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Job market report

Central West job market report

Online job ads, monthly unemployment, employment by occupation, people in employment services, pay, longer-term ABS trends and the jobs on ViewJobs in the Central West, from Jobs and Skills Australia, the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, and the Australian Taxation Office. Every figure is numbered and sourced.

Latest data
JSA September 2026; ABS Regional Labour Force September 2026; JSA NERO September 2026; DEWR June 2026; ATO 2023–24; ABS 2023 to 2025 and the 2021 Census
Updated
27 October 2026
Area
ABS SA4 103 Central West
Sources
JSA, ABS, DEWR, ATO and ViewJobs

Key findings

  1. Growing: online job ads in the Central West were up 12.2% on a year earlier, from 1,317 to 1,478 a month in the three months to September 2026.

    Over the same year, ads were down 0.8% across New South Wales and up 0.6% across Australia.[1][2]

    Section 1: Job ads and demand →

  2. Medical practitioners and nurses had the most online ads, 203 a month in the three months to September 2026, followed by carers and aides (123) and legal, social and welfare professionals (99).

    Among occupation groups with at least 5 ads a month a year earlier and now, ads for engineers rose fastest, up 87.0%.[1]

    Section 2: Which jobs are in demand →

  3. The unemployment rate in the Central West was 4.0% in September 2026, against 4.7% across New South Wales.

    A year earlier it was 3.6%. These are the ABS's modelled estimates for the month, not seasonally adjusted.[3][4]

    Section 3: Unemployment and participation, monthly →

  4. 7,060 people in the Central West were in Workforce Australia employment services at 30 June 2026, up 6.2% on a year earlier.

    68.9% of them had been in employment services for 12 months or more.[5]

    Section 5: Job seekers in employment services →
Unemployment rate
4.0%
ABS, September 2026 · up 0.4 points on September 2025[3]
Employed people
114,657
ABS, September 2026 · up 0.2% since September 2025[3]
Online job ads a month
1,478
JSA, September 2026 · up 12.2% since September 2025[1]
People in Workforce Australia employment services
7,060
DEWR, June 2026 · up 6.2% since June 2025[5]

1 Job ads and demand

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.

Central West
+12.2%
1,478 ads a month[1]
New South Wales
−0.8%
the sum of its areas[1][2]
Australia
+0.6%
the sum of every area[1][2]

Change in online job ads, the three months to September 2026 against a year earlier.

Figure 1.1: Online job ads a month, Central WestThree-month average, October 2023 to September 2026.
1k1.2k1.4k1.6k1.8kJan 2024Sep 2024May 2025Jan 2026Sep 2026Central WestCentral West, Sep 2026: 1,4781,478

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Show the numbers
Online job ads a month, Central West
MonthOnline job ads a month
October 20231,748
November 20231,614
December 20231,405
January 20241,387
February 20241,360
March 20241,441
April 20241,372
May 20241,372
June 20241,308
July 20241,274
August 20241,258
September 20241,299
October 20241,344
November 20241,348
December 20241,217
January 20251,186
February 20251,100
March 20251,216
April 20251,131
May 20251,182
June 20251,149
July 20251,263
August 20251,247
September 20251,317
October 20251,316
November 20251,315
December 20251,202
January 20261,234
February 20261,291
March 20261,456
April 20261,393
May 20261,409
June 20261,353
July 20261,425
August 20261,406
September 20261,478

2 Which jobs are in demand

Online job ads by occupation group (ANZSCO sub-major groups), the three months to September 2026 against a year earlier.

Figure 2.1: Change in online job ads by occupation, Central WestThe 12 occupation groups with the most ads, fastest-rising first. Groups with fewer than 5 ads a month now or a year earlier are left out; the table lists all 48.
Engineers: +87.0%Engineers+87.0%Medical practitioners and nurses: +47.1%Medical practitioners and nurses+47.1%Machine and stationary plant operators: +32.4%Machine and stationary plant operators+32.4%Electrotechnology and telecommunications trades: +27.3%Electrotechnology and telecommunications trades+27.3%Drivers and storepersons: +19.6%Drivers and storepersons+19.6%Legal, social and welfare professionals: +11.2%Legal, social and welfare professionals+11.2%Carers and aides: +6.0%Carers and aides+6.0%General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists: +5.6%General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists+5.6%Sales assistants and salespersons: +4.0%Sales assistants and salespersons+4.0%Hospitality, retail and service managers: 0.0%Hospitality, retail and service managers0.0%Automotive and engineering trades: −5.1%Automotive and engineering trades−5.1%Other labourers: −10.0%Other labourers−10.0%

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Show the numbers
Change in online job ads by occupation, Central West
Occupation groupAds a month, September 2026A year earlierChange
Medical practitioners and nurses203138+47.1%
Carers and aides123116+6.0%
Legal, social and welfare professionals9989+11.2%
Sales assistants and salespersons7875+4.0%
Automotive and engineering trades7579−5.1%
General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists7571+5.6%
Drivers and storepersons5546+19.6%
Hospitality, retail and service managers46460.0%
Machine and stationary plant operators4534+32.4%
Other labourers4550−10.0%
Engineers4323+87.0%
Electrotechnology and telecommunications trades4233+27.3%
Food trades3532+9.4%
Health diagnostic and therapy professionals3236−11.1%
Cleaners and laundry workers3226+23.1%
Engineering, ICT and science technicians3026+15.4%
Mobile plant operators3019+57.9%
Business, finance and human resource professionals2927+7.4%
Corporate managers2822+27.3%
Education professionals2630−13.3%
Hospitality workers2320+15.0%
Other clerical and administrative workers2223−4.3%
Numerical clerks2114+50.0%
Office managers, administrators and secretaries2117+23.5%
Construction, production and distribution managers1920−5.0%
Health and welfare support workers1917+11.8%
Science professionals and veterinarians1511+36.4%
Sports, travel and personal service workers13130.0%
Sales representatives and agents1319−31.6%
Construction and mining labourers1310+30.0%
Construction trades1213−7.7%
Jewellers, arts and other trades workers117+57.1%
Sales support workers108+25.0%
Food preparation assistants108+25.0%
Health, education, ICT and other managers912−25.0%
Information professionals95+80.0%
Skilled animal and horticultural workers89−11.1%
Clerical and office support workers, couriers87+14.3%
Farm, forestry and garden workers814−42.9%
ICT professionals6fewer than 5n/a
Sales, marketing & public relations professionals68−25.0%
Transport and design professionals, and architects68−25.0%
Protective service workers6fewer than 5n/a
Factory process workers67−14.3%
Arts and media professionals5fewer than 5n/a
Chief executives, managing directors & legislatorsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Farmers and farm managersfewer than 56n/a
Hairdressers, printing, clothing and wood tradesfewer than 56n/a

3 Unemployment and participation, monthly

Monthly unemployment and participation in the Central West, from the ABS's Regional Labour Force, to September 2026.

Figure 3.1: Unemployment rate, Central West, from January 2019Share of the labour force unemployed each month, January 2019 to September 2026, against New South Wales and Australia.
  • Central West
  • New South Wales
  • Australia
2%4%6%8%May 2020Dec 2021Jul 2023Feb 2025Sep 2026Central WestCentral West, Sep 2026: 4.0%4.0%New South WalesNew South Wales, Sep 2026: 4.7%4.7%AustraliaAustralia, Sep 2026: 4.6%4.6%

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

Show the numbers below
Figure 3.2: Participation rate, Central West, from January 2019Share of people aged 15 and over in the labour force each month, January 2019 to September 2026, against New South Wales and Australia.
  • Central West
  • New South Wales
  • Australia
60%62%64%66%68%70%Jan 2020Sep 2021May 2023Jan 2025Sep 2026Central WestCentral West, Sep 2026: 67.6%67.6%New South WalesNew South Wales, Sep 2026: 65.6%65.6%AustraliaAustralia, Sep 2026: 66.5%66.5%

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

Show the numbers below
Figure 3.3: Employed people, Central West, indexed to January 2019 = 100Employed people each month as an index, January 2019 = 100, against New South Wales and Australia, so places of different size share one scale.
  • Central West
  • New South Wales
  • Australia

Index (Jan 2019 = 100)

90100110120Jan 2020Sep 2021May 2023Jan 2025Sep 2026Central WestCentral West, Sep 2026: 109.2109.2New South WalesNew South Wales, Sep 2026: 112.4112.4AustraliaAustralia, Sep 2026: 117.4117.4

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

Show the numbers below
Figure 3.4: Youth unemployment (15–24) and all ages, Central WestThe unemployment rate each month among people aged 15 to 24, against all ages, January 2019 to September 2026.
  • Aged 15–24
  • All ages
0%5%10%15%Jan 2020Sep 2021May 2023Jan 2025Sep 2026Aged 15–24Aged 15–24, Sep 2026: 8.9%8.9%All agesAll ages, Sep 2026: 4.0%4.0%

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Show the numbers below
Numbers for Figures 3.1 to 3.4: Labour force each month, Central West, January 2019 to September 2026Every month and every line the figures above chart. The ABS publishes the full monthly series from January 2012.[3]

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

Show the numbers
Unemployment and participation rates
MonthUnemployment rate, Central WestUnemployment rate, New South WalesUnemployment rate, AustraliaParticipation rate, Central WestParticipation rate, New South WalesParticipation rate, Australia
January 20193.8%4.3%5.4%64.2%64.3%65.1%
February 20194.4%4.7%5.4%65.4%65.3%66.1%
March 20194.1%4.6%5.4%64.9%65.1%65.8%
April 20194.1%4.5%5.3%65.4%65.5%65.9%
May 20194.3%4.5%5.1%66.0%65.9%66.1%
June 20194.1%4.6%5.1%65.6%65.6%65.9%
July 20193.7%4.5%5.2%63.8%65.4%65.8%
August 20194.1%4.4%5.3%63.9%65.1%65.7%
September 20194.3%4.4%5.1%64.1%65.2%65.8%
October 20194.7%4.7%5.1%64.0%64.9%65.5%
November 20194.1%4.4%4.8%63.7%64.7%65.7%
December 20193.8%4.4%4.8%64.4%65.6%66.2%
January 20204.7%4.8%5.7%65.1%64.2%65.2%
February 20204.3%5.0%5.5%65.6%65.1%66.2%
March 20204.5%5.1%5.5%65.4%65.0%65.8%
April 20205.2%6.3%6.4%63.3%62.6%63.4%
May 20204.8%6.3%6.9%62.8%61.8%62.5%
June 20205.1%6.6%7.2%64.4%63.2%63.8%
July 20205.3%7.1%7.3%64.9%64.2%64.3%
August 20204.9%6.4%6.8%65.1%64.3%64.4%
September 20205.4%6.8%6.7%65.7%64.8%64.4%
October 20204.7%6.3%6.7%65.7%64.7%65.1%
November 20204.5%6.0%6.3%66.2%65.2%65.6%
December 20204.5%6.2%6.2%66.4%65.6%66.1%
January 20214.6%6.4%6.8%64.9%64.1%65.1%
February 20214.2%6.0%6.3%66.3%65.7%66.3%
March 20214.0%5.8%6.0%66.1%65.6%66.2%
April 20214.1%5.4%5.6%65.9%65.1%65.7%
May 20213.6%5.0%5.0%66.4%65.9%66.2%
June 20213.8%5.1%4.9%66.2%65.7%66.0%
July 20213.5%4.5%4.7%66.6%64.7%65.7%
August 20213.8%4.7%4.6%64.7%61.9%64.7%
September 20213.7%4.5%4.6%63.6%61.6%64.2%
October 20214.4%5.3%5.0%63.7%62.2%64.3%
November 20213.3%4.4%4.3%65.5%64.5%65.9%
December 20213.2%3.9%4.0%66.2%65.1%66.4%
January 20223.9%4.5%4.5%65.0%63.8%65.2%
February 20223.6%4.0%4.4%66.7%65.3%66.8%
March 20223.0%4.1%4.2%66.0%65.2%66.4%
April 20223.1%3.5%3.9%66.1%65.0%66.2%
May 20223.2%4.0%3.9%66.8%66.1%66.7%
June 20222.9%3.3%3.5%66.9%65.9%66.6%
July 20223.1%3.3%3.4%66.2%65.6%66.2%
August 20223.0%3.5%3.5%66.3%65.6%66.2%
September 20222.6%3.3%3.5%66.7%66.0%66.2%
October 20222.7%3.0%3.3%67.0%66.0%66.2%
November 20222.9%3.1%3.3%67.4%66.5%66.8%
December 20222.7%3.1%3.3%67.5%66.8%67.0%
January 20232.9%3.4%4.0%66.0%65.0%65.6%
February 20233.2%3.4%3.9%67.6%66.4%67.0%
March 20233.1%3.5%3.8%66.8%65.7%66.9%
April 20232.8%3.4%3.8%66.8%65.9%66.6%
May 20232.7%3.1%3.5%67.5%66.3%67.1%
June 20232.9%2.9%3.4%67.7%66.2%66.8%
July 20232.6%3.3%3.6%66.4%65.7%66.5%
August 20233.1%3.6%3.7%66.9%66.0%66.4%
September 20232.9%3.3%3.5%66.9%65.7%66.2%
October 20232.8%3.4%3.6%67.2%66.0%66.6%
November 20233.0%3.3%3.6%68.0%66.7%67.1%
December 20233.2%3.3%3.8%68.0%66.6%67.1%
January 20243.5%4.5%4.5%66.2%65.1%65.7%
February 20243.1%3.9%4.0%67.4%66.2%67.3%
March 20243.5%4.0%4.1%67.4%66.1%66.9%
April 20243.3%4.0%4.2%67.1%65.8%66.8%
May 20243.3%3.7%3.9%67.5%66.2%67.1%
June 20243.3%3.8%3.9%67.4%66.1%66.9%
July 20243.4%3.9%4.1%68.1%66.5%67.0%
August 20243.6%4.1%4.1%67.6%65.9%66.7%
September 20243.0%3.7%3.9%67.5%66.1%66.8%
October 20243.1%3.9%3.9%67.5%65.8%66.9%
November 20243.0%3.7%3.6%68.0%66.3%67.0%
December 20243.3%3.6%3.8%69.0%66.9%67.5%
January 20253.9%4.4%4.5%67.7%65.9%66.6%
February 20253.7%4.3%4.4%68.1%66.3%67.2%
March 20253.2%4.4%4.3%67.8%66.3%67.0%
April 20253.3%3.9%4.1%68.1%66.3%67.1%
May 20253.5%4.1%4.0%68.2%66.4%67.4%
June 20253.7%4.3%4.2%67.6%66.1%67.1%
July 20253.6%3.9%4.2%68.2%66.0%66.9%
August 20253.7%4.3%4.3%67.2%65.2%66.4%
September 20253.6%4.2%4.3%67.4%65.4%66.7%
October 20253.4%4.1%4.2%67.9%65.9%66.7%
November 20253.3%3.6%4.0%67.9%65.5%66.8%
December 20253.2%3.7%3.9%68.2%66.1%67.1%
January 20263.8%4.5%4.5%67.2%65.0%66.1%
February 20263.6%4.3%4.6%68.4%66.4%67.4%
March 20263.8%4.6%4.5%68.7%66.8%67.1%
April 20263.9%4.5%4.6%68.0%66.0%66.7%
May 20263.6%4.3%4.3%68.2%66.2%67.0%
June 20263.5%3.9%4.3%68.5%66.4%67.1%
July 20263.6%4.1%4.4%68.3%66.2%66.7%
August 20263.6%4.3%4.6%67.9%65.9%66.6%
September 20264.0%4.7%4.6%67.6%65.6%66.5%
Employed people as an index, January 2019 = 100, and youth unemployment
MonthEmployed people, index, Central WestEmployed people, index, New South WalesEmployed people, index, AustraliaYouth unemployment rate (15–24), Central West
January 2019100.0100.0100.08.7%
February 2019101.3101.2101.79.8%
March 2019101.0101.0101.59.1%
April 2019101.7101.9101.99.2%
May 2019102.4102.5102.59.6%
June 2019102.1102.1102.39.1%
July 201999.8102.0102.28.2%
August 201999.6101.9102.19.2%
September 201999.8102.0102.69.6%
October 201999.2101.3102.310.5%
November 201999.5101.5103.09.1%
December 2019100.9102.9103.88.6%
January 2020101.1100.3101.610.8%
February 2020102.3101.8103.49.8%
March 2020101.8101.6103.010.0%
April 202097.896.698.311.1%
May 202097.495.396.610.1%
June 202099.697.298.110.1%
July 2020100.298.198.810.3%
August 2020100.998.999.59.3%
September 2020101.299.299.510.2%
October 2020101.999.6100.79.1%
November 2020102.9100.7101.98.8%
December 2020103.3101.1102.88.9%
January 2021100.998.6100.79.2%
February 2021103.4101.4103.18.4%
March 2021103.4101.5103.38.1%
April 2021103.0101.1103.18.3%
May 2021104.4102.8104.57.4%
June 2021103.8102.6104.38.0%
July 2021104.7101.5104.17.6%
August 2021101.496.9102.78.3%
September 202199.896.6101.98.1%
October 202199.296.8101.79.5%
November 2021103.2101.5105.17.1%
December 2021104.5103.1106.36.7%
January 2022102.0100.6104.27.9%
February 2022105.1103.7107.07.4%
March 2022104.8103.5106.86.2%
April 2022104.8104.1107.06.4%
May 2022106.0105.4108.16.7%
June 2022106.5105.9108.56.0%
July 2022105.2105.7108.26.4%
August 2022105.6105.7108.36.3%
September 2022106.7106.8108.65.5%
October 2022107.0107.4109.15.7%
November 2022107.6108.3110.26.1%
December 2022107.9109.0110.75.6%
January 2023105.6106.0108.16.1%
February 2023107.9108.5110.86.7%
March 2023106.8107.6111.26.6%
April 2023107.1108.3110.86.1%
May 2023108.4109.5112.35.8%
June 2023108.5109.8112.06.2%
July 2023107.0108.8111.75.7%
August 2023107.3109.1111.76.7%
September 2023107.7109.3112.06.2%
October 2023108.4109.8112.66.3%
November 2023109.5111.3113.66.9%
December 2023109.4111.2113.77.3%
January 2024106.2107.6110.78.0%
February 2024108.7110.4114.17.2%
March 2024108.3110.2113.68.1%
April 2024108.0109.9113.57.8%
May 2024108.6110.8114.57.7%
June 2024108.4110.6114.47.5%
July 2024109.5111.4114.47.8%
August 2024108.5110.4114.18.2%
September 2024109.3111.3114.86.6%
October 2024109.2110.6114.96.9%
November 2024109.9111.8115.76.9%
December 2024111.4113.2116.67.7%
January 2025108.7110.7114.39.0%
February 2025109.5111.6115.88.6%
March 2025109.7111.6115.87.6%
April 2025110.2112.4116.27.7%
May 2025110.0112.4116.98.5%
June 2025108.8111.6116.48.9%
July 2025110.1112.2116.38.5%
August 2025108.4110.6115.68.5%
September 2025108.9111.2116.18.3%
October 2025110.0112.1116.57.8%
November 2025110.0112.3116.97.6%
December 2025110.7113.2117.87.3%
January 2026108.5110.7115.48.8%
February 2026110.8113.4117.88.4%
March 2026111.1113.9117.78.9%
April 2026109.8112.7117.09.3%
May 2026110.4113.3118.08.4%
June 2026111.1114.4118.48.0%
July 2026110.7113.7117.78.0%
August 2026110.1113.3117.58.0%
September 2026109.2112.4117.48.9%

Note: 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.

4 Who works here: employment by occupation

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

Figure 4.1: Largest occupations by estimated employment, Central West, September 2026The 10 occupations with the most people employed in September 2026, of an estimated 115,868 people employed in the Central West across all occupations. The table adds September 2025 and the change. 4 of the Central West's 10 largest occupations are in national shortage, and 1 is in shortage in regional Australia.
Sales Assistants (General): 5,384Sales Assistants (General)5,384Livestock Farmers: 3,769Livestock Farmers3,769Aged and Disabled Carers: 3,020Aged and Disabled Carers3,020Retail Managers: 2,618Retail Managers2,618Registered Nurses: 2,456Registered Nurses2,456Drillers, Miners and Shot Firers: 2,264Drillers, Miners and Shot Firers2,264Commercial Cleaners: 2,199Commercial Cleaners2,199Electricians: 2,192Electricians2,192General Clerks: 2,087General Clerks2,087Metal Fitters and Machinists: 2,027Metal Fitters and Machinists2,027

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

Show the numbers
Largest occupations by estimated employment, Central West, September 2026
OccupationPeople employed, September 2026September 2025ChangeNational shortage, 2026
Sales Assistants (General)5,3845,243+2.7%
Livestock Farmers3,7693,694+2.0%
Aged and Disabled Carers3,0202,743+10.1%Shortage
Retail Managers2,6182,473+5.9%
Registered Nurses2,4562,609−5.9%Shortage
Drillers, Miners and Shot Firers2,2642,481−8.7%Regional shortage
Commercial Cleaners2,1991,938+13.5%
Electricians2,1921,740+26.0%Shortage
General Clerks2,0872,044+2.1%
Metal Fitters and Machinists2,0272,192−7.5%Shortage
Figure 4.2: Fastest growing and shrinking occupations by estimated employment, Central West, September 2025 to September 2026Estimated employment in September 2026 against September 2025, among occupations with at least 200 people employed at both points: the 5 fastest growing, then the 5 fastest shrinking.
Electricians: +26.0%Electricians+26.0%Checkout Operators and Office Cashiers: +23.3%Checkout Operators and Office Cashiers+23.3%Prison Officers: +21.9%Prison Officers+21.9%Occupational Therapists: +18.9%Occupational Therapists+18.9%Other Building and Engineering Technicians: +18.9%Other Building and Engineering Technicians+18.9%Fast Food Cooks: −14.6%Fast Food Cooks−14.6%Keyboard Operators: −15.1%Keyboard Operators−15.1%Other Hospitality, Retail and Service Managers: −16.5%Other Hospitality, Retail and Service Managers−16.5%Receptionists: −17.5%Receptionists−17.5%Cafe Workers: −22.3%Cafe Workers−22.3%

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[6].

Show the numbers
Fastest growing and shrinking occupations by estimated employment, Central West, September 2025 to September 2026
OccupationPeople employed, September 2026September 2025Change
Electricians2,1921,740+26.0%
Checkout Operators and Office Cashiers1,168947+23.3%
Prison Officers1,036850+21.9%
Occupational Therapists994836+18.9%
Other Building and Engineering Technicians1,5051,266+18.9%
Fast Food Cooks502588−14.6%
Keyboard Operators611720−15.1%
Other Hospitality, Retail and Service Managers8421,008−16.5%
Receptionists1,2161,474−17.5%
Cafe Workers206265−22.3%
Figure 4.3: People employed in the largest occupations, Central West, September 2021 to September 2026Estimated people employed each September from 2021 to 2026, one point a year, in the 5 occupations with the most people employed in September 2026.
  • Sales Assistants (General)
  • Livestock Farmers
  • Aged and Disabled Carers
  • Retail Managers
  • Registered Nurses
02k4k6k8kSep 2022Sep 2024Sep 2026Sales Assistants (General)Sales Assistants (General), Sep 2021: 3,397Sales Assistants (General), Sep 2026: 5,3845,384Livestock FarmersLivestock Farmers, Sep 2021: 6,024Livestock Farmers, Sep 2026: 3,7693,769Aged and Disabled CarersAged and Disabled Carers, Sep 2021: 2,493Aged and Disabled Carers, Sep 2026: 3,0203,020Retail ManagersRetail Managers, Sep 2021: 1,806Retail Managers, Sep 2026: 2,6182,618Registered NursesRegistered Nurses, Sep 2021: 2,626Registered Nurses, Sep 2026: 2,4562,456

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[6].

Show the numbers
People employed in the largest occupations, Central West, September 2021 to September 2026
MonthSales Assistants (General)Livestock FarmersAged and Disabled CarersRetail ManagersRegistered Nurses
September 20213,3976,0242,4931,8062,626
September 20223,6455,0562,6931,6163,144
September 20234,1453,9732,6351,6403,633
September 20244,7413,6702,6112,0433,142
September 20255,2433,6942,7432,4732,609
September 20265,3843,7693,0202,6182,456

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 Job seekers in employment services

People in Workforce Australia employment services in the Central West, from the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, to June 2026. These are people getting help to find work, not an unemployment count.

Figure 5.1: People in Workforce Australia employment services, Central WestPeople in employment services at each snapshot, November 2024 to June 2026.
6k6.25k6.5k6.75k7k7.25kMar 2025Aug 2025Jan 2026Jun 2026Central WestCentral West, Jun 2026: 7,0607,060

Source: Department of Employment and Workplace Relations[5].

Show the numbers below
Figure 5.2: In employment services for 12 months or more and 24 months or more, Central West, against New South Wales and AustraliaShare of people in employment services who had been in services for 12 months or more, and in the Central West for 24 months or more, November 2024 to June 2026.
  • Central West, 12 months or more
  • Central West, 24 months or more
  • New South Wales, 12 months or more
  • Australia, 12 months or more
40%50%60%70%Mar 2025Aug 2025Jan 2026Jun 2026Central West, 12 months or moreCentral West, 12 months or more, Jun 2026: 68.9%68.9%Central West, 24 months or moreCentral West, 24 months or more, Jun 2026: 49.1%49.1%New South Wales, 12 months or moreNew South Wales, 12 months or more, Jun 2026: 64.6%64.6%Australia, 12 months or moreAustralia, 12 months or more, Jun 2026: 64.4%64.4%

Sources: Department of Employment and Workplace Relations[5]; ViewJobs[8].

Show the numbers below
Numbers for Figures 5.1 and 5.2: People in employment services at each snapshot, Central West, November 2024 to June 2026Every snapshot loaded, one row each.[5]

Sources: Department of Employment and Workplace Relations[5]; ViewJobs[8].

Show the numbers
People in employment services and the shares in services for 12 and 24 months or more
SnapshotPeople in employment services, Central WestIn services 12 months or more, Central WestIn services 24 months or more, Central WestIn services 12 months or more, New South WalesIn services 12 months or more, Australia
November 20246,12566.2%48.2%60.7%60.8%
December 20246,14566.5%48.3%60.7%60.7%
January 20256,33066.0%47.6%60.4%60.5%
February 20256,45065.8%47.2%60.4%60.3%
March 20256,53065.5%46.9%60.5%60.3%
April 20256,62065.8%46.7%60.8%60.5%
May 20256,68066.5%46.7%61.0%60.7%
June 20256,64566.5%46.6%61.7%61.3%
July 20256,67066.8%46.7%62.0%61.7%
August 20256,74566.6%46.7%62.6%62.2%
September 20256,78567.1%46.7%62.8%62.4%
October 20256,85067.4%46.9%63.1%62.7%
November 20256,86066.9%46.9%62.9%62.5%
December 20256,80567.2%47.5%63.1%62.6%
January 20266,96566.8%47.5%63.1%62.7%
February 20267,04067.5%47.6%63.5%63.1%
March 20267,07068.0%47.8%63.8%63.4%
April 20267,04568.3%48.4%64.1%63.8%
May 20267,11068.5%48.6%64.4%64.2%
June 20267,06068.9%49.1%64.6%64.4%
Figure 5.3: People in employment services by age group, Central West, June 2026The 5 age groups at the latest snapshot; the table adds each group's share of all people in employment services.
Under 25: 1,690Under 251,69025–34: 1,64025–341,64035–44: 1,42535–441,42545–54: 1,21045–541,21055 and over: 1,09055 and over1,090

Source: Department of Employment and Workplace Relations[5].

Show the numbers
People in employment services by age group, Central West, June 2026
Age groupPeopleShare
Under 251,69024%
25–341,64023%
35–441,42520%
45–541,21017%
55 and over1,09015%
Figure 5.4: People in employment services by allowance group, Central West, June 2026The 3 allowance groups at the latest snapshot; the table adds each group's share of all people in employment services.
JobSeeker Payment: 5,050JobSeeker Payment5,050Youth Allowance (other): 1,075Youth Allowance (other)1,075Other: 935Other935

Source: Department of Employment and Workplace Relations[5].

Show the numbers
People in employment services by allowance group, Central West, June 2026
Allowance groupPeopleShare
JobSeeker Payment5,05072%
Youth Allowance (other)1,07515%
Other93513%

6 Jobs on ViewJobs now

Live job ads on ViewJobs in Central NSW, a ViewJobs region that reaches beyond this ABS area: 83% of its towns are in the area.

Live jobs on ViewJobs in Central NSW
1,256
ViewJobs, 30 Oct 2026[9]
Figure 6.1: Live jobs on ViewJobs by classification, Central NSWThe 8 classifications with the most live ads, as of 30 Oct 2026.
Healthcare & Medical: 533Healthcare & Medical533Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics: 165Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics165Community Services & Development: 91Community Services & Development91Retail & Consumer Products: 88Retail & Consumer Products88Hospitality & Tourism: 70Hospitality & Tourism70Education & Training: 51Education & Training51Trades & Services: 42Trades & Services42Call Centre & Customer Service: 27Call Centre & Customer Service27

Source: ViewJobs live ads[9].

Show the numbers
Live jobs on ViewJobs by classification, Central NSW
ClassificationLive jobs
Healthcare & Medical533
Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics165
Community Services & Development91
Retail & Consumer Products88
Hospitality & Tourism70
Education & Training51
Trades & Services42
Call Centre & Customer Service27

Browse jobs by region

7 Pay

Average salary and wages per earner from the ATO's taxation statistics, by income year. The newest regional figures are for the 2023–24 income year.

Figure 7.1: Average salary and wages per earner, Central West, 2021–22 to 2023–24 (ATO)Average salary and wages per earner, 2021–22 to 2023–24 income years (ATO), against New South Wales and Australia.
  • Central West
  • New South Wales
  • Australia
$60k$65k$70k$75k$80k$85k2021–222022–232023–24Central WestCentral West, 2021–22: $64,216Central West, 2022–23: $67,777Central West, 2023–24: $71,529$71,529New South WalesNew South Wales, 2021–22: $72,962New South Wales, 2022–23: $77,277New South Wales, 2023–24: $80,137$80,137AustraliaAustralia, 2021–22: $69,980Australia, 2022–23: $73,647Australia, 2023–24: $76,760$76,760

Sources: Australian Taxation Office[10]; ViewJobs[11].

Show the numbers
Average salary and wages per earner, Central West, 2021–22 to 2023–24 (ATO)
Income yearCentral WestNew South WalesAustralia
2021–22$64,216$72,962$69,980
2022–23$67,777$77,277$73,647
2023–24$71,529$80,137$76,760

Note: Averages are pulled up by high earners. The ATO counts a postcode that spans regions in the region holding most of it.

9 Quick answers

Short answers to the questions people ask about the Central West's job market, each with its period and source.

How many jobs are advertised in the Central West?

1,478 online job ads a month were placed in the Central West, on average, in the three months to September 2026.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Is the Central West's job market growing or shrinking?

Growing: online job ads in the Central West were up 12.2% on a year earlier, from 1,317 to 1,478 a month in the three months to September 2026. Over the same year, ads were down 0.8% across New South Wales and up 0.6% across Australia.

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

Which jobs are most in demand in the Central West?

Medical practitioners and nurses had the most online ads, 203 a month in the three months to September 2026, followed by carers and aides (123) and legal, social and welfare professionals (99). Among occupation groups with at least 5 ads a month a year earlier and now, ads for engineers rose fastest, up 87.0%.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

What is the unemployment rate in the Central West?

The unemployment rate in the Central West was 4.0% in September 2026, against 4.7% across New South Wales. A year earlier it was 3.6%. These are the ABS's modelled estimates for the month, not seasonally adjusted.

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

Is unemployment rising in the Central West?

Yes. Unemployment in the Central West was up 0.4 points on a year earlier in September 2026, at 4.0% against 3.6% (ABS modelled estimates). Across New South Wales it was up 0.5 points.

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

What are the biggest occupations in the Central West?

An estimated 5,384 of the 115,868 people employed in the Central West in September 2026 worked as Sales Assistants (General), the largest occupation there. Next were Livestock Farmers (3,769 people) and Aged and Disabled Carers (3,020 people). These are Jobs and Skills Australia's experimental nowcast estimates.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[6].

Which occupations are growing fastest in the Central West?

Among occupations with at least 200 people employed in both September 2025 and September 2026, Electricians grew fastest in the Central West, up 26.0% to an estimated 2,192 people employed, followed by Checkout Operators and Office Cashiers (up 23.3%) and Prison Officers (up 21.9%). These are Jobs and Skills Australia's experimental nowcast estimates.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[6].

How many people are in Workforce Australia employment services in the Central West?

7,060 people in the Central West were in Workforce Australia employment services at 30 June 2026, up 6.2% on a year earlier. 68.9% of them had been in employment services for 12 months or more.

Source: Department of Employment and Workplace Relations[5].

How long have people in the Central West been in Workforce Australia employment services?

At 30 June 2026, 68.9% had been in employment services for 12 months or more, and 49.1% for two years or more, against 64.6% and 43.4% across New South Wales.

Sources: Department of Employment and Workplace Relations[5]; ViewJobs[8].

How many jobs are on ViewJobs in the Central West?

1,256 jobs are live on ViewJobs in Central NSW, a ViewJobs region that reaches beyond the Central West, as of 30 Oct 2026. 83% of its towns are in the area. The most advertised are Healthcare & Medical (533), Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics (165) and Community Services & Development (91).

Source: ViewJobs live ads[9].

10 Notes and method

What the figures count, where they come from, and the rules this report applies to them.

The area
The Central West here is ABS SA4 103 Central West. The reports cover 50 areas, 42 regional ABS regions and the eight capital cities: the areas Jobs and Skills Australia publishes online job ads for.
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
This report reads the index's series by area, so a state or national figure here is the sum of its areas, marked as ViewJobs analysis. It can differ from the state and national totals Jobs and Skills Australia publishes separately.[2]
Small numbers
A figure under 5 ads a month is shown as "fewer than 5". A group with fewer than 5 ads a month, now or a year earlier, is left out of every change, and every ranking by change.
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.
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 growth rankings take only occupations with at least 200 people employed at both points.[6]
People in employment services
The views expressed in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (or DEWR). Counts are of people by home address; the ABS area is the SA4 that address falls in. Capital city, state and national figures are sums of SA4 regions.[5]
Pay
Average salary and wages per earner come from the ATO's Taxation Statistics for individuals. An income year runs from 1 July to 30 June and the figures are published more than a year later, so none leads this report. The ATO assigns a postcode that spans regions wholly to the region holding most of it. Capital city, state and national figures are sums of SA4 regions.[10]
ABS figures
The latest ABS income and jobs figures here are for the year to 30 June 2023; population and business counts are more recent. Every figure shows its year. Change is measured from 2019: the ABS figures for 2018 and 2019 differ sharply for some industries in some areas. Industries with fewer than 1,000 employee jobs are listed but not ranked.
Jobs on ViewJobs
ViewJobs regions do not follow ABS boundaries. Section 6 counts the ads open on ViewJobs on 30 Oct 2026 in each ViewJobs region with at least 20% of its towns in this area, and counts each region whole: a region that reaches beyond the area can include ads from outside it, and a region with fewer of its towns here is left out. A classification links to its own page once it has enough ads for one.

11 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. Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, Workforce Australia Caseload by Selected Cohorts, June 2026. dewr.gov.au/employment-services-data/resources/workforce-australia-caseload-selected-cohorts-30-june-2026. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Accessed 26 October 2026. The views expressed in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (or DEWR).
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. ViewJobs, ViewJobs analysis of the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations Workforce Australia Caseload by Selected Cohorts, June 2026. dewr.gov.au/employment-services-data/workforce-australia-caseload-data. Capital city, state and national figures are sums of SA4 regions.
  9. ViewJobs, Live job ads on ViewJobs, 30 Oct 2026. viewjobs.com.au.
  10. Australian Taxation Office, Taxation Statistics, 2023–24. data.gov.au/data/dataset/faea4485-f407-457d-97f8-3f0822ccd654/resource/9d8577b7-a096-4758-9b3b-0649f3b83de7/download/ts24individual06taxablestatusstatesa4postcode.xlsx. Licence: CC BY 2.5 AU. Accessed 26 October 2026.
  11. ViewJobs, ViewJobs analysis of the Australian Taxation Office Taxation Statistics, 2023–24. ato.gov.au/about-ato/research-and-statistics/in-detail/taxation-statistics. Capital city, state and national figures are sums of SA4 regions.
  12. Australian Bureau of Statistics, Data by Region, v1.6.0. dbr.abs.gov.au. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Accessed 25 October 2026.

Cite this report

ViewJobs (2026). Central West job market report, data to September 2026. https://www.viewjobs.com.au/job-market/nsw/central-west

Licence

Contains data from Jobs and Skills Australia, the Australian Bureau of Statistics, and the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, used under CC BY 4.0, and from the Australian Taxation Office, used under CC BY 2.5 AU. ViewJobs has charted the data and, where marked as ViewJobs analysis, added areas together.

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