - GraftonNSW912+13.7%
Outback South AustraliaSA709+13.1%
Central WestNSW1,478+12.2%
Mid North CoastNSW1,561+11.1%
Outback WA (south)WA1,565+10.0%
Southern Highlands and ShoalhavenNSW773+10.0%
BallaratVIC937+9.0%
Greater PerthWA23,190+8.6%
West and North WestTAS649+7.3%
MurrayNSW1,029+7.1%
RiverinaNSW1,238+6.9%
BendigoVIC908+6.8%
South East South AustraliaSA974+6.4%
GeelongVIC1,690+6.4%
TownsvilleQLD2,354+3.8%
Warrnambool and South WestVIC761+3.4%
Mackay - Isaac - WhitsundayQLD2,471+3.4%
BunburyWA1,284+3.0%
New England and North WestNSW1,405+2.9%
CairnsQLD2,209+2.7%
Wide BayQLD1,804+2.6%
Outback QueenslandQLD779+2.4%
Far West and OranaNSW983+2.1%
Greater AdelaideSA12,437+1.9%
ToowoombaQLD1,148+1.5%
Greater BrisbaneQLD29,449+1.5%
Central QueenslandQLD2,223+0.7%
North West VictoriaVIC923+0.4%
SheppartonVIC850+0.1%
Barossa - Yorke - Mid NorthSA5480.0%
Outback WA (north)WA1,730−0.2%
HumeVIC937−0.3%
Greater MelbourneVIC38,170−0.6%
Latrobe - GippslandVIC1,262−0.6%
IllawarraNSW1,427−0.7%
Launceston and North EastTAS857−1.2%
WheatbeltWA701−1.4%
Outback Northern TerritoryNT961−1.7%
Greater SydneyNSW44,625−2.6%
Hunter ValleyNSW2,051−3.3%
Sunshine CoastQLD3,218−3.4%
South East TasmaniaTAS92−5.2%
Newcastle and Lake MacquarieNSW2,803−5.2%
Darling Downs - MaranoaQLD1,006−5.8%
Richmond - TweedNSW1,448−6.4%
Australian Capital TerritoryACT4,643−6.9%
Gold CoastQLD5,473−8.4%
Greater HobartTAS1,566−9.9%
Greater DarwinNT1,869−11.7%
Table 2.1: Where job ads grew fastestChange on a year earlier, the three months to September 2026. Areas tied at the figure shown share a rank.
RankAreaChange
1Capital Region, NSW+26.7%
2Coffs Harbour - Grafton, NSW+13.7%
3Outback South Australia, SA+13.1%
4Central West, NSW+12.2%
5Mid North Coast, NSW+11.1%
6Outback WA (south), WA+10.0%
6Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven, NSW+10.0%
8Ballarat, VIC+9.0%
9Greater Perth, WA+8.6%
10West and North West, TAS+7.3%

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Table 2.2: Where job ads fell mostChange on a year earlier, the three months to September 2026. Fewer ads, not fewer jobs.
RankAreaChange
1Greater Darwin, NT−11.7%
2Greater Hobart, TAS−9.9%
3Gold Coast, QLD−8.4%
4Australian Capital Territory−6.9%
5Richmond - Tweed, NSW−6.4%
6Darling Downs - Maranoa, QLD−5.8%
7Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, NSW−5.2%
7South East Tasmania, TAS−5.2%
9Sunshine Coast, QLD−3.4%
10Hunter Valley, NSW−3.3%

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

3 Unemployment by area, September 2026

Australia's unemployment rate was 4.6% in September 2026, against 4.3% a year earlier (ABS modelled estimates).[3][4] Each area's rate follows, with its change in points on a year earlier.

Figure 3.1: Unemployment rate by area, September 2026The ABS's modelled estimates for September 2026. Select an area for its report. Figure 3.2's table lists every area's rate.
Capital Region: 3.4% in September 2026Greater Sydney: 4.8% in September 2026Central West: 4.0% in September 2026Coffs Harbour - Grafton: 5.0% in September 2026Far West and Orana: 4.2% in September 2026Hunter Valley: 5.2% in September 2026Illawarra: 5.2% in September 2026Mid North Coast: 4.3% in September 2026Murray: 4.3% in September 2026New England and North West: 4.6% in September 2026Newcastle and Lake Macquarie: 4.7% in September 2026Richmond - Tweed: 4.1% in September 2026Riverina: 3.7% in September 2026Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven: 4.2% in September 2026Ballarat: 4.1% in September 2026Bendigo: 3.7% in September 2026Geelong: 3.9% in September 2026Hume: 3.2% in September 2026Latrobe - Gippsland: 4.4% in September 2026Greater Melbourne: 5.3% in September 2026North West Victoria: 3.4% in September 2026Shepparton: 4.0% in September 2026Warrnambool and South West: 3.0% in September 2026Greater Brisbane: 4.6% in September 2026Cairns: 4.8% in September 2026Darling Downs - Maranoa: 3.3% in September 2026Central Queensland: 4.7% in September 2026Gold Coast: 3.5% in September 2026Mackay - Isaac - Whitsunday: 3.1% in September 2026Outback Queensland: 6.8% in September 2026Sunshine Coast: 3.2% in September 2026Toowoomba: 4.2% in September 2026Townsville: 5.2% in September 2026Wide Bay: 5.5% in September 2026Greater Adelaide: 3.9% in September 2026Barossa - Yorke - Mid North: 4.2% in September 2026Outback South Australia: 5.6% in September 2026South East South Australia: 3.6% in September 2026Bunbury: 3.4% in September 2026Greater Perth: 4.3% in September 2026Wheatbelt: 3.1% in September 2026Outback WA (north): 4.9% in September 2026. Labour force figures for Outback WA (north) cover the whole of Outback WA: the ABS models north and south together.Outback WA (south): 4.9% in September 2026. Labour force figures for Outback WA (south) cover the whole of Outback WA: the ABS models north and south together.Greater Hobart: 5.2% in September 2026Launceston and North East: 5.0% in September 2026South East Tasmania: 4.9% in September 2026West and North West: 5.2% in September 2026Greater Darwin: 3.0% in September 2026Outback Northern Territory: 6.5% in September 2026Australian Capital Territory: 4.7% in September 2026
  • Under 3.5%
  • 3.5%–4.1%
  • 4.1%–4.6%
  • 4.6%–5.1%
  • 5.1% and over

Sources: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3]; ViewJobs analysis[4].

Show the numbers below
Figure 3.2: Change in unemployment on a year earlier, by areaSeptember 2026 against September 2025, in percentage points: the ten largest rises, with any area tied with the tenth shown too, and all 6 falls, rising unemployment first. The table lists every area. Outback WA (north and south) is one ABS region, shown once in the chart.
Hunter Valley, NSW: +1.1 ptsHunter Valley, NSW+1.1 ptsLaunceston and North East, TAS: +0.8 ptsLaunceston and North East, TAS+0.8 ptsOutback Northern Territory, NT: +0.7 ptsOutback Northern Territory, NT+0.7 ptsOutback Queensland, QLD: +0.7 ptsOutback Queensland, QLD+0.7 ptsGold Coast, QLD: +0.6 ptsGold Coast, QLD+0.6 ptsGreater Sydney, NSW: +0.6 ptsGreater Sydney, NSW+0.6 ptsMurray, NSW: +0.6 ptsMurray, NSW+0.6 ptsSouth East Tasmania, TAS: +0.6 ptsSouth East Tasmania, TAS+0.6 ptsWest and North West, TAS: +0.6 ptsWest and North West, TAS+0.6 ptsSunshine Coast, QLD: +0.5 ptsSunshine Coast, QLD+0.5 ptsToowoomba, QLD: +0.5 ptsToowoomba, QLD+0.5 ptsBarossa - Yorke - Mid North, SA: −0.1 ptsBarossa - Yorke - Mid North, SA−0.1 ptsGreater Perth, WA: −0.1 ptsGreater Perth, WA−0.1 ptsSouth East South Australia, SA: −0.2 ptsSouth East South Australia, SA−0.2 ptsWheatbelt, WA: −0.2 ptsWheatbelt, WA−0.2 ptsGreater Adelaide, SA: −0.3 ptsGreater Adelaide, SA−0.3 ptsOutback South Australia, SA: −0.5 ptsOutback South Australia, SA−0.5 pts

Sources: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3]; ViewJobs analysis[4].

Show the numbers
Change in unemployment on a year earlier, by area
AreaStateSeptember 2025September 2026Change on a year earlier
Hunter ValleyNSW4.1%5.2%+1.1 pts
Launceston and North EastTAS4.2%5.0%+0.8 pts
Outback Northern TerritoryNT5.8%6.5%+0.7 pts
Outback QueenslandQLD6.1%6.8%+0.7 pts
Gold CoastQLD2.9%3.5%+0.6 pts
Greater SydneyNSW4.2%4.8%+0.6 pts
MurrayNSW3.7%4.3%+0.6 pts
South East TasmaniaTAS4.3%4.9%+0.6 pts
West and North WestTAS4.6%5.2%+0.6 pts
Sunshine CoastQLD2.7%3.2%+0.5 pts
ToowoombaQLD3.7%4.2%+0.5 pts
Australian Capital TerritoryACT4.3%4.7%+0.4 pts
Capital RegionNSW3.0%3.4%+0.4 pts
Central WestNSW3.6%4.0%+0.4 pts
Coffs Harbour - GraftonNSW4.6%5.0%+0.4 pts
Greater BrisbaneQLD4.2%4.6%+0.4 pts
Greater HobartTAS4.8%5.2%+0.4 pts
Newcastle and Lake MacquarieNSW4.3%4.7%+0.4 pts
BallaratVIC3.8%4.1%+0.3 pts
BendigoVIC3.4%3.7%+0.3 pts
Central QueenslandQLD4.4%4.7%+0.3 pts
GeelongVIC3.6%3.9%+0.3 pts
Greater MelbourneVIC5.0%5.3%+0.3 pts
Mackay - Isaac - WhitsundayQLD2.8%3.1%+0.3 pts
Richmond - TweedNSW3.8%4.1%+0.3 pts
Darling Downs - MaranoaQLD3.1%3.3%+0.2 pts
Far West and OranaNSW4.0%4.2%+0.2 pts
IllawarraNSW5.0%5.2%+0.2 pts
Latrobe - GippslandVIC4.2%4.4%+0.2 pts
New England and North WestNSW4.4%4.6%+0.2 pts
Southern Highlands and ShoalhavenNSW4.0%4.2%+0.2 pts
TownsvilleQLD5.0%5.2%+0.2 pts
Warrnambool and South WestVIC2.8%3.0%+0.2 pts
Greater DarwinNT2.9%3.0%+0.1 pts
Mid North CoastNSW4.2%4.3%+0.1 pts
Outback WA (north)WA4.8%4.9%+0.1 pts
Outback WA (south)WA4.8%4.9%+0.1 pts
RiverinaNSW3.6%3.7%+0.1 pts
BunburyWA3.4%3.4%0.0 pts
CairnsQLD4.8%4.8%0.0 pts
HumeVIC3.2%3.2%0.0 pts
North West VictoriaVIC3.4%3.4%0.0 pts
SheppartonVIC4.0%4.0%0.0 pts
Wide BayQLD5.5%5.5%0.0 pts
Barossa - Yorke - Mid NorthSA4.3%4.2%−0.1 pts
Greater PerthWA4.4%4.3%−0.1 pts
South East South AustraliaSA3.8%3.6%−0.2 pts
WheatbeltWA3.3%3.1%−0.2 pts
Greater AdelaideSA4.2%3.9%−0.3 pts
Outback South AustraliaSA6.1%5.6%−0.5 pts
Table 3.1: Highest unemployment, September 2026Areas tied at the figure shown share a rank.
RankAreaUnemployment
1Outback Queensland, QLD6.8%
2Outback Northern Territory, NT6.5%
3Outback South Australia, SA5.6%
4Wide Bay, QLD5.5%
5Greater Melbourne, VIC5.3%
6Greater Hobart, TAS5.2%
6Hunter Valley, NSW5.2%
6Illawarra, NSW5.2%
6Townsville, QLD5.2%
6West and North West, TAS5.2%

Sources: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3]; ViewJobs analysis[4].

Table 3.2: Lowest unemployment, September 2026Areas tied at the figure shown share a rank.
RankAreaUnemployment
1Greater Darwin, NT3.0%
1Warrnambool and South West, VIC3.0%
3Mackay - Isaac - Whitsunday, QLD3.1%
3Wheatbelt, WA3.1%
5Hume, VIC3.2%
5Sunshine Coast, QLD3.2%
7Darling Downs - Maranoa, QLD3.3%
8Bunbury, WA3.4%
8Capital Region, NSW3.4%
8North West Victoria, VIC3.4%

Sources: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3]; ViewJobs analysis[4].

4 States and territories

Each state and territory's page maps its areas and lists them side by side.

Table 4.1: Unemployment by state and territory, September 2026The ABS's modelled estimates for September 2026, each the sum of its regions; the change is on September 2025. Select a state or territory for its page.
State or territoryJob market areasUnemployment, September 2026Change on a year earlier
New South Wales144.7%+0.5 pts
Victoria95.0%+0.3 pts
Queensland114.4%+0.4 pts
South Australia44.0%−0.3 pts
Western Australia54.2%−0.1 pts
Tasmania45.1%+0.5 pts
Northern Territory24.3%+0.3 pts
Australian Capital Territory14.7%+0.4 pts

Sources: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3]; ViewJobs analysis[4].

Figure 4.1: Unemployment rate by state and territory, January 2019 to September 2026Monthly unemployment rate since January 2019, every state and territory on the same scale.

Each chart runs from 2% at its baseline to 10% at its top.

  • New South WalesNew South Wales: 4.7% · up 0.5 points

    4.7% · up 0.5 points

  • VictoriaVictoria: 5.0% · up 0.3 points

    5.0% · up 0.3 points

  • QueenslandQueensland: 4.4% · up 0.4 points

    4.4% · up 0.4 points

  • South AustraliaSouth Australia: 4.0% · down 0.3 points

    4.0% · down 0.3 points

  • Western AustraliaWestern Australia: 4.2% · down 0.1 points

    4.2% · down 0.1 points

  • TasmaniaTasmania: 5.1% · up 0.5 points

    5.1% · up 0.5 points

  • Northern TerritoryNorthern Territory: 4.3% · up 0.3 points

    4.3% · up 0.3 points

  • Australian Capital TerritoryAustralian Capital Territory: 4.7% · up 0.4 points

    4.7% · up 0.4 points

Sources: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3]; ViewJobs analysis[4].

Show the numbers
Unemployment rate by state and territory, January 2019 to September 2026
MonthNew South WalesVictoriaQueenslandSouth AustraliaWestern AustraliaTasmaniaNorthern TerritoryAustralian Capital Territory
January 20194.3%5.0%6.3%6.8%7.3%7.3%5.8%3.8%
February 20194.7%5.1%6.1%6.1%6.3%7.1%6.6%3.7%
March 20194.6%4.9%6.5%6.1%6.5%6.9%5.4%4.1%
April 20194.5%5.0%6.0%6.2%6.0%6.9%6.0%4.7%
May 20194.5%4.5%6.1%5.6%5.9%6.3%6.1%4.2%
June 20194.6%4.6%6.3%5.8%5.3%6.7%5.9%2.6%
July 20194.5%4.8%6.0%6.9%5.7%6.4%6.3%3.4%
August 20194.4%4.9%6.2%7.1%5.7%6.7%6.2%4.0%
September 20194.4%4.6%6.1%6.0%5.7%6.1%6.8%3.4%
October 20194.7%4.5%6.0%6.0%5.3%5.7%6.5%3.0%
November 20194.4%4.3%5.5%6.2%5.4%5.8%6.1%2.9%
December 20194.4%4.8%5.1%6.0%5.2%5.6%5.4%3.0%
January 20204.8%5.8%6.5%6.0%6.3%6.2%6.3%3.4%
February 20205.0%5.7%6.1%6.2%5.5%5.2%7.3%3.3%
March 20205.1%5.4%5.9%6.5%5.9%5.1%7.1%3.6%
April 20206.3%6.1%7.0%7.1%6.1%6.1%7.3%4.2%
May 20206.3%6.6%7.7%7.7%7.7%6.3%8.2%3.9%
June 20206.6%7.1%7.8%8.4%7.9%6.9%7.1%4.3%
July 20207.1%6.7%8.3%7.9%8.0%6.4%8.4%4.6%
August 20206.4%7.1%7.1%7.6%6.8%6.5%6.2%4.5%
September 20206.8%6.5%7.1%6.6%6.6%7.5%5.9%3.9%
October 20206.3%6.8%7.2%6.7%6.4%7.6%6.7%3.8%
November 20206.0%6.7%6.7%6.1%6.1%7.5%6.1%3.7%
December 20206.2%6.3%6.6%6.2%6.1%6.9%5.6%3.7%
January 20216.4%6.9%7.3%7.5%6.9%6.4%6.1%4.9%
February 20216.0%6.1%6.7%7.2%6.4%6.0%6.3%5.0%
March 20215.8%6.4%6.3%6.6%5.2%6.0%7.1%4.0%
April 20215.4%5.6%6.0%5.9%5.0%6.1%5.6%3.6%
May 20215.0%4.7%5.4%5.8%4.6%5.6%5.9%3.6%
June 20215.1%4.3%5.2%5.2%4.9%4.7%6.2%4.4%
July 20214.5%4.4%5.1%4.7%4.6%4.9%6.2%4.4%
August 20214.7%4.0%5.0%4.7%4.5%5.5%5.5%3.8%
September 20214.5%4.6%4.7%4.8%4.1%4.7%5.2%4.1%
October 20215.3%5.3%4.9%5.0%3.8%4.8%4.8%6.3%
November 20214.4%4.4%4.2%4.4%3.7%4.9%4.6%3.6%
December 20213.9%4.2%4.2%3.9%3.3%3.9%4.8%4.4%
January 20224.5%4.5%4.7%5.3%4.2%4.0%4.7%3.7%
February 20224.0%4.5%4.5%5.4%4.2%4.0%4.5%3.5%
March 20224.1%4.3%4.2%5.1%3.6%4.4%5.3%3.9%
April 20223.5%4.4%4.2%4.6%3.0%4.0%4.8%3.3%
May 20224.0%3.7%4.0%4.6%3.1%4.4%4.6%3.3%
June 20223.3%3.1%3.9%4.3%3.3%4.4%4.7%3.0%
July 20223.3%3.1%3.6%4.1%3.3%3.9%4.2%3.3%
August 20223.5%3.8%3.3%3.9%3.3%5.0%4.3%2.9%
September 20223.3%3.4%3.5%4.1%3.5%4.3%3.8%3.2%
October 20223.0%3.5%3.1%3.9%3.5%3.9%3.8%3.0%
November 20223.1%3.4%3.0%3.9%3.4%3.5%3.8%2.3%
December 20223.1%3.5%3.4%3.9%3.4%3.5%4.6%2.8%
January 20233.4%4.5%4.1%4.6%3.9%4.4%4.3%3.8%
February 20233.4%4.1%4.1%4.2%4.2%3.7%5.6%3.5%
March 20233.5%3.9%4.2%3.9%3.6%4.2%4.8%3.1%
April 20233.4%4.0%3.9%4.4%3.7%3.9%4.1%3.1%
May 20233.1%3.7%3.9%3.9%3.5%4.2%3.9%3.0%
June 20232.9%3.5%3.7%4.1%3.5%3.6%4.1%3.6%
July 20233.3%3.5%4.3%4.0%3.3%5.0%4.7%3.9%
August 20233.6%3.5%3.9%3.5%3.8%4.9%4.8%3.3%
September 20233.3%3.4%3.6%3.4%3.3%4.3%4.2%4.0%
October 20233.4%3.6%4.0%3.4%3.7%4.0%4.1%3.8%
November 20233.3%3.8%4.0%3.7%3.5%3.5%4.6%3.4%
December 20233.3%4.0%4.0%3.9%3.9%3.3%4.3%3.9%
January 20244.5%4.4%4.4%4.6%4.8%4.9%4.3%4.8%
February 20243.9%4.2%4.3%3.6%3.8%4.4%4.5%4.9%
March 20244.0%4.3%4.5%4.0%3.5%3.7%4.0%3.2%
April 20244.0%4.5%4.2%4.3%4.0%3.9%4.1%3.8%
May 20243.7%4.3%4.0%3.9%3.5%4.0%4.0%3.6%
June 20243.8%4.3%3.8%3.8%3.7%3.6%4.6%2.7%
July 20243.9%4.3%4.4%4.4%3.5%4.7%4.3%4.0%
August 20244.1%4.4%4.1%3.6%4.1%5.0%4.2%3.9%
September 20243.7%4.3%3.8%4.0%3.6%4.1%3.9%3.4%
October 20243.9%4.3%3.6%3.9%3.9%4.0%4.3%3.0%
November 20243.7%3.9%3.6%3.7%3.0%3.6%3.6%2.6%
December 20243.6%4.4%3.6%4.1%3.1%4.0%4.1%3.0%
January 20254.4%5.2%4.2%4.7%4.1%3.8%4.7%3.7%
February 20254.3%5.0%4.4%4.1%3.6%4.1%4.6%3.1%
March 20254.4%4.6%4.3%4.1%3.8%3.9%3.8%3.0%
April 20253.9%4.4%4.3%4.1%4.2%3.5%4.1%3.9%
May 20254.1%4.3%3.7%4.2%3.8%4.0%4.0%4.1%
June 20254.3%4.3%4.0%4.3%4.1%3.6%3.9%3.3%
July 20253.9%4.4%4.3%4.3%4.0%4.2%4.6%4.3%
August 20254.3%4.2%4.3%4.7%4.0%3.7%4.6%4.6%
September 20254.2%4.7%4.0%4.3%4.3%4.6%4.0%4.3%
October 20254.1%4.4%3.9%4.0%4.1%3.8%4.8%4.4%
November 20253.6%4.5%3.9%3.7%4.3%3.8%4.0%4.0%
December 20253.7%4.5%3.6%3.7%3.7%4.2%3.9%3.3%
January 20264.5%4.7%4.7%4.1%3.7%5.3%4.8%4.7%
February 20264.3%5.0%4.8%4.3%4.4%4.7%5.5%3.8%
March 20264.6%5.0%4.0%4.1%4.3%4.6%4.5%4.1%
April 20264.5%5.0%4.3%4.4%4.3%4.8%5.2%4.8%
May 20264.3%4.8%3.7%4.2%4.5%5.5%4.0%3.7%
June 20263.9%4.9%4.3%4.2%4.2%4.7%5.0%3.9%
July 20264.1%4.9%4.4%4.2%4.2%5.5%4.6%3.6%
August 20264.3%4.9%4.4%4.5%4.6%5.3%4.9%3.9%
September 20264.7%5.0%4.4%4.0%4.2%5.1%4.3%4.7%

5 Employment by occupation: regional Australia and the major cities

Estimated employment by occupation in regional Australia and the major cities, from Jobs and Skills Australia's monthly nowcast, to September 2026.

Table 5.1: Occupations growing fastest in regional AustraliaThe 10 largest rises in estimated employment, September 2026 on September 2025, among occupations with at least 1,000 people employed in regional Australia, beside the same occupation in the major cities. Regional Australia and the major cities are Jobs and Skills Australia's own split by remoteness.Scroll the table sideways for every column.
OccupationPeople employed, Regional Australia, September 2026Change, Regional AustraliaChange, Major cities
Upholsterers1,230+33.3%+34.3%
Metal Casting, Forging and Finishing Trades Workers1,574+25.2%+20.7%
Shearers3,271+19.8%+0.2%
Primary Products Inspectors2,103+19.7%+2.1%
Nurserypersons1,822+18.5%+16.5%
Auctioneers, and Stock and Station Agents2,780+17.1%+10.8%
Middle School Teachers1,213+17.0%+16.1%
Wood Machinists and Other Wood Trades Workers1,502+16.8%+13.3%
Boat Builders and Shipwrights1,608+16.4%+18.0%
Clothing Trades Workers2,337+16.0%+3.3%

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[5].

Note: Jobs and Skills Australia's nowcast is experimental: its figures are model estimates of the people employed in each occupation, not a count of them, and each monthly release revises the months before it.

6 Occupations in shortage

Jobs and Skills Australia's 2026 Occupation Shortage List rates 311 occupations: 95 are in national shortage and 5 are in shortage in regional Australia. Of those 100, 43 are in shortage mainly because applicants often don't meet employers' needs, 36 because too few people hold the qualifications and 21 because workers leave the occupation.[6]

Table 6.1: Largest occupations in shortage, Australia, September 2026The 10 occupations the 2026 list rates in shortage with the most people employed in September 2026, from Jobs and Skills Australia's nowcast, each with the list's rating and main reason.Scroll the table sideways for every column.
OccupationPeople employed, September 2026National shortage, 2026Main reason
Registered Nurses378,370ShortageApplicants often don't meet employers' needs
Aged and Disabled Carers373,633ShortageToo few people hold the qualifications
Truck Drivers203,081ShortageApplicants often don't meet employers' needs
Electricians202,182ShortageApplicants often don't meet employers' needs
Child Carers188,138ShortageToo few people hold the qualifications
Secondary School Teachers161,122ShortageToo few people hold the qualifications
Carpenters and Joiners153,503ShortageToo few people hold the qualifications
Chefs136,829ShortageToo few people hold the qualifications
Construction Managers133,259Regional shortageApplicants often don't meet employers' needs
Metal Fitters and Machinists122,897ShortageApplicants often don't meet employers' needs

Sources: Jobs and Skills Australia[5]; ViewJobs[7]; Jobs and Skills Australia[6].

7 Projected growth to 2035

The occupations projected to add the most people across Australia, from Jobs and Skills Australia's Employment Projections, May 2025 to May 2035.

Table 7.1: Occupations projected to add the most people, May 2025 to May 2035The 10 occupations projected to add the most people employed across Australia. Groups Jobs and Skills Australia publishes as "not further defined" are left out.Scroll the table sideways for every column.
OccupationProjected employment, May 2035People added to May 2035Change from May 2025
Registered Nurses458,64394,877+26.1%
Aged and Disabled Carers437,24067,086+18.1%
General Clerks354,46156,554+19.0%
Software and Applications Programmers235,69249,626+26.7%
Sales Assistants (General)609,18539,756+7.0%
Accountants245,26034,965+16.6%
Management and Organisation Analysts137,11029,413+27.3%
General Practitioners and Resident Medical Officers118,34529,339+33.0%
Advertising, Public Relations and Sales Managers194,35128,956+17.5%
Contract, Program and Project Administrators193,05528,519+17.3%

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[8].

8 Quick answers

Short answers to the questions people ask about Australia's job markets, each with its period and source.

How many jobs are advertised in Australia?

215,533 online job ads a month were placed across Australia, on average, in the three months to September 2026.

Sources: Jobs and Skills Australia[1]; ViewJobs analysis[2].

Is Australia's job market growing or shrinking?

Steady: online job ads across Australia were up 0.6% on a year earlier, from 214,332 to 215,533 a month in the three months to September 2026.

Sources: Jobs and Skills Australia[1]; ViewJobs analysis[2].

Where are job ads growing fastest in Australia?

Online job ads grew fastest in the Capital Region (up 26.7%), Coffs Harbour - Grafton (up 13.7%) and Outback South Australia (up 13.1%), comparing the three months to September 2026 with a year earlier.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Where are job ads falling in Australia?

Online job ads fell most in Greater Darwin (down 11.7%), Greater Hobart (down 9.9%) and the Gold Coast (down 8.4%), comparing the three months to September 2026 with a year earlier.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Where is unemployment highest in Australia?

Unemployment was highest in Outback Queensland (6.8%), Outback Northern Territory (6.5%) and Outback South Australia (5.6%) in September 2026 (ABS modelled estimates).

Sources: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3]; ViewJobs analysis[4].

Where is unemployment lowest in Australia?

Unemployment was lowest in Greater Darwin (3.0%) and Warrnambool and South West (3.0%) in September 2026 (ABS modelled estimates).

Sources: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3]; ViewJobs analysis[4].

Which occupations are growing fastest in regional Australia?

Upholsterers grew fastest in regional Australia among occupations with at least 1,000 people employed there, up 33.3% from September 2025 to an estimated 1,230 people employed in September 2026, against up 34.3% in the major cities. Next were Metal Casting, Forging and Finishing Trades Workers (up 25.2%) and Shearers (up 19.8%). These are Jobs and Skills Australia's experimental nowcast estimates.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[5].

9 Notes and method

What the figures count, where they come from, and the rules these pages apply to them.

The areas
The reports cover 50 job market areas, 42 regional ABS regions and the eight capital cities: the areas Jobs and Skills Australia publishes online job ads for. Each has its own report.
Online job ads
Jobs and Skills Australia's Internet Vacancy Index is a monthly count of online job ads, compiled from SEEK, CareerOne and Workforce Australia. Regional figures are three-month averages. It is not a count of ViewJobs' own ads. It counts ads, not jobs filled, by occupation and area.
State and national ads
These pages read the index's series by area, so a state or national figure here is the sum of its areas, read at the same month for every area and marked as ViewJobs analysis. It can differ from the state and national totals Jobs and Skills Australia publishes separately.[2]
The map
Areas are shaded by their change in online job ads on a year earlier. The shades are set from the spread of changes among the areas shown, so one change can take a different shade on a state page and on the national map. The unemployment map shades each area by its rate in the latest month, set the same way.
Small numbers and ties
An area with fewer than 5 ads a month, now or a year earlier, is shown as "fewer than 5" and is not shaded or ranked. Areas tied at the figure shown share a rank.
Unemployment
Monthly unemployment, participation and employment are the ABS's Regional Labour Force modelled estimates: the ABS combines its Labour Force Survey with administrative data to estimate each labour market region. They are in original terms, not seasonally adjusted, so every change here compares a month with the same month a year earlier. The ABS's labour market regions follow the 2011 boundaries of its SA4 regions, which differ slightly from today's in a few areas. The rates for Australia, each state and territory, and the eight capital cities are sums of the ABS's regions, with rates worked out from the sums.[4] Labour force figures for Outback WA (north) and Outback WA (south) cover the whole of Outback WA: the ABS models north and south together.
Employment by occupation
Jobs and Skills Australia's nowcast is experimental: its figures are model estimates of the people employed in each occupation, not a count of them, and each monthly release revises the months before it. Occupations are ANZSCO unit groups, named as Jobs and Skills Australia publishes them. The table lists rises only: the largest on a year earlier among occupations with at least 1,000 people employed in regional Australia in the newest month.[5]
Occupation shortages
Jobs and Skills Australia's Occupation Shortage List rates occupations (ANZSCO unit groups) nationally each year, and gives the main reason for each shortage. "Regional shortage" marks an occupation in shortage in regional Australia.[6] The table ranks the occupations in shortage by Jobs and Skills Australia's nowcast of the people employed in each across Australia.[5][7]
Employment projections
Jobs and Skills Australia's Employment Projections are model estimates of the people employed in each occupation and in each state and territory, from a May baseline to five and ten years on. Groups published as "not further defined" are remainders, not occupations, so the national table leaves them out.[8]

10 References

Every figure on this page points at one of these entries.

  1. Jobs and Skills Australia, Internet Vacancy Index, September 2026. jobsandskills.gov.au/sites/default/files/2026-10/internet_vacancies_anzsco2_occupations_gccsa_and_sa4_regions_-_september_2026.xlsx. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Accessed 25 October 2026.
  2. ViewJobs, ViewJobs analysis of the Jobs and Skills Australia Internet Vacancy Index, September 2026. jobsandskills.gov.au/data/internet-vacancy-index. State and national figures are the sum of the ABS areas in Jobs and Skills Australia's regional series.
  3. Australian Bureau of Statistics, Regional Labour Force, September 2026. abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/employment-and-unemployment/regional-labour-force/sep-2026/MLF1.xlsx. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Accessed 25 October 2026.
  4. ViewJobs, ViewJobs analysis of the Australian Bureau of Statistics Regional Labour Force, September 2026. abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/employment-and-unemployment/regional-labour-force/latest-release. Capital city, state and national figures are sums of the ABS's modelled labour market regions, with rates worked out from the sums.
  5. Jobs and Skills Australia, Nowcast of Employment by Region and Occupation, September 2026. jobsandskills.gov.au/sites/default/files/2026-10/2026-09_nero.zip. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Accessed 27 October 2026. Source: Jobs and Skills Australia, Nowcast of Employment by Region and Occupation (NERO), September 2026, CC BY 4.0. Experimental estimates.
  6. Jobs and Skills Australia, Occupation Shortage List, 2026. jobsandskills.gov.au/data/occupation-shortage. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Accessed 28 October 2026. Source: Jobs and Skills Australia, 2026 Occupation Shortage List, CC BY 4.0.
  7. ViewJobs, ViewJobs analysis of the Jobs and Skills Australia Nowcast of Employment by Region and Occupation, September 2026. jobsandskills.gov.au/data/nero. Capital city, state and national figures are sums of SA4 regions.
  8. Jobs and Skills Australia, Employment Projections, May 2025 to May 2035. jobsandskills.gov.au/data/employment-projections. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Accessed 28 October 2026. Source: Jobs and Skills Australia, Employment Projections, May 2025 to May 2035, CC BY 4.0. Projections are model estimates.

Cite this report

ViewJobs (2026). Australia's job markets, data to September 2026. https://www.viewjobs.com.au/job-market

Licence

Contains data from Jobs and Skills Australia, and the Australian Bureau of Statistics, used under CC BY 4.0. ViewJobs has charted the data and, where marked as ViewJobs analysis, added areas together.

ViewJobs

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