How many jobs are advertised in New South Wales?
63,186 online job ads a month were placed across New South Wales, on average, in the three months to September 2026.
Job market report
Job markets in New South Wales
Online job ads, unemployment and pay across New South Wales' 14 job market areas, from Jobs and Skills Australia and the Australian Bureau of Statistics. It also sets estimated employment by occupation in the rest of New South Wales beside Greater Sydney. Each area has its own full report.
- Latest data
- JSA September 2026; ABS Regional Labour Force September 2026; JSA NERO September 2026; ABS 2023 to 2025
- Updated
- 28 October 2026
- Areas
- 14 job market areas
- Sources
- JSA and ABS
Key findings
Steady: online job ads across New South Wales were down 0.8% on a year earlier, from 63,706 to 63,186 a month in the three months to September 2026.[1][2]
Section 1: Job ads across New South Wales →Online job ads grew fastest in the Capital Region (up 26.7%), Coffs Harbour - Grafton (up 13.7%) and the Central West (up 12.2%), comparing the three months to September 2026 with a year earlier.[1]
Section 3: Job market areas in New South Wales →Online job ads fell most in Richmond - Tweed (down 6.4%), Newcastle and Lake Macquarie (down 5.2%) and the Hunter Valley (down 3.3%), comparing the three months to September 2026 with a year earlier.[1]
Section 3: Job market areas in New South Wales →Unemployment was highest in the Hunter Valley (5.2%), the Illawarra (5.2%) and Coffs Harbour - Grafton (5.0%) in September 2026 (ABS modelled estimates).[3][4]
Section 2: Unemployment in New South Wales, September 2026 →
1 Job ads across New South Wales
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 14 areas' figures.
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%.
Sources: Jobs and Skills Australia[1]; ViewJobs analysis[2].
Show the numbers
| Month | Online job ads a month |
|---|---|
| October 2023 | 85,510 |
| November 2023 | 79,575 |
| December 2023 | 68,477 |
| January 2024 | 65,545 |
| February 2024 | 65,178 |
| March 2024 | 71,897 |
| April 2024 | 70,289 |
| May 2024 | 69,679 |
| June 2024 | 66,667 |
| July 2024 | 65,363 |
| August 2024 | 65,178 |
| September 2024 | 67,407 |
| October 2024 | 69,018 |
| November 2024 | 66,211 |
| December 2024 | 57,758 |
| January 2025 | 56,464 |
| February 2025 | 55,806 |
| March 2025 | 62,955 |
| April 2025 | 59,856 |
| May 2025 | 60,508 |
| June 2025 | 59,026 |
| July 2025 | 62,087 |
| August 2025 | 61,562 |
| September 2025 | 63,706 |
| October 2025 | 63,877 |
| November 2025 | 62,329 |
| December 2025 | 54,527 |
| January 2026 | 54,193 |
| February 2026 | 55,812 |
| March 2026 | 64,027 |
| April 2026 | 61,235 |
| May 2026 | 60,847 |
| June 2026 | 58,491 |
| July 2026 | 60,675 |
| August 2026 | 61,393 |
| September 2026 | 63,186 |
2 Unemployment in New South Wales, September 2026
New South Wales' unemployment rate was 4.7% in September 2026, against 4.2% a year earlier and 4.6% across Australia (ABS modelled estimates).[3][4] Each area's rate follows, with its change in points on a year earlier.
- Under 4.1%
- 4.1%–4.2%
- 4.2%–4.5%
- 4.5%–4.9%
- 4.9% and over
Sources: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3]; ViewJobs analysis[4].
Show the numbers
| Area | Unemployment, September 2026 | Change on a year earlier |
|---|---|---|
| Hunter Valley | 5.2% | +1.1 pts |
| Illawarra | 5.2% | +0.2 pts |
| Coffs Harbour - Grafton | 5.0% | +0.4 pts |
| Greater Sydney | 4.8% | +0.6 pts |
| Newcastle and Lake Macquarie | 4.7% | +0.4 pts |
| New England and North West | 4.6% | +0.2 pts |
| Mid North Coast | 4.3% | +0.1 pts |
| Murray | 4.3% | +0.6 pts |
| Far West and Orana | 4.2% | +0.2 pts |
| Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven | 4.2% | +0.2 pts |
| Richmond - Tweed | 4.1% | +0.3 pts |
| Central West | 4.0% | +0.4 pts |
| Riverina | 3.7% | +0.1 pts |
| Capital Region | 3.4% | +0.4 pts |
Each chart runs from 2% at its baseline to 8% at its top.
- Capital Region
3.4% · up 0.4 points
- Central West
4.0% · up 0.4 points
- Coffs Harbour - Grafton
5.0% · up 0.4 points
- Far West and Orana
4.2% · up 0.2 points
- Hunter Valley
5.2% · up 1.1 points
- Illawarra
5.2% · up 0.2 points
- Mid North Coast
4.3% · up 0.1 points
- Murray
4.3% · up 0.6 points
- New England and North West
4.6% · up 0.2 points
- Newcastle and Lake Macquarie
4.7% · up 0.4 points
- Richmond - Tweed
4.1% · up 0.3 points
- Riverina
3.7% · up 0.1 points
- Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven
4.2% · up 0.2 points
- Greater Sydney
4.8% · up 0.6 points
Sources: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3]; ViewJobs analysis[4].
Show the numbers
| Month | Capital Region | Central West | Coffs Harbour - Grafton | Far West and Orana | Hunter Valley | Illawarra | Mid North Coast | Murray | New England and North West | Newcastle and Lake Macquarie | Richmond - Tweed | Riverina | Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven | Greater Sydney |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 2019 | 3.6% | 3.8% | 5.4% | 4.0% | 4.6% | 4.9% | 4.7% | 4.9% | 5.4% | 4.8% | 4.5% | 3.5% | 4.8% | 4.2% |
| February 2019 | 3.7% | 4.4% | 5.4% | 4.2% | 4.9% | 5.3% | 5.4% | 5.4% | 5.8% | 4.8% | 5.2% | 3.9% | 4.9% | 4.6% |
| March 2019 | 3.8% | 4.1% | 5.5% | 3.9% | 4.7% | 5.0% | 5.8% | 5.1% | 5.2% | 4.9% | 4.7% | 4.0% | 4.6% | 4.6% |
| April 2019 | 3.7% | 4.1% | 5.1% | 4.1% | 4.6% | 4.3% | 4.9% | 4.9% | 5.3% | 4.7% | 4.9% | 3.9% | 4.7% | 4.5% |
| May 2019 | 3.7% | 4.3% | 5.3% | 4.1% | 5.1% | 5.1% | 5.1% | 5.2% | 5.2% | 4.3% | 4.7% | 3.8% | 4.7% | 4.5% |
| June 2019 | 3.5% | 4.1% | 5.1% | 4.1% | 4.9% | 5.3% | 5.1% | 5.1% | 5.6% | 5.3% | 4.9% | 3.7% | 4.9% | 4.5% |
| July 2019 | 3.7% | 3.7% | 5.1% | 4.2% | 4.3% | 5.0% | 5.1% | 5.0% | 5.1% | 4.8% | 4.6% | 3.6% | 4.4% | 4.4% |
| August 2019 | 3.6% | 4.1% | 5.4% | 4.2% | 4.6% | 4.9% | 5.5% | 5.0% | 5.6% | 4.5% | 4.7% | 4.0% | 4.7% | 4.2% |
| September 2019 | 3.7% | 4.3% | 5.2% | 4.1% | 4.5% | 4.9% | 5.0% | 5.1% | 5.7% | 4.5% | 4.1% | 3.9% | 4.6% | 4.3% |
| October 2019 | 3.6% | 4.7% | 5.5% | 4.6% | 4.6% | 5.0% | 5.3% | 5.4% | 5.6% | 5.1% | 5.1% | 4.0% | 4.8% | 4.6% |
| November 2019 | 3.6% | 4.1% | 5.2% | 4.1% | 4.8% | 4.7% | 5.6% | 4.9% | 5.6% | 5.0% | 4.2% | 3.9% | 4.6% | 4.2% |
| December 2019 | 3.4% | 3.8% | 5.2% | 4.0% | 4.5% | 5.2% | 4.8% | 4.7% | 5.5% | 5.0% | 4.8% | 3.9% | 4.1% | 4.3% |
| January 2020 | 3.9% | 4.7% | 6.1% | 4.6% | 5.1% | 5.6% | 5.5% | 5.1% | 5.8% | 4.6% | 4.8% | 4.4% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| February 2020 | 4.2% | 4.3% | 6.4% | 4.6% | 5.2% | 5.5% | 5.9% | 4.9% | 6.3% | 5.4% | 4.7% | 4.3% | 5.2% | 4.9% |
| March 2020 | 4.1% | 4.5% | 5.7% | 4.6% | 5.6% | 5.4% | 5.8% | 5.4% | 6.0% | 5.3% | 4.8% | 4.3% | 5.0% | 5.1% |
| April 2020 | 4.8% | 5.2% | 6.5% | 5.0% | 6.3% | 6.6% | 6.8% | 5.9% | 6.5% | 6.5% | 6.4% | 5.0% | 5.8% | 6.4% |
| May 2020 | 4.9% | 4.8% | 7.1% | 4.6% | 6.2% | 6.9% | 6.3% | 6.2% | 5.6% | 6.5% | 6.4% | 4.7% | 6.1% | 6.4% |
| June 2020 | 5.2% | 5.1% | 7.3% | 4.7% | 6.6% | 7.3% | 6.0% | 5.4% | 6.1% | 7.0% | 6.4% | 5.0% | 5.1% | 6.9% |
| July 2020 | 5.1% | 5.3% | 7.3% | 5.0% | 6.9% | 7.7% | 6.4% | 6.2% | 6.5% | 7.1% | 6.5% | 5.1% | 6.4% | 7.4% |
| August 2020 | 4.2% | 4.9% | 6.8% | 4.8% | 6.0% | 6.8% | 6.5% | 6.1% | 6.3% | 6.1% | 5.6% | 4.9% | 6.0% | 6.8% |
| September 2020 | 5.2% | 5.4% | 7.2% | 4.8% | 6.7% | 7.3% | 6.6% | 6.5% | 6.4% | 6.8% | 6.3% | 5.1% | 5.7% | 7.0% |
| October 2020 | 4.4% | 4.7% | 6.7% | 4.9% | 6.4% | 6.5% | 6.0% | 5.6% | 6.0% | 6.2% | 5.6% | 4.8% | 5.2% | 6.6% |
| November 2020 | 4.7% | 4.5% | 6.3% | 4.3% | 5.8% | 6.5% | 5.4% | 5.6% | 5.6% | 6.0% | 5.6% | 4.4% | 5.2% | 6.2% |
| December 2020 | 3.8% | 4.5% | 6.1% | 4.9% | 5.9% | 6.5% | 5.4% | 5.5% | 5.6% | 5.9% | 5.5% | 4.0% | 4.7% | 6.5% |
| January 2021 | 4.7% | 4.6% | 5.7% | 4.9% | 5.7% | 7.0% | 6.1% | 5.7% | 6.1% | 6.3% | 5.2% | 4.9% | 5.4% | 6.8% |
| February 2021 | 4.2% | 4.2% | 6.3% | 4.8% | 5.4% | 5.3% | 5.8% | 5.3% | 5.7% | 5.2% | 5.1% | 4.0% | 4.9% | 6.5% |
| March 2021 | 3.8% | 4.0% | 6.1% | 4.5% | 5.6% | 6.0% | 5.5% | 5.2% | 5.4% | 5.3% | 5.0% | 3.9% | 4.7% | 6.1% |
| April 2021 | 3.7% | 4.1% | 5.8% | 3.8% | 4.9% | 5.1% | 4.9% | 4.7% | 5.3% | 5.4% | 4.7% | 3.9% | 4.2% | 5.8% |
| May 2021 | 3.5% | 3.6% | 5.2% | 4.0% | 4.9% | 5.2% | 4.9% | 4.7% | 5.0% | 4.4% | 4.7% | 3.4% | 4.1% | 5.3% |
| June 2021 | 4.0% | 3.8% | 5.6% | 4.1% | 5.0% | 5.5% | 5.1% | 4.6% | 5.1% | 5.1% | 3.7% | 3.7% | 4.2% | 5.3% |
| July 2021 | 3.1% | 3.5% | 4.7% | 3.8% | 4.1% | 5.1% | 4.1% | 4.2% | 4.8% | 4.3% | 4.0% | 3.4% | 3.9% | 4.8% |
| August 2021 | 3.3% | 3.8% | 4.9% | 3.9% | 4.9% | 5.1% | 4.6% | 4.5% | 4.6% | 4.6% | 4.4% | 3.6% | 4.0% | 4.9% |
| September 2021 | 3.8% | 3.7% | 5.0% | 3.9% | 4.5% | 5.3% | 4.7% | 4.1% | 4.6% | 4.7% | 4.3% | 3.1% | 4.1% | 4.6% |
| October 2021 | 3.9% | 4.4% | 4.6% | 4.2% | 5.7% | 6.1% | 4.5% | 4.3% | 5.3% | 5.2% | 4.1% | 3.4% | 4.6% | 5.6% |
| November 2021 | 3.3% | 3.3% | 5.2% | 3.7% | 4.3% | 4.8% | 4.6% | 4.3% | 4.5% | 4.4% | 3.8% | 3.4% | 3.7% | 4.5% |
| December 2021 | 3.0% | 3.2% | 4.5% | 3.5% | 4.1% | 4.3% | 4.3% | 3.7% | 4.6% | 3.7% | 3.6% | 3.0% | 3.6% | 4.0% |
| January 2022 | 3.4% | 3.9% | 5.0% | 3.9% | 4.6% | 4.5% | 4.9% | 4.1% | 5.0% | 4.7% | 4.8% | 3.5% | 3.8% | 4.6% |
| February 2022 | 3.3% | 3.6% | 5.1% | 3.7% | 4.0% | 4.0% | 3.8% | 4.2% | 4.6% | 4.2% | 3.6% | 3.2% | 3.6% | 4.1% |
| March 2022 | 3.3% | 3.0% | 5.1% | 3.6% | 4.4% | 4.5% | 4.5% | 3.4% | 4.6% | 4.2% | 4.4% | 3.1% | 3.8% | 4.2% |
| April 2022 | 2.8% | 3.1% | 4.5% | 3.3% | 3.5% | 4.0% | 4.1% | 3.5% | 4.1% | 3.7% | 4.2% | 2.7% | 3.2% | 3.5% |
| May 2022 | 2.9% | 3.2% | 4.6% | 3.6% | 4.1% | 4.5% | 4.6% | 3.8% | 4.5% | 4.6% | 4.4% | 3.0% | 3.5% | 4.0% |
| June 2022 | 2.7% | 2.9% | 4.2% | 3.3% | 3.7% | 3.4% | 3.4% | 3.4% | 4.0% | 3.3% | 3.5% | 2.7% | 3.1% | 3.3% |
| July 2022 | 2.7% | 3.1% | 3.9% | 3.3% | 3.8% | 3.6% | 3.7% | 3.3% | 3.8% | 3.2% | 2.6% | 2.7% | 3.2% | 3.3% |
| August 2022 | 2.7% | 3.0% | 4.3% | 3.2% | 3.9% | 3.8% | 3.7% | 3.3% | 3.6% | 3.8% | 3.5% | 2.8% | 3.4% | 3.4% |
| September 2022 | 2.3% | 2.6% | 4.2% | 3.4% | 3.5% | 3.8% | 3.9% | 3.4% | 3.7% | 3.3% | 3.6% | 2.8% | 3.0% | 3.3% |
| October 2022 | 2.6% | 2.7% | 3.6% | 3.1% | 3.1% | 3.2% | 3.5% | 3.3% | 3.5% | 3.3% | 2.7% | 2.7% | 2.8% | 3.0% |
| November 2022 | 2.6% | 2.9% | 3.9% | 3.1% | 3.6% | 3.3% | 3.5% | 3.3% | 3.7% | 3.2% | 3.1% | 2.7% | 2.9% | 3.0% |
| December 2022 | 2.6% | 2.7% | 3.8% | 3.3% | 3.1% | 3.5% | 3.5% | 3.1% | 3.5% | 3.2% | 2.8% | 2.5% | 2.9% | 3.1% |
| January 2023 | 2.8% | 2.9% | 4.2% | 3.5% | 4.0% | 4.3% | 3.9% | 3.4% | 3.6% | 3.6% | 3.4% | 2.9% | 3.0% | 3.4% |
| February 2023 | 2.4% | 3.2% | 4.4% | 3.5% | 4.1% | 3.4% | 3.7% | 3.5% | 4.1% | 3.3% | 3.4% | 2.9% | 3.1% | 3.4% |
| March 2023 | 2.5% | 3.1% | 4.0% | 3.6% | 4.0% | 3.8% | 4.1% | 3.4% | 4.2% | 3.8% | 3.5% | 2.8% | 3.1% | 3.5% |
| April 2023 | 2.8% | 2.8% | 3.9% | 3.6% | 3.2% | 4.0% | 3.5% | 3.5% | 3.6% | 3.5% | 2.9% | 2.9% | 3.2% | 3.5% |
| May 2023 | 2.2% | 2.7% | 4.2% | 3.1% | 3.4% | 3.3% | 3.2% | 3.2% | 3.3% | 3.2% | 2.8% | 2.5% | 2.9% | 3.0% |
| June 2023 | 2.5% | 2.9% | 3.4% | 3.0% | 3.0% | 3.5% | 3.4% | 3.2% | 3.5% | 2.8% | 2.9% | 2.6% | 2.7% | 2.8% |
| July 2023 | 2.7% | 2.6% | 4.1% | 3.4% | 3.3% | 3.6% | 3.8% | 3.4% | 3.8% | 3.4% | 3.5% | 2.8% | 2.8% | 3.2% |
| August 2023 | 2.7% | 3.1% | 4.3% | 3.7% | 3.7% | 3.9% | 4.1% | 3.6% | 4.2% | 3.9% | 3.1% | 3.2% | 3.2% | 3.6% |
| September 2023 | 2.5% | 2.9% | 4.1% | 3.4% | 3.7% | 3.9% | 3.5% | 3.5% | 3.7% | 3.6% | 3.1% | 3.0% | 3.0% | 3.3% |
| October 2023 | 2.8% | 2.8% | 4.3% | 3.3% | 3.7% | 4.0% | 3.6% | 3.3% | 3.7% | 2.9% | 3.2% | 2.8% | 3.2% | 3.4% |
| November 2023 | 2.4% | 3.0% | 3.8% | 3.2% | 3.4% | 3.9% | 3.5% | 3.3% | 3.6% | 3.6% | 3.1% | 2.7% | 2.9% | 3.3% |
| December 2023 | 2.5% | 3.2% | 3.8% | 3.5% | 3.5% | 3.7% | 3.9% | 3.5% | 3.8% | 3.3% | 3.6% | 3.0% | 3.0% | 3.3% |
| January 2024 | 3.5% | 3.5% | 5.1% | 4.0% | 4.8% | 5.4% | 4.6% | 3.8% | 4.8% | 4.6% | 3.9% | 3.5% | 3.7% | 4.5% |
| February 2024 | 2.6% | 3.1% | 4.3% | 3.8% | 4.3% | 4.5% | 4.2% | 3.7% | 4.3% | 4.1% | 3.9% | 3.0% | 3.5% | 3.9% |
| March 2024 | 3.1% | 3.5% | 4.7% | 3.9% | 3.8% | 4.4% | 4.2% | 4.0% | 4.6% | 4.1% | 3.6% | 3.2% | 3.4% | 4.1% |
| April 2024 | 3.1% | 3.3% | 4.7% | 3.7% | 4.1% | 4.7% | 3.8% | 3.8% | 4.4% | 4.0% | 3.8% | 3.4% | 3.4% | 4.0% |
| May 2024 | 2.6% | 3.3% | 4.3% | 3.6% | 4.1% | 4.4% | 4.1% | 3.6% | 4.4% | 3.3% | 3.4% | 3.2% | 3.7% | 3.7% |
| June 2024 | 2.8% | 3.3% | 4.3% | 3.4% | 4.0% | 4.1% | 4.0% | 3.9% | 4.2% | 3.8% | 3.8% | 3.4% | 3.4% | 3.9% |
| July 2024 | 2.9% | 3.4% | 4.6% | 3.9% | 4.0% | 4.5% | 3.7% | 3.9% | 4.0% | 4.1% | 3.6% | 3.5% | 3.2% | 3.9% |
| August 2024 | 3.2% | 3.6% | 4.5% | 3.9% | 4.3% | 4.9% | 4.5% | 3.6% | 4.1% | 4.2% | 3.8% | 3.4% | 3.4% | 4.1% |
| September 2024 | 2.9% | 3.0% | 4.4% | 3.5% | 3.8% | 4.0% | 3.5% | 3.7% | 4.1% | 4.0% | 3.5% | 3.3% | 3.2% | 3.8% |
| October 2024 | 2.9% | 3.1% | 4.4% | 3.7% | 4.2% | 4.6% | 4.1% | 3.9% | 4.3% | 3.7% | 3.4% | 3.5% | 3.9% | 3.9% |
| November 2024 | 2.9% | 3.0% | 4.2% | 3.6% | 3.7% | 3.9% | 3.9% | 3.5% | 4.1% | 3.6% | 3.4% | 3.3% | 3.5% | 3.7% |
| December 2024 | 2.6% | 3.3% | 4.3% | 3.6% | 3.7% | 4.3% | 3.8% | 3.5% | 3.9% | 3.2% | 3.1% | 3.1% | 3.0% | 3.6% |
| January 2025 | 3.1% | 3.9% | 4.8% | 4.1% | 4.4% | 4.8% | 4.4% | 4.2% | 4.6% | 4.6% | 3.9% | 3.8% | 4.0% | 4.4% |
| February 2025 | 3.2% | 3.7% | 4.7% | 4.0% | 4.4% | 4.9% | 4.2% | 4.2% | 4.5% | 4.3% | 3.5% | 3.5% | 3.4% | 4.4% |
| March 2025 | 3.3% | 3.2% | 5.0% | 4.1% | 5.0% | 4.9% | 4.9% | 4.1% | 4.5% | 4.6% | 4.4% | 3.8% | 4.3% | 4.4% |
| April 2025 | 3.0% | 3.3% | 4.1% | 3.6% | 4.1% | 4.1% | 3.7% | 3.7% | 4.6% | 4.1% | 3.8% | 3.4% | 3.4% | 3.9% |
| May 2025 | 3.1% | 3.5% | 4.7% | 3.7% | 4.3% | 4.8% | 4.5% | 4.0% | 4.8% | 4.2% | 3.7% | 3.3% | 3.7% | 4.1% |
| June 2025 | 3.1% | 3.7% | 5.0% | 4.0% | 4.7% | 5.0% | 4.4% | 4.2% | 4.1% | 4.4% | 3.9% | 3.7% | 3.9% | 4.4% |
| July 2025 | 3.0% | 3.6% | 4.3% | 3.7% | 3.9% | 4.6% | 4.0% | 3.9% | 4.3% | 4.3% | 3.9% | 3.1% | 3.7% | 3.9% |
| August 2025 | 3.4% | 3.7% | 4.8% | 4.1% | 4.9% | 4.9% | 4.4% | 4.2% | 4.7% | 4.4% | 3.7% | 3.6% | 3.7% | 4.3% |
| September 2025 | 3.0% | 3.6% | 4.6% | 4.0% | 4.1% | 5.0% | 4.2% | 3.7% | 4.4% | 4.3% | 3.8% | 3.6% | 4.0% | 4.2% |
| October 2025 | 2.8% | 3.4% | 4.4% | 4.1% | 4.4% | 4.6% | 4.1% | 4.3% | 4.5% | 3.9% | 3.6% | 3.7% | 3.8% | 4.2% |
| November 2025 | 2.9% | 3.3% | 4.2% | 3.1% | 4.1% | 4.2% | 3.7% | 3.4% | 3.9% | 3.8% | 3.0% | 3.1% | 3.3% | 3.6% |
| December 2025 | 2.9% | 3.2% | 4.2% | 3.6% | 4.1% | 4.1% | 3.7% | 3.7% | 4.2% | 4.1% | 3.3% | 3.1% | 3.4% | 3.7% |
| January 2026 | 3.3% | 3.8% | 5.0% | 4.2% | 4.6% | 5.1% | 4.4% | 4.7% | 4.9% | 4.6% | 4.1% | 3.9% | 3.7% | 4.5% |
| February 2026 | 3.2% | 3.6% | 5.0% | 4.1% | 4.1% | 5.1% | 4.5% | 4.4% | 4.8% | 4.3% | 3.6% | 3.7% | 4.0% | 4.4% |
| March 2026 | 3.5% | 3.8% | 4.6% | 4.3% | 4.9% | 4.6% | 4.7% | 4.2% | 4.8% | 4.8% | 4.2% | 3.7% | 4.2% | 4.6% |
| April 2026 | 3.1% | 3.9% | 4.8% | 4.1% | 4.8% | 4.9% | 4.4% | 4.2% | 4.6% | 4.6% | 4.1% | 3.9% | 4.0% | 4.6% |
| May 2026 | 3.0% | 3.6% | 5.0% | 4.0% | 4.6% | 5.2% | 4.3% | 4.4% | 4.8% | 4.5% | 3.7% | 3.5% | 3.7% | 4.3% |
| June 2026 | 3.1% | 3.5% | 4.0% | 3.8% | 4.0% | 4.0% | 3.8% | 4.0% | 4.2% | 3.9% | 3.2% | 3.0% | 3.6% | 4.0% |
| July 2026 | 3.0% | 3.6% | 4.7% | 4.0% | 4.4% | 4.5% | 4.1% | 4.0% | 4.4% | 4.1% | 3.7% | 3.6% | 3.6% | 4.2% |
| August 2026 | 3.2% | 3.6% | 4.8% | 4.0% | 4.7% | 5.2% | 4.3% | 4.1% | 4.7% | 4.5% | 3.8% | 3.5% | 3.8% | 4.4% |
| September 2026 | 3.4% | 4.0% | 5.0% | 4.2% | 5.2% | 5.2% | 4.3% | 4.3% | 4.6% | 4.7% | 4.1% | 3.7% | 4.2% | 4.8% |
| Rank | Area | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hunter Valley | 5.2% |
| 1 | Illawarra | 5.2% |
| 3 | Coffs Harbour - Grafton | 5.0% |
| 4 | Greater Sydney | 4.8% |
| 5 | Newcastle and Lake Macquarie | 4.7% |
| 6 | New England and North West | 4.6% |
| 7 | Mid North Coast | 4.3% |
| 7 | Murray | 4.3% |
| 9 | Far West and Orana | 4.2% |
| 9 | Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven | 4.2% |
Sources: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3]; ViewJobs analysis[4].
| Rank | Area | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Capital Region | 3.4% |
| 2 | Riverina | 3.7% |
| 3 | Central West | 4.0% |
| 4 | Richmond - Tweed | 4.1% |
| 5 | Far West and Orana | 4.2% |
| 5 | Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven | 4.2% |
| 7 | Mid North Coast | 4.3% |
| 7 | Murray | 4.3% |
| 9 | New England and North West | 4.6% |
| 10 | Newcastle and Lake Macquarie | 4.7% |
Sources: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3]; ViewJobs analysis[4].
3 Job market areas in New South Wales
Every job market area in New South Wales, with its online job ads and its latest ABS figures. Select an area for its report.
- Down more than 20%
- Down 10–20%
- Down 3–10%
- About the same (±3%)
- Up 3–10%
- Up 10–20%
- Up more than 20%
Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].
Show the numbers
| Area | Ads a month, September 2026 | Change on a year ago |
|---|---|---|
| Capital Region | 1,453 | +26.7% |
| Coffs Harbour - Grafton | 912 | +13.7% |
| Central West | 1,478 | +12.2% |
| Mid North Coast | 1,561 | +11.1% |
| Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven | 773 | +10.0% |
| Murray | 1,029 | +7.1% |
| Riverina | 1,238 | +6.9% |
| New England and North West | 1,405 | +2.9% |
| Far West and Orana | 983 | +2.1% |
| Illawarra | 1,427 | −0.7% |
| Greater Sydney | 44,625 | −2.6% |
| Hunter Valley | 2,051 | −3.3% |
| Newcastle and Lake Macquarie | 2,803 | −5.2% |
| Richmond - Tweed | 1,448 | −6.4% |
| Area | Ads a month, September 2026 | Change on a year ago | Median employee income, 2023 | Unemployment, September 2026 | Population, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capital Region | 1,453 | +26.7% | $60,618 | 3.4% | 248,376 |
| Central West | 1,478 | +12.2% | $58,989 | 4.0% | 216,979 |
| Coffs Harbour - Grafton | 912 | +13.7% | $50,693 | 5.0% | 152,331 |
| Far West and Orana | 983 | +2.1% | $57,790 | 4.2% | 118,372 |
| Hunter Valley | 2,051 | −3.3% | $61,247 | 5.2% | 316,250 |
| Illawarra | 1,427 | −0.7% | $62,765 | 5.2% | 330,469 |
| Mid North Coast | 1,561 | +11.1% | $50,415 | 4.3% | 239,566 |
| Murray | 1,029 | +7.1% | $53,320 | 4.3% | 130,078 |
| New England and North West | 1,405 | +2.9% | $55,076 | 4.6% | 191,401 |
| Newcastle and Lake Macquarie | 2,803 | −5.2% | $63,592 | 4.7% | 412,359 |
| Richmond - Tweed | 1,448 | −6.4% | $49,880 | 4.1% | 265,824 |
| Riverina | 1,238 | +6.9% | $56,771 | 3.7% | 166,404 |
| Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven | 773 | +10.0% | $54,200 | 4.2% | 165,285 |
| Greater Sydney | 44,625 | −2.6% | $66,619 | 4.8% | 5,638,830 |
Sources: Jobs and Skills Australia[1]; Australian Bureau of Statistics[3]; ViewJobs analysis[4]; Australian Bureau of Statistics[5].
4 Employment by occupation: Greater Sydney and the rest of New South Wales
Estimated employment by occupation in Greater Sydney and the rest of New South Wales, from Jobs and Skills Australia's monthly nowcast, to September 2026.
| Occupation | People employed, Rest of New South Wales, September 2026 | Change, Rest of New South Wales | Change, Greater Sydney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prison Officers | 5,226 | +27.0% | +26.5% |
| Occupational Therapists | 5,623 | +22.8% | +21.1% |
| Car Detailers | 1,557 | +21.1% | +24.5% |
| Other Construction and Mining Labourers | 1,046 | +17.4% | +15.5% |
| Conveyancers and Legal Executives | 1,509 | +15.7% | +6.1% |
| Livestock Farm Workers | 7,172 | +15.7% | +14.6% |
| Other Machine Operators | 1,345 | +14.5% | +16.1% |
| Manufacturers | 1,358 | +14.3% | +19.7% |
| Plasterers | 3,475 | +14.2% | +16.0% |
| Ministers of Religion | 1,574 | +14.1% | +18.4% |
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.
5 Projected employment to 2035
Employment in New South Wales is projected to grow 12.7% to May 2035 (from 4,555,421 to 5,132,269).[8]
6 Quick answers
Short answers to the questions people ask about New South Wales' job markets, each with its period and source.
Is New South Wales' job market growing or shrinking?
Steady: online job ads across New South Wales were down 0.8% on a year earlier, from 63,706 to 63,186 a month in the three months to September 2026.
Where are job ads growing fastest in New South Wales?
Online job ads grew fastest in the Capital Region (up 26.7%), Coffs Harbour - Grafton (up 13.7%) and the Central West (up 12.2%), comparing the three months to September 2026 with a year earlier.
Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].
Where are job ads falling in New South Wales?
Online job ads fell most in Richmond - Tweed (down 6.4%), Newcastle and Lake Macquarie (down 5.2%) and the Hunter Valley (down 3.3%), comparing the three months to September 2026 with a year earlier.
Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].
Where is unemployment highest in New South Wales?
Unemployment was highest in the Hunter Valley (5.2%), the Illawarra (5.2%) and Coffs Harbour - Grafton (5.0%) in September 2026 (ABS modelled estimates).
Where is unemployment lowest in New South Wales?
Unemployment was lowest in the Capital Region (3.4%), the Riverina (3.7%) and the Central West (4.0%) in September 2026 (ABS modelled estimates).
Which occupations are growing fastest in the rest of New South Wales?
Prison Officers grew fastest in the rest of New South Wales among occupations with at least 1,000 people employed there, up 27.0% from September 2025 to an estimated 5,226 people employed in September 2026, against up 26.5% in Greater Sydney. Next were Occupational Therapists (up 22.8%) and Car Detailers (up 21.1%). These are Jobs and Skills Australia's experimental nowcast estimates.
7 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 New South Wales, Greater Sydney and Australia are sums of the ABS's regions, with rates worked out from the sums.[4]
- ABS figures
- The latest ABS income figures here are for the year to 30 June 2023; population counts are more recent. Every figure shows its year.
- 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 the rest of New South Wales in the newest month. Capital city, state and national figures are sums of SA4 regions. Rest-of-state figures are the state's SA4 regions outside its capital city, summed.[6][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.[8]
8 References
Every figure on this page points at one of these entries.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Australian Bureau of Statistics, Data by Region, v1.6.0. dbr.abs.gov.au. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Accessed 25 October 2026.
- 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.
- 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. Rest-of-state figures are the state's SA4 regions outside its capital city, summed.
- 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). Job markets in New South Wales, data to September 2026. https://www.viewjobs.com.au/job-market/nsw
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.
