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Job market report

Coffs Harbour - Grafton 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 Coffs Harbour - Grafton, 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 104 Coffs Harbour - Grafton
Sources
JSA, ABS, DEWR, ATO and ViewJobs

Key findings

  1. Growing: online job ads in Coffs Harbour - Grafton were up 13.7% on a year earlier, from 802 to 912 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, 189 a month in the three months to September 2026, followed by legal, social and welfare professionals (106) and carers and aides (79).

    Among occupation groups with at least 5 ads a month a year earlier and now, ads for corporate managers rose fastest, up 100.0%.[1]

    Section 2: Which jobs are in demand →

  3. The unemployment rate in Coffs Harbour - Grafton was 5.0% in September 2026, against 4.7% across New South Wales.

    A year earlier it was 4.6%. These are the ABS's modelled estimates for the month, not seasonally adjusted.[3][4]

    Section 3: Unemployment and participation, monthly →

  4. 5,965 people in Coffs Harbour - Grafton were in Workforce Australia employment services at 30 June 2026, up 2.9% on a year earlier.

    67.8% of them had been in employment services for 12 months or more.[5]

    Section 5: Job seekers in employment services →
Unemployment rate
5.0%
ABS, September 2026 · up 0.4 points on September 2025[3]
Employed people
65,753
ABS, September 2026 · up 0.6% since September 2025[3]
Online job ads a month
912
JSA, September 2026 · up 13.7% since September 2025[1]
People in Workforce Australia employment services
5,965
DEWR, June 2026 · up 2.9% 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.

Coffs Harbour - Grafton
+13.7%
912 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, Coffs Harbour - GraftonThree-month average, October 2023 to September 2026.
6007008009001kJan 2024Sep 2024May 2025Jan 2026Sep 2026Coffs Harbour - GraftonCoffs Harbour - Grafton, Sep 2026: 912912

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Show the numbers
Online job ads a month, Coffs Harbour - Grafton
MonthOnline job ads a month
October 2023965
November 2023875
December 2023762
January 2024755
February 2024750
March 2024797
April 2024763
May 2024732
June 2024703
July 2024693
August 2024713
September 2024740
October 2024773
November 2024762
December 2024706
January 2025716
February 2025695
March 2025733
April 2025680
May 2025691
June 2025686
July 2025734
August 2025745
September 2025802
October 2025817
November 2025803
December 2025739
January 2026753
February 2026774
March 2026849
April 2026786
May 2026774
June 2026763
July 2026821
August 2026871
September 2026912

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, Coffs Harbour - GraftonThe 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.
Medical practitioners and nurses: +70.3%Medical practitioners and nurses+70.3%Legal, social and welfare professionals: +39.5%Legal, social and welfare professionals+39.5%Drivers and storepersons: +29.2%Drivers and storepersons+29.2%Cleaners and laundry workers: +26.3%Cleaners and laundry workers+26.3%Health and welfare support workers: +16.7%Health and welfare support workers+16.7%Automotive and engineering trades: +13.0%Automotive and engineering trades+13.0%Health diagnostic and therapy professionals: +10.3%Health diagnostic and therapy professionals+10.3%Carers and aides: +3.9%Carers and aides+3.9%Hospitality, retail and service managers: 0.0%Hospitality, retail and service managers0.0%Sales assistants and salespersons: 0.0%Sales assistants and salespersons0.0%General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists: −21.2%General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists−21.2%Other labourers: −26.7%Other labourers−26.7%

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Show the numbers
Change in online job ads by occupation, Coffs Harbour - Grafton
Occupation groupAds a month, September 2026A year earlierChange
Medical practitioners and nurses189111+70.3%
Legal, social and welfare professionals10676+39.5%
Carers and aides7976+3.9%
Sales assistants and salespersons56560.0%
General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists4152−21.2%
Health diagnostic and therapy professionals3229+10.3%
Drivers and storepersons3124+29.2%
Hospitality, retail and service managers28280.0%
Automotive and engineering trades2623+13.0%
Cleaners and laundry workers2419+26.3%
Other labourers2230−26.7%
Health and welfare support workers2118+16.7%
Food trades20200.0%
Corporate managers189+100.0%
Sports, travel and personal service workers1612+33.3%
Engineering, ICT and science technicians14140.0%
Numerical clerks1210+20.0%
Sales representatives and agents1217−29.4%
Business, finance and human resource professionals1110+10.0%
Hospitality workers1112−8.3%
Education professionals1022−54.5%
Other clerical and administrative workers1012−16.7%
Construction, production and distribution managers98+12.5%
Sales support workers96+50.0%
Construction trades810−20.0%
Electrotechnology and telecommunications trades880.0%
Health, education, ICT and other managers78−12.5%
Skilled animal and horticultural workers79−22.2%
Transport and design professionals, and architects6fewer than 5n/a
Engineers660.0%
Office managers, administrators and secretaries69−33.3%
Mobile plant operators67−14.3%
Construction and mining labourers6fewer than 5n/a
Farm, forestry and garden workers6fewer than 5n/a
Food preparation assistants6fewer than 5n/a
Machine and stationary plant operators550.0%
Arts and media professionalsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Science professionals and veterinariansfewer than 55n/a
Jewellers, arts and other trades workersfewer than 56n/a
Factory process workersfewer than 56n/a
Chief executives, managing directors & legislatorsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Sales, marketing & public relations professionalsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Clerical and office support workers, couriersfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Farmers and farm managersfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Information professionalsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
ICT professionalsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Hairdressers, printing, clothing and wood tradesfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Protective service workersfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a

3 Unemployment and participation, monthly

Monthly unemployment and participation in Coffs Harbour - Grafton, from the ABS's Regional Labour Force, to September 2026.

Figure 3.1: Unemployment rate, Coffs Harbour - Grafton, from January 2019Share of the labour force unemployed each month, January 2019 to September 2026, against New South Wales and Australia.
  • Coffs Harbour - Grafton
  • New South Wales
  • Australia
2%4%6%8%May 2020Dec 2021Jul 2023Feb 2025Sep 2026Coffs Harbour - GraftonCoffs Harbour - Grafton, Sep 2026: 5.0%5.0%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, Coffs Harbour - Grafton, 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.
  • Coffs Harbour - Grafton
  • New South Wales
  • Australia
50%55%60%65%70%Jan 2020Sep 2021May 2023Jan 2025Sep 2026Coffs Harbour - GraftonCoffs Harbour - Grafton, Sep 2026: 53.9%53.9%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, Coffs Harbour - Grafton, 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.
  • Coffs Harbour - Grafton
  • New South Wales
  • Australia

Index (Jan 2019 = 100)

90100110120Jan 2020Sep 2021May 2023Jan 2025Sep 2026Coffs Harbour - GraftonCoffs Harbour - Grafton, Sep 2026: 106.9106.9New 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, Coffs Harbour - GraftonThe 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%20%Jan 2020Sep 2021May 2023Jan 2025Sep 2026Aged 15–24Aged 15–24, Sep 2026: 11.0%11.0%All agesAll ages, Sep 2026: 5.0%5.0%

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Show the numbers below
Numbers for Figures 3.1 to 3.4: Labour force each month, Coffs Harbour - Grafton, 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, Coffs Harbour - GraftonUnemployment rate, New South WalesUnemployment rate, AustraliaParticipation rate, Coffs Harbour - GraftonParticipation rate, New South WalesParticipation rate, Australia
January 20195.4%4.3%5.4%55.2%64.3%65.1%
February 20195.4%4.7%5.4%55.7%65.3%66.1%
March 20195.5%4.6%5.4%55.5%65.1%65.8%
April 20195.1%4.5%5.3%55.8%65.5%65.9%
May 20195.3%4.5%5.1%56.3%65.9%66.1%
June 20195.1%4.6%5.1%55.9%65.6%65.9%
July 20195.1%4.5%5.2%55.8%65.4%65.8%
August 20195.4%4.4%5.3%55.9%65.1%65.7%
September 20195.2%4.4%5.1%55.9%65.2%65.8%
October 20195.5%4.7%5.1%55.8%64.9%65.5%
November 20195.2%4.4%4.8%55.8%64.7%65.7%
December 20195.2%4.4%4.8%56.5%65.6%66.2%
January 20206.1%4.8%5.7%53.0%64.2%65.2%
February 20206.4%5.0%5.5%53.7%65.1%66.2%
March 20205.7%5.1%5.5%53.2%65.0%65.8%
April 20206.5%6.3%6.4%50.8%62.6%63.4%
May 20207.1%6.3%6.9%50.9%61.8%62.5%
June 20207.3%6.6%7.2%52.5%63.2%63.8%
July 20207.3%7.1%7.3%52.4%64.2%64.3%
August 20206.8%6.4%6.8%52.8%64.3%64.4%
September 20207.2%6.8%6.7%53.0%64.8%64.4%
October 20206.7%6.3%6.7%53.1%64.7%65.1%
November 20206.3%6.0%6.3%53.5%65.2%65.6%
December 20206.1%6.2%6.2%53.5%65.6%66.1%
January 20215.7%6.4%6.8%52.0%64.1%65.1%
February 20216.3%6.0%6.3%53.5%65.7%66.3%
March 20216.1%5.8%6.0%53.4%65.6%66.2%
April 20215.8%5.4%5.6%53.0%65.1%65.7%
May 20215.2%5.0%5.0%53.4%65.9%66.2%
June 20215.6%5.1%4.9%53.6%65.7%66.0%
July 20214.7%4.5%4.7%53.7%64.7%65.7%
August 20214.9%4.7%4.6%52.3%61.9%64.7%
September 20215.0%4.5%4.6%52.0%61.6%64.2%
October 20214.6%5.3%5.0%51.2%62.2%64.3%
November 20215.2%4.4%4.3%53.0%64.5%65.9%
December 20214.5%3.9%4.0%53.3%65.1%66.4%
January 20225.0%4.5%4.5%52.3%63.8%65.2%
February 20225.1%4.0%4.4%53.4%65.3%66.8%
March 20225.1%4.1%4.2%53.1%65.2%66.4%
April 20224.5%3.5%3.9%52.7%65.0%66.2%
May 20224.6%4.0%3.9%53.4%66.1%66.7%
June 20224.2%3.3%3.5%53.5%65.9%66.6%
July 20223.9%3.3%3.4%52.5%65.6%66.2%
August 20224.3%3.5%3.5%53.0%65.6%66.2%
September 20224.2%3.3%3.5%53.3%66.0%66.2%
October 20223.6%3.0%3.3%53.3%66.0%66.2%
November 20223.9%3.1%3.3%53.9%66.5%66.8%
December 20223.8%3.1%3.3%53.9%66.8%67.0%
January 20234.2%3.4%4.0%52.9%65.0%65.6%
February 20234.4%3.4%3.9%53.7%66.4%67.0%
March 20234.0%3.5%3.8%53.1%65.7%66.9%
April 20233.9%3.4%3.8%53.0%65.9%66.6%
May 20234.2%3.1%3.5%53.6%66.3%67.1%
June 20233.4%2.9%3.4%53.3%66.2%66.8%
July 20234.1%3.3%3.6%53.2%65.7%66.5%
August 20234.3%3.6%3.7%53.3%66.0%66.4%
September 20234.1%3.3%3.5%53.4%65.7%66.2%
October 20234.3%3.4%3.6%53.9%66.0%66.6%
November 20233.8%3.3%3.6%53.9%66.7%67.1%
December 20233.8%3.3%3.8%53.8%66.6%67.1%
January 20245.1%4.5%4.5%53.1%65.1%65.7%
February 20244.3%3.9%4.0%53.5%66.2%67.3%
March 20244.7%4.0%4.1%53.5%66.1%66.9%
April 20244.7%4.0%4.2%53.4%65.8%66.8%
May 20244.3%3.7%3.9%53.5%66.2%67.1%
June 20244.3%3.8%3.9%53.6%66.1%66.9%
July 20244.6%3.9%4.1%54.2%66.5%67.0%
August 20244.5%4.1%4.1%53.6%65.9%66.7%
September 20244.4%3.7%3.9%54.1%66.1%66.8%
October 20244.4%3.9%3.9%53.9%65.8%66.9%
November 20244.2%3.7%3.6%54.2%66.3%67.0%
December 20244.3%3.6%3.8%54.7%66.9%67.5%
January 20254.8%4.4%4.5%53.9%65.9%66.6%
February 20254.7%4.3%4.4%53.9%66.3%67.2%
March 20255.0%4.4%4.3%53.8%66.3%67.0%
April 20254.1%3.9%4.1%53.8%66.3%67.1%
May 20254.7%4.1%4.0%54.1%66.4%67.4%
June 20255.0%4.3%4.2%53.9%66.1%67.1%
July 20254.3%3.9%4.2%54.2%66.0%66.9%
August 20254.8%4.3%4.3%53.7%65.2%66.4%
September 20254.6%4.2%4.3%53.9%65.4%66.7%
October 20254.4%4.1%4.2%54.2%65.9%66.7%
November 20254.2%3.6%4.0%54.0%65.5%66.8%
December 20254.2%3.7%3.9%54.3%66.1%67.1%
January 20265.0%4.5%4.5%53.9%65.0%66.1%
February 20265.0%4.3%4.6%54.5%66.4%67.4%
March 20264.6%4.6%4.5%54.3%66.8%67.1%
April 20264.8%4.5%4.6%54.0%66.0%66.7%
May 20265.0%4.3%4.3%54.3%66.2%67.0%
June 20264.0%3.9%4.3%53.9%66.4%67.1%
July 20264.7%4.1%4.4%54.5%66.2%66.7%
August 20264.8%4.3%4.6%54.3%65.9%66.6%
September 20265.0%4.7%4.6%53.9%65.6%66.5%
Employed people as an index, January 2019 = 100, and youth unemployment
MonthEmployed people, index, Coffs Harbour - GraftonEmployed people, index, New South WalesEmployed people, index, AustraliaYouth unemployment rate (15–24), Coffs Harbour - Grafton
January 2019100.0100.0100.012.6%
February 2019101.0101.2101.712.3%
March 2019100.6101.0101.512.7%
April 2019101.6101.9101.911.8%
May 2019102.3102.5102.512.2%
June 2019101.9102.1102.311.6%
July 2019101.8102.0102.211.7%
August 2019101.8101.9102.112.3%
September 2019102.1102.0102.612.0%
October 2019101.7101.3102.312.7%
November 2019102.0101.5103.012.0%
December 2019103.4102.9103.812.2%
January 202096.3100.3101.614.2%
February 202097.3101.8103.414.6%
March 202097.3101.6103.012.9%
April 202092.296.698.314.2%
May 202091.895.396.615.2%
June 202094.497.298.115.1%
July 202094.398.198.814.7%
August 202095.698.999.513.4%
September 202095.799.299.514.0%
October 202096.599.6100.713.1%
November 202097.7100.7101.912.4%
December 202097.9101.1102.812.1%
January 202195.898.6100.711.5%
February 202197.9101.4103.112.6%
March 202198.1101.5103.312.3%
April 202197.9101.1103.111.7%
May 202199.3102.8104.510.8%
June 202199.4102.6104.311.8%
July 2021100.5101.5104.110.3%
August 202197.796.9102.710.8%
September 202197.296.6101.911.1%
October 202196.096.8101.710.3%
November 202198.8101.5105.111.2%
December 2021100.2103.1106.39.6%
January 202298.0100.6104.210.3%
February 2022100.0103.7107.010.8%
March 202299.7103.5106.810.7%
April 202299.7104.1107.09.3%
May 2022101.2105.4108.19.5%
June 2022101.8105.9108.58.8%
July 2022100.2105.7108.28.2%
August 2022101.0105.7108.39.2%
September 2022101.6106.8108.68.9%
October 2022102.4107.4109.17.5%
November 2022103.2108.3110.28.1%
December 2022103.4109.0110.77.8%
January 2023101.3106.0108.18.9%
February 2023102.7108.5110.89.1%
March 2023102.1107.6111.28.4%
April 2023102.2108.3110.88.2%
May 2023103.1109.5112.38.7%
June 2023103.3109.8112.07.3%
July 2023102.7108.8111.78.8%
August 2023102.7109.1111.79.3%
September 2023103.3109.3112.09.0%
October 2023104.2109.8112.69.5%
November 2023104.9111.3113.68.7%
December 2023104.8111.2113.78.8%
January 2024102.1107.6110.711.6%
February 2024104.0110.4114.19.9%
March 2024103.7110.2113.610.9%
April 2024103.4109.9113.510.8%
May 2024104.2110.8114.510.0%
June 2024104.2110.6114.49.9%
July 2024105.5111.4114.410.5%
August 2024104.6110.4114.110.3%
September 2024105.7111.3114.810.0%
October 2024105.4110.6114.99.9%
November 2024106.4111.8115.79.6%
December 2024107.3113.2116.610.1%
January 2025105.3110.7114.311.2%
February 2025105.6111.6115.811.0%
March 2025105.2111.6115.811.8%
April 2025106.2112.4116.29.9%
May 2025106.2112.4116.911.4%
June 2025105.6111.6116.412.0%
July 2025107.0112.2116.310.4%
August 2025105.6110.6115.611.1%
September 2025106.3111.2116.110.7%
October 2025107.1112.1116.510.0%
November 2025107.2112.3116.99.5%
December 2025107.7113.2117.89.7%
January 2026106.2110.7115.411.5%
February 2026107.5113.4117.811.7%
March 2026107.8113.9117.710.8%
April 2026106.9112.7117.011.4%
May 2026107.3113.3118.011.6%
June 2026107.8114.4118.49.2%
July 2026108.2113.7117.710.6%
August 2026108.0113.3117.510.7%
September 2026106.9112.4117.411.0%

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 Coffs Harbour - Grafton, from Jobs and Skills Australia's monthly nowcast, to September 2026.

Figure 4.1: Largest occupations by estimated employment, Coffs Harbour - Grafton, September 2026The 10 occupations with the most people employed in September 2026, of an estimated 66,268 people employed in Coffs Harbour - Grafton across all occupations. The table adds September 2025 and the change. 3 of Coffs Harbour - Grafton's 10 largest occupations are in national shortage.
Sales Assistants (General): 2,881Sales Assistants (General)2,881Aged and Disabled Carers: 2,846Aged and Disabled Carers2,846Livestock Farmers: 2,360Livestock Farmers2,360Registered Nurses: 1,428Registered Nurses1,428General Clerks: 1,335General Clerks1,335Child Carers: 1,238Child Carers1,238Primary School Teachers: 1,081Primary School Teachers1,081Retail Managers: 1,055Retail Managers1,055Kitchenhands: 1,014Kitchenhands1,014Waiters: 990Waiters990

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

Show the numbers
Largest occupations by estimated employment, Coffs Harbour - Grafton, September 2026
OccupationPeople employed, September 2026September 2025ChangeNational shortage, 2026
Sales Assistants (General)2,8812,806+2.7%
Aged and Disabled Carers2,8462,873−0.9%Shortage
Livestock Farmers2,3601,962+20.3%
Registered Nurses1,4281,469−2.8%Shortage
General Clerks1,3351,144+16.7%
Child Carers1,2381,085+14.1%Shortage
Primary School Teachers1,0811,097−1.5%
Retail Managers1,0551,064−0.8%
Kitchenhands1,014912+11.2%
Waiters990929+6.6%
Figure 4.2: Fastest growing and shrinking occupations by estimated employment, Coffs Harbour - Grafton, 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.
Livestock Farmers: +20.3%Livestock Farmers+20.3%Domestic Cleaners: +19.0%Domestic Cleaners+19.0%Chefs: +18.2%Chefs+18.2%General Clerks: +16.7%General Clerks+16.7%Vocational Education Teachers: +16.4%Vocational Education Teachers+16.4%Education Aides: −11.5%Education Aides−11.5%Keyboard Operators: −12.6%Keyboard Operators−12.6%Cooks: −12.6%Cooks−12.6%Fast Food Cooks: −13.1%Fast Food Cooks−13.1%Crop Farm Workers: −27.0%Crop Farm Workers−27.0%

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[6].

Show the numbers
Fastest growing and shrinking occupations by estimated employment, Coffs Harbour - Grafton, September 2025 to September 2026
OccupationPeople employed, September 2026September 2025Change
Livestock Farmers2,3601,962+20.3%
Domestic Cleaners671564+19.0%
Chefs943798+18.2%
General Clerks1,3351,144+16.7%
Vocational Education Teachers731628+16.4%
Education Aides695785−11.5%
Keyboard Operators318364−12.6%
Cooks366419−12.6%
Fast Food Cooks423487−13.1%
Crop Farm Workers230315−27.0%
Figure 4.3: People employed in the largest occupations, Coffs Harbour - Grafton, 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)
  • Aged and Disabled Carers
  • Livestock Farmers
  • Registered Nurses
  • General Clerks
01k2k3k4kSep 2022Sep 2024Sep 2026Sales Assistants (General)Sales Assistants (General), Sep 2021: 2,939Sales Assistants (General), Sep 2026: 2,8812,881Aged and Disabled CarersAged and Disabled Carers, Sep 2021: 1,185Aged and Disabled Carers, Sep 2026: 2,8462,846Livestock FarmersLivestock Farmers, Sep 2021: 1,095Livestock Farmers, Sep 2026: 2,3602,360Registered NursesRegistered Nurses, Sep 2021: 2,017Registered Nurses, Sep 2026: 1,4281,428General ClerksGeneral Clerks, Sep 2021: 1,470General Clerks, Sep 2026: 1,3351,335

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[6].

Show the numbers
People employed in the largest occupations, Coffs Harbour - Grafton, September 2021 to September 2026
MonthSales Assistants (General)Aged and Disabled CarersLivestock FarmersRegistered NursesGeneral Clerks
September 20212,9391,1851,0952,0171,470
September 20223,1311,4918031,6531,130
September 20232,7882,0649021,796991
September 20242,6092,5631,3391,734987
September 20252,8062,8731,9621,4691,144
September 20262,8812,8462,3601,4281,335

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 Coffs Harbour - Grafton, 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, Coffs Harbour - GraftonPeople in employment services at each snapshot, November 2024 to June 2026.
5.2k5.4k5.6k5.8k6k6.2kMar 2025Aug 2025Jan 2026Jun 2026Coffs Harbour - GraftonCoffs Harbour - Grafton, Jun 2026: 5,9655,965

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, Coffs Harbour - Grafton, against New South Wales and AustraliaShare of people in employment services who had been in services for 12 months or more, and in Coffs Harbour - Grafton for 24 months or more, November 2024 to June 2026.
  • Coffs Harbour - Grafton, 12 months or more
  • Coffs Harbour - Grafton, 24 months or more
  • New South Wales, 12 months or more
  • Australia, 12 months or more
40%50%60%70%Mar 2025Aug 2025Jan 2026Jun 2026Coffs Harbour - Grafton, 12 months or moreCoffs Harbour - Grafton, 12 months or more, Jun 2026: 67.8%67.8%Coffs Harbour - Grafton, 24 months or moreCoffs Harbour - Grafton, 24 months or more, Jun 2026: 46.4%46.4%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, Coffs Harbour - Grafton, 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, Coffs Harbour - GraftonIn services 12 months or more, Coffs Harbour - GraftonIn services 24 months or more, Coffs Harbour - GraftonIn services 12 months or more, New South WalesIn services 12 months or more, Australia
November 20245,21064.0%44.4%60.7%60.8%
December 20245,24063.5%43.7%60.7%60.7%
January 20255,39063.1%43.2%60.4%60.5%
February 20255,46563.3%42.5%60.4%60.3%
March 20255,59063.1%42.4%60.5%60.3%
April 20255,65063.4%42.1%60.8%60.5%
May 20255,74563.1%41.7%61.0%60.7%
June 20255,79563.8%42.0%61.7%61.3%
July 20255,80064.2%42.4%62.0%61.7%
August 20255,76565.0%42.8%62.6%62.2%
September 20255,76064.8%43.0%62.8%62.4%
October 20255,77065.8%43.8%63.1%62.7%
November 20255,71565.6%44.1%62.9%62.5%
December 20255,70565.6%44.2%63.1%62.6%
January 20265,81566.2%44.5%63.1%62.7%
February 20265,88566.0%44.5%63.5%63.1%
March 20265,92566.7%44.7%63.8%63.4%
April 20265,95567.0%45.3%64.1%63.8%
May 20266,00567.3%45.5%64.4%64.2%
June 20265,96567.8%46.4%64.6%64.4%
Figure 5.3: People in employment services by age group, Coffs Harbour - Grafton, June 2026The 5 age groups at the latest snapshot; the table adds each group's share of all people in employment services.
Under 25: 1,530Under 251,53025–34: 1,21525–341,21535–44: 1,20035–441,20045–54: 1,05545–541,05555 and over: 96055 and over960

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

Show the numbers
People in employment services by age group, Coffs Harbour - Grafton, June 2026
Age groupPeopleShare
Under 251,53026%
25–341,21520%
35–441,20020%
45–541,05518%
55 and over96016%
Figure 5.4: People in employment services by allowance group, Coffs Harbour - Grafton, June 2026The 3 allowance groups at the latest snapshot; the table adds each group's share of all people in employment services.
JobSeeker Payment: 4,365JobSeeker Payment4,365Youth Allowance (other): 900Youth Allowance (other)900Other: 705Other705

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

Show the numbers
People in employment services by allowance group, Coffs Harbour - Grafton, June 2026
Allowance groupPeopleShare
JobSeeker Payment4,36573%
Youth Allowance (other)90015%
Other70512%

6 Jobs on ViewJobs now

Live job ads on ViewJobs in North Coast NSW, a ViewJobs region that reaches beyond this ABS area: 21% of its towns are in the area.

Live jobs on ViewJobs in North Coast NSW
2,010
ViewJobs, 29 Oct 2026[9]
Figure 6.1: Live jobs on ViewJobs by classification, North Coast NSWThe 8 classifications with the most live ads, as of 29 Oct 2026.
Healthcare & Medical: 877Healthcare & Medical877Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics: 350Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics350Hospitality & Tourism: 176Hospitality & Tourism176Retail & Consumer Products: 134Retail & Consumer Products134Community Services & Development: 115Community Services & Development115Self Employment: 77Self Employment77Trades & Services: 36Trades & Services36Farming, Animals & Conservation: 35Farming, Animals & Conservation35

Source: ViewJobs live ads[9].

Show the numbers
Live jobs on ViewJobs by classification, North Coast NSW
ClassificationLive jobs
Healthcare & Medical877
Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics350
Hospitality & Tourism176
Retail & Consumer Products134
Community Services & Development115
Self Employment77
Trades & Services36
Farming, Animals & Conservation35

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, Coffs Harbour - Grafton, 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.
  • Coffs Harbour - Grafton
  • New South Wales
  • Australia
$50k$60k$70k$80k$90k2021–222022–232023–24Coffs Harbour - GraftonCoffs Harbour - Grafton, 2021–22: $55,122Coffs Harbour - Grafton, 2022–23: $58,805Coffs Harbour - Grafton, 2023–24: $61,924$61,924New 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, Coffs Harbour - Grafton, 2021–22 to 2023–24 (ATO)
Income yearCoffs Harbour - GraftonNew South WalesAustralia
2021–22$55,122$72,962$69,980
2022–23$58,805$77,277$73,647
2023–24$61,924$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 Coffs Harbour - Grafton's job market, each with its period and source.

How many jobs are advertised in Coffs Harbour - Grafton?

912 online job ads a month were placed in Coffs Harbour - Grafton, on average, in the three months to September 2026.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Is Coffs Harbour - Grafton's job market growing or shrinking?

Growing: online job ads in Coffs Harbour - Grafton were up 13.7% on a year earlier, from 802 to 912 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 Coffs Harbour - Grafton?

Medical practitioners and nurses had the most online ads, 189 a month in the three months to September 2026, followed by legal, social and welfare professionals (106) and carers and aides (79). Among occupation groups with at least 5 ads a month a year earlier and now, ads for corporate managers rose fastest, up 100.0%.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

What is the unemployment rate in Coffs Harbour - Grafton?

The unemployment rate in Coffs Harbour - Grafton was 5.0% in September 2026, against 4.7% across New South Wales. A year earlier it was 4.6%. 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 Coffs Harbour - Grafton?

Yes. Unemployment in Coffs Harbour - Grafton was up 0.4 points on a year earlier in September 2026, at 5.0% against 4.6% (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 Coffs Harbour - Grafton?

An estimated 2,881 of the 66,268 people employed in Coffs Harbour - Grafton in September 2026 worked as Sales Assistants (General), the largest occupation there. Next were Aged and Disabled Carers (2,846 people) and Livestock Farmers (2,360 people). These are Jobs and Skills Australia's experimental nowcast estimates.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[6].

Which occupations are growing fastest in Coffs Harbour - Grafton?

Among occupations with at least 200 people employed in both September 2025 and September 2026, Livestock Farmers grew fastest in Coffs Harbour - Grafton, up 20.3% to an estimated 2,360 people employed, followed by Domestic Cleaners (up 19.0%) and Chefs (up 18.2%). 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 Coffs Harbour - Grafton?

5,965 people in Coffs Harbour - Grafton were in Workforce Australia employment services at 30 June 2026, up 2.9% on a year earlier. 67.8% 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 Coffs Harbour - Grafton been in Workforce Australia employment services?

At 30 June 2026, 67.8% had been in employment services for 12 months or more, and 46.4% 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 Coffs Harbour - Grafton?

2,010 jobs are live on ViewJobs in North Coast NSW, a ViewJobs region that reaches beyond Coffs Harbour - Grafton, as of 29 Oct 2026. 21% of its towns are in the area. The most advertised are Healthcare & Medical (877), Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics (350) and Hospitality & Tourism (176).

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
Coffs Harbour - Grafton here is ABS SA4 104 Coffs Harbour - Grafton. 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 29 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, 29 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). Coffs Harbour - Grafton job market report, data to September 2026. https://www.viewjobs.com.au/job-market/nsw/coffs-harbour-grafton

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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