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Job market report

Hunter Valley 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 Hunter Valley, 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 106 Hunter Valley exc Newcastle
Sources
JSA, ABS, DEWR, ATO and ViewJobs

Key findings

  1. Shrinking: online job ads in the Hunter Valley were down 3.3% on a year earlier, from 2,121 to 2,051 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, 236 a month in the three months to September 2026, followed by carers and aides (138) and general-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists (126).

    Among occupation groups with at least 5 ads a month a year earlier and now, ads for protective service workers rose fastest, up 66.7%.[1]

    Section 2: Which jobs are in demand →

  3. The unemployment rate in the Hunter Valley was 5.2% in September 2026, against 4.7% across New South Wales.

    A year earlier it was 4.1%. These are the ABS's modelled estimates for the month, not seasonally adjusted.[3][4]

    Section 3: Unemployment and participation, monthly →

  4. 10,115 people in the Hunter Valley were in Workforce Australia employment services at 30 June 2026, up 4.2% on a year earlier.

    65.9% of them had been in employment services for 12 months or more.[5]

    Section 5: Job seekers in employment services →
Unemployment rate
5.2%
ABS, September 2026 · up 1.1 points on September 2025[3]
Employed people
151,899
ABS, September 2026 · up 2.6% since September 2025[3]
Online job ads a month
2,051
JSA, September 2026 · down 3.3% since September 2025[1]
People in Workforce Australia employment services
10,115
DEWR, June 2026 · up 4.2% 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.

Hunter Valley
−3.3%
2,051 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, Hunter ValleyThree-month average, October 2023 to September 2026.
1.5k1.75k2k2.25k2.5k2.75kJan 2024Sep 2024May 2025Jan 2026Sep 2026Hunter ValleyHunter Valley, Sep 2026: 2,0512,051

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Show the numbers
Online job ads a month, Hunter Valley
MonthOnline job ads a month
October 20232,699
November 20232,545
December 20232,201
January 20242,145
February 20242,099
March 20242,318
April 20242,255
May 20242,280
June 20242,180
July 20242,136
August 20242,133
September 20242,216
October 20242,267
November 20242,165
December 20241,861
January 20251,792
February 20251,733
March 20251,946
April 20251,835
May 20251,897
June 20251,858
July 20252,027
August 20252,015
September 20252,121
October 20252,083
November 20252,054
December 20251,769
January 20261,789
February 20261,825
March 20262,103
April 20261,999
May 20261,943
June 20261,847
July 20261,900
August 20261,964
September 20262,051

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, Hunter ValleyThe 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: +18.6%Medical practitioners and nurses+18.6%Electrotechnology and telecommunications trades: +13.3%Electrotechnology and telecommunications trades+13.3%Hospitality, retail and service managers: +9.1%Hospitality, retail and service managers+9.1%Sales assistants and salespersons: +1.8%Sales assistants and salespersons+1.8%Drivers and storepersons: +1.4%Drivers and storepersons+1.4%Business, finance and human resource professionals: −1.9%Business, finance and human resource professionals−1.9%Automotive and engineering trades: −2.4%Automotive and engineering trades−2.4%General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists: −5.3%General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists−5.3%Carers and aides: −10.4%Carers and aides−10.4%Health diagnostic and therapy professionals: −11.6%Health diagnostic and therapy professionals−11.6%Other labourers: −14.1%Other labourers−14.1%Legal, social and welfare professionals: −17.0%Legal, social and welfare professionals−17.0%

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Show the numbers
Change in online job ads by occupation, Hunter Valley
Occupation groupAds a month, September 2026A year earlierChange
Medical practitioners and nurses236199+18.6%
Carers and aides138154−10.4%
General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists126133−5.3%
Automotive and engineering trades124127−2.4%
Sales assistants and salespersons113111+1.8%
Legal, social and welfare professionals7388−17.0%
Drivers and storepersons7372+1.4%
Hospitality, retail and service managers7266+9.1%
Other labourers6778−14.1%
Health diagnostic and therapy professionals6169−11.6%
Business, finance and human resource professionals5354−1.9%
Electrotechnology and telecommunications trades5145+13.3%
Corporate managers4946+6.5%
Engineering, ICT and science technicians4948+2.1%
Hospitality workers48480.0%
Cleaners and laundry workers4745+4.4%
Food trades4555−18.2%
Education professionals4460−26.7%
Engineers4351−15.7%
Construction, production and distribution managers3941−4.9%
Construction trades3642−14.3%
Other clerical and administrative workers3635+2.9%
Sales representatives and agents3644−18.2%
Numerical clerks3430+13.3%
Construction and mining labourers3127+14.8%
Health and welfare support workers2926+11.5%
Mobile plant operators2739−30.8%
Office managers, administrators and secretaries2629−10.3%
Sports, travel and personal service workers2526−3.8%
Machine and stationary plant operators2531−19.4%
Health, education, ICT and other managers19190.0%
Skilled animal and horticultural workers1822−18.2%
Jewellers, arts and other trades workers1610+60.0%
ICT professionals1518−16.7%
Sales, marketing & public relations professionals12120.0%
Factory process workers1213−7.7%
Transport and design professionals, and architects1113−15.4%
Science professionals and veterinarians1113−15.4%
Farm, forestry and garden workers1110+10.0%
Information professionals1011−9.1%
Hairdressers, printing, clothing and wood trades1012−16.7%
Protective service workers106+66.7%
Sales support workers1016−37.5%
Food preparation assistants10100.0%
Clerical and office support workers, couriers79−22.2%
Chief executives, managing directors & legislators65+20.0%
Arts and media professionals660.0%
Farmers and farm managersfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a

3 Unemployment and participation, monthly

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

Figure 3.1: Unemployment rate, Hunter Valley, from January 2019Share of the labour force unemployed each month, January 2019 to September 2026, against New South Wales and Australia.
  • Hunter Valley
  • New South Wales
  • Australia
2%4%6%8%May 2020Dec 2021Jul 2023Feb 2025Sep 2026Hunter ValleyHunter Valley, Sep 2026: 5.2%5.2%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, Hunter Valley, 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.
  • Hunter Valley
  • New South Wales
  • Australia
55%60%65%70%Jan 2020Sep 2021May 2023Jan 2025Sep 2026Hunter ValleyHunter Valley, Sep 2026: 61.5%61.5%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, Hunter Valley, 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.
  • Hunter Valley
  • New South Wales
  • Australia

Index (Jan 2019 = 100)

90100110120Jan 2020Sep 2021May 2023Jan 2025Sep 2026Hunter ValleyHunter Valley, Sep 2026: 114.0114.0New 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, Hunter ValleyThe 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: 11.9%11.9%All agesAll ages, Sep 2026: 5.2%5.2%

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Show the numbers below
Numbers for Figures 3.1 to 3.4: Labour force each month, Hunter Valley, 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, Hunter ValleyUnemployment rate, New South WalesUnemployment rate, AustraliaParticipation rate, Hunter ValleyParticipation rate, New South WalesParticipation rate, Australia
January 20194.6%4.3%5.4%62.8%64.3%65.1%
February 20194.9%4.7%5.4%63.5%65.3%66.1%
March 20194.7%4.6%5.4%63.1%65.1%65.8%
April 20194.6%4.5%5.3%63.4%65.5%65.9%
May 20195.1%4.5%5.1%64.1%65.9%66.1%
June 20194.9%4.6%5.1%63.7%65.6%65.9%
July 20194.3%4.5%5.2%64.4%65.4%65.8%
August 20194.6%4.4%5.3%64.3%65.1%65.7%
September 20194.5%4.4%5.1%64.2%65.2%65.8%
October 20194.6%4.7%5.1%63.6%64.9%65.5%
November 20194.8%4.4%4.8%63.7%64.7%65.7%
December 20194.5%4.4%4.8%64.2%65.6%66.2%
January 20205.1%4.8%5.7%60.0%64.2%65.2%
February 20205.2%5.0%5.5%60.7%65.1%66.2%
March 20205.6%5.1%5.5%60.7%65.0%65.8%
April 20206.3%6.3%6.4%58.6%62.6%63.4%
May 20206.2%6.3%6.9%58.1%61.8%62.5%
June 20206.6%6.6%7.2%59.4%63.2%63.8%
July 20206.9%7.1%7.3%60.0%64.2%64.3%
August 20206.0%6.4%6.8%60.0%64.3%64.4%
September 20206.7%6.8%6.7%60.6%64.8%64.4%
October 20206.4%6.3%6.7%60.5%64.7%65.1%
November 20205.8%6.0%6.3%60.8%65.2%65.6%
December 20205.9%6.2%6.2%60.9%65.6%66.1%
January 20215.7%6.4%6.8%59.5%64.1%65.1%
February 20215.4%6.0%6.3%60.8%65.7%66.3%
March 20215.6%5.8%6.0%60.8%65.6%66.2%
April 20214.9%5.4%5.6%60.1%65.1%65.7%
May 20214.9%5.0%5.0%61.1%65.9%66.2%
June 20215.0%5.1%4.9%60.7%65.7%66.0%
July 20214.1%4.5%4.7%60.7%64.7%65.7%
August 20214.9%4.7%4.6%58.9%61.9%64.7%
September 20214.5%4.5%4.6%57.1%61.6%64.2%
October 20215.7%5.3%5.0%57.8%62.2%64.3%
November 20214.3%4.4%4.3%59.6%64.5%65.9%
December 20214.1%3.9%4.0%60.1%65.1%66.4%
January 20224.6%4.5%4.5%59.1%63.8%65.2%
February 20224.0%4.0%4.4%60.3%65.3%66.8%
March 20224.4%4.1%4.2%60.3%65.2%66.4%
April 20223.5%3.5%3.9%59.7%65.0%66.2%
May 20224.1%4.0%3.9%60.8%66.1%66.7%
June 20223.7%3.3%3.5%60.5%65.9%66.6%
July 20223.8%3.3%3.4%58.8%65.6%66.2%
August 20223.9%3.5%3.5%59.1%65.6%66.2%
September 20223.5%3.3%3.5%59.4%66.0%66.2%
October 20223.1%3.0%3.3%59.5%66.0%66.2%
November 20223.6%3.1%3.3%60.1%66.5%66.8%
December 20223.1%3.1%3.3%59.9%66.8%67.0%
January 20234.0%3.4%4.0%59.0%65.0%65.6%
February 20234.1%3.4%3.9%60.2%66.4%67.0%
March 20234.0%3.5%3.8%59.6%65.7%66.9%
April 20233.2%3.4%3.8%59.2%65.9%66.6%
May 20233.4%3.1%3.5%60.0%66.3%67.1%
June 20233.0%2.9%3.4%59.8%66.2%66.8%
July 20233.3%3.3%3.6%59.9%65.7%66.5%
August 20233.7%3.6%3.7%60.2%66.0%66.4%
September 20233.7%3.3%3.5%60.1%65.7%66.2%
October 20233.7%3.4%3.6%60.4%66.0%66.6%
November 20233.4%3.3%3.6%60.8%66.7%67.1%
December 20233.5%3.3%3.8%60.7%66.6%67.1%
January 20244.8%4.5%4.5%59.8%65.1%65.7%
February 20244.3%3.9%4.0%60.8%66.2%67.3%
March 20243.8%4.0%4.1%60.2%66.1%66.9%
April 20244.1%4.0%4.2%60.2%65.8%66.8%
May 20244.1%3.7%3.9%60.6%66.2%67.1%
June 20244.0%3.8%3.9%60.3%66.1%66.9%
July 20244.0%3.9%4.1%61.3%66.5%67.0%
August 20244.3%4.1%4.1%60.8%65.9%66.7%
September 20243.8%3.7%3.9%60.9%66.1%66.8%
October 20244.2%3.9%3.9%60.8%65.8%66.9%
November 20243.7%3.7%3.6%61.0%66.3%67.0%
December 20243.7%3.6%3.8%61.6%66.9%67.5%
January 20254.4%4.4%4.5%60.7%65.9%66.6%
February 20254.4%4.3%4.4%60.9%66.3%67.2%
March 20255.0%4.4%4.3%61.2%66.3%67.0%
April 20254.1%3.9%4.1%60.9%66.3%67.1%
May 20254.3%4.1%4.0%60.8%66.4%67.4%
June 20254.7%4.3%4.2%60.6%66.1%67.1%
July 20253.9%3.9%4.2%61.1%66.0%66.9%
August 20254.9%4.3%4.3%60.6%65.2%66.4%
September 20254.1%4.2%4.3%60.3%65.4%66.7%
October 20254.4%4.1%4.2%61.0%65.9%66.7%
November 20254.1%3.6%4.0%60.7%65.5%66.8%
December 20254.1%3.7%3.9%61.1%66.1%67.1%
January 20264.6%4.5%4.5%60.2%65.0%66.1%
February 20264.1%4.3%4.6%61.1%66.4%67.4%
March 20264.9%4.6%4.5%61.7%66.8%67.1%
April 20264.8%4.5%4.6%60.9%66.0%66.7%
May 20264.6%4.3%4.3%61.0%66.2%67.0%
June 20264.0%3.9%4.3%61.2%66.4%67.1%
July 20264.4%4.1%4.4%61.8%66.2%66.7%
August 20264.7%4.3%4.6%61.7%65.9%66.6%
September 20265.2%4.7%4.6%61.5%65.6%66.5%
Employed people as an index, January 2019 = 100, and youth unemployment
MonthEmployed people, index, Hunter ValleyEmployed people, index, New South WalesEmployed people, index, AustraliaYouth unemployment rate (15–24), Hunter Valley
January 2019100.0100.0100.011.0%
February 2019101.1101.2101.711.4%
March 2019100.8101.0101.511.2%
April 2019101.5101.9101.910.9%
May 2019102.2102.5102.511.9%
June 2019101.7102.1102.311.5%
July 2019103.7102.0102.210.3%
August 2019103.5101.9102.110.9%
September 2019103.6102.0102.610.9%
October 2019102.8101.3102.311.0%
November 2019102.9101.5103.011.5%
December 2019104.2102.9103.810.8%
January 202097.0100.3101.612.3%
February 202098.3101.8103.412.5%
March 202098.0101.6103.013.1%
April 202094.096.698.314.2%
May 202093.495.396.613.7%
June 202095.397.298.114.1%
July 202096.198.198.814.3%
August 202097.098.999.512.3%
September 202097.399.299.513.6%
October 202097.899.6100.713.0%
November 202099.0100.7101.912.0%
December 202099.2101.1102.812.3%
January 202197.498.6100.711.9%
February 2021100.0101.4103.111.2%
March 2021100.0101.5103.311.7%
April 202199.6101.1103.110.5%
May 2021101.5102.8104.510.5%
June 2021101.1102.6104.311.0%
July 2021102.0101.5104.19.3%
August 202198.296.9102.711.3%
September 202195.996.6101.910.4%
October 202196.096.8101.713.0%
November 2021100.8101.5105.19.6%
December 2021101.9103.1106.39.1%
January 2022100.1100.6104.29.9%
February 2022103.1103.7107.08.7%
March 2022102.9103.5106.89.6%
April 2022103.2104.1107.07.6%
May 2022104.5105.4108.19.0%
June 2022104.8105.9108.58.2%
July 2022101.9105.7108.28.4%
August 2022102.4105.7108.38.7%
September 2022103.5106.8108.67.9%
October 2022104.3107.4109.16.9%
November 2022105.0108.3110.27.9%
December 2022105.5109.0110.76.8%
January 2023103.1106.0108.18.7%
February 2023105.2108.5110.89.0%
March 2023104.5107.6111.28.7%
April 2023104.8108.3110.87.2%
May 2023106.1109.5112.37.6%
June 2023106.4109.8112.06.8%
July 2023106.5108.8111.77.5%
August 2023106.8109.1111.78.5%
September 2023107.1109.3112.08.4%
October 2023107.7109.8112.68.6%
November 2023109.0111.3113.68.2%
December 2023108.8111.2113.78.4%
January 2024106.0107.6110.711.5%
February 2024108.5110.4114.110.4%
March 2024108.2110.2113.69.4%
April 2024108.0109.9113.510.0%
May 2024108.8110.8114.510.0%
June 2024108.5110.6114.49.6%
July 2024110.4111.4114.49.6%
August 2024109.4110.4114.110.4%
September 2024110.2111.3114.89.1%
October 2024109.8110.6114.99.9%
November 2024111.0111.8115.78.8%
December 2024112.1113.2116.69.2%
January 2025110.1110.7114.310.6%
February 2025110.6111.6115.810.8%
March 2025110.6111.6115.812.2%
April 2025111.3112.4116.210.1%
May 2025111.0112.4116.910.8%
June 2025110.4111.6116.411.7%
July 2025112.3112.2116.39.7%
August 2025110.5110.6115.611.7%
September 2025111.1111.2116.19.9%
October 2025112.1112.1116.510.4%
November 2025112.1112.3116.99.7%
December 2025112.9113.2117.89.9%
January 2026111.0110.7115.411.0%
February 2026113.5113.4117.810.0%
March 2026113.8113.9117.711.8%
April 2026112.5112.7117.011.7%
May 2026113.0113.3118.011.1%
June 2026114.2114.4118.49.5%
July 2026115.1113.7117.710.2%
August 2026114.8113.3117.510.8%
September 2026114.0112.4117.411.9%

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 Hunter Valley, from Jobs and Skills Australia's monthly nowcast, to September 2026.

Figure 4.1: Largest occupations by estimated employment, Hunter Valley, September 2026The 10 occupations with the most people employed in September 2026, of an estimated 151,502 people employed in the Hunter Valley across all occupations. The table adds September 2025 and the change. 5 of the Hunter Valley's 10 largest occupations are in national shortage, and 1 is in shortage in regional Australia.
Sales Assistants (General): 7,356Sales Assistants (General)7,356Aged and Disabled Carers: 5,024Aged and Disabled Carers5,024Truck Drivers: 3,924Truck Drivers3,924Registered Nurses: 3,888Registered Nurses3,888General Clerks: 3,634General Clerks3,634Electricians: 2,850Electricians2,850Drillers, Miners and Shot Firers: 2,686Drillers, Miners and Shot Firers2,686Metal Fitters and Machinists: 2,639Metal Fitters and Machinists2,639Retail Managers: 2,568Retail Managers2,568Commercial Cleaners: 2,161Commercial Cleaners2,161

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

Show the numbers
Largest occupations by estimated employment, Hunter Valley, September 2026
OccupationPeople employed, September 2026September 2025ChangeNational shortage, 2026
Sales Assistants (General)7,3566,703+9.7%
Aged and Disabled Carers5,0245,184−3.1%Shortage
Truck Drivers3,9243,739+4.9%Shortage
Registered Nurses3,8883,743+3.9%Shortage
General Clerks3,6343,341+8.8%
Electricians2,8502,751+3.6%Shortage
Drillers, Miners and Shot Firers2,6862,392+12.3%Regional shortage
Metal Fitters and Machinists2,6392,790−5.4%Shortage
Retail Managers2,5682,758−6.9%
Commercial Cleaners2,1611,929+12.0%
Figure 4.2: Fastest growing and shrinking occupations by estimated employment, Hunter Valley, 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.
Prison Officers: +43.3%Prison Officers+43.3%Software and Applications Programmers: +20.9%Software and Applications Programmers+20.9%Livestock Farmers: +19.9%Livestock Farmers+19.9%Train and Tram Drivers: +18.8%Train and Tram Drivers+18.8%Occupational Therapists: +18.4%Occupational Therapists+18.4%Motor Vehicle and Vehicle Parts Salespersons: −14.3%Motor Vehicle and Vehicle Parts Salespersons−14.3%Bar Attendants and Baristas: −14.4%Bar Attendants and Baristas−14.4%Delivery Drivers: −14.5%Delivery Drivers−14.5%Cafe Workers: −17.9%Cafe Workers−17.9%Motor Vehicle Parts and Accessories Fitters: −22.8%Motor Vehicle Parts and Accessories Fitters−22.8%

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[6].

Show the numbers
Fastest growing and shrinking occupations by estimated employment, Hunter Valley, September 2025 to September 2026
OccupationPeople employed, September 2026September 2025Change
Prison Officers926646+43.3%
Software and Applications Programmers927767+20.9%
Livestock Farmers844704+19.9%
Train and Tram Drivers1,104929+18.8%
Occupational Therapists296250+18.4%
Motor Vehicle and Vehicle Parts Salespersons481561−14.3%
Bar Attendants and Baristas1,0871,270−14.4%
Delivery Drivers519607−14.5%
Cafe Workers276336−17.9%
Motor Vehicle Parts and Accessories Fitters399517−22.8%
Figure 4.3: People employed in the largest occupations, Hunter Valley, 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
  • Truck Drivers
  • Registered Nurses
  • General Clerks
2k4k6k8kSep 2022Sep 2024Sep 2026Sales Assistants (General)Sales Assistants (General), Sep 2021: 5,921Sales Assistants (General), Sep 2026: 7,3567,356Aged and Disabled CarersAged and Disabled Carers, Sep 2021: 3,626Aged and Disabled Carers, Sep 2026: 5,0245,024Truck DriversTruck Drivers, Sep 2021: 2,792Truck Drivers, Sep 2026: 3,9243,924Registered NursesRegistered Nurses, Sep 2021: 3,287Registered Nurses, Sep 2026: 3,8883,888General ClerksGeneral Clerks, Sep 2021: 3,273General Clerks, Sep 2026: 3,6343,634

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[6].

Show the numbers
People employed in the largest occupations, Hunter Valley, September 2021 to September 2026
MonthSales Assistants (General)Aged and Disabled CarersTruck DriversRegistered NursesGeneral Clerks
September 20215,9213,6262,7923,2873,273
September 20226,1194,0963,1063,4252,792
September 20235,6754,0733,0643,5952,899
September 20245,6774,7113,3983,7382,973
September 20256,7035,1843,7393,7433,341
September 20267,3565,0243,9243,8883,634

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 Hunter Valley, 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, Hunter ValleyPeople in employment services at each snapshot, November 2024 to June 2026.
8.5k9k9.5k10k10.5kMar 2025Aug 2025Jan 2026Jun 2026Hunter ValleyHunter Valley, Jun 2026: 10,11510,115

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, Hunter Valley, against New South Wales and AustraliaShare of people in employment services who had been in services for 12 months or more, and in the Hunter Valley for 24 months or more, November 2024 to June 2026.
  • Hunter Valley, 12 months or more
  • Hunter Valley, 24 months or more
  • New South Wales, 12 months or more
  • Australia, 12 months or more
40%50%60%70%Mar 2025Aug 2025Jan 2026Jun 2026Hunter Valley, 12 months or moreHunter Valley, 12 months or more, Jun 2026: 65.9%65.9%Hunter Valley, 24 months or moreHunter Valley, 24 months or more, Jun 2026: 44.9%44.9%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, Hunter Valley, 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, Hunter ValleyIn services 12 months or more, Hunter ValleyIn services 24 months or more, Hunter ValleyIn services 12 months or more, New South WalesIn services 12 months or more, Australia
November 20248,56563.3%44.8%60.7%60.8%
December 20248,60063.3%44.4%60.7%60.7%
January 20258,90063.1%44.4%60.4%60.5%
February 20259,10562.8%43.9%60.4%60.3%
March 20259,22562.7%43.5%60.5%60.3%
April 20259,35062.5%42.8%60.8%60.5%
May 20259,61563.2%42.9%61.0%60.7%
June 20259,71063.4%43.0%61.7%61.3%
July 20259,68563.3%42.7%62.0%61.7%
August 20259,66063.5%42.9%62.6%62.2%
September 20259,69063.8%42.8%62.8%62.4%
October 20259,68564.5%43.3%63.1%62.7%
November 20259,68064.0%43.2%62.9%62.5%
December 20259,67064.7%43.5%63.1%62.6%
January 20269,90064.9%43.5%63.1%62.7%
February 202610,07565.2%43.6%63.5%63.1%
March 202610,07565.5%43.9%63.8%63.4%
April 202610,03565.9%44.3%64.1%63.8%
May 202610,12566.1%44.6%64.4%64.2%
June 202610,11565.9%44.9%64.6%64.4%
Figure 5.3: People in employment services by age group, Hunter Valley, June 2026The 5 age groups at the latest snapshot; the table adds each group's share of all people in employment services.
Under 25: 2,680Under 252,68025–34: 2,43025–342,43035–44: 1,96035–441,96045–54: 1,63045–541,63055 and over: 1,41055 and over1,410

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

Show the numbers
People in employment services by age group, Hunter Valley, June 2026
Age groupPeopleShare
Under 252,68026%
25–342,43024%
35–441,96019%
45–541,63016%
55 and over1,41014%
Figure 5.4: People in employment services by allowance group, Hunter Valley, June 2026The 3 allowance groups at the latest snapshot; the table adds each group's share of all people in employment services.
JobSeeker Payment: 7,155JobSeeker Payment7,155Youth Allowance (other): 1,580Youth Allowance (other)1,580Other: 1,380Other1,380

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

Show the numbers
People in employment services by allowance group, Hunter Valley, June 2026
Allowance groupPeopleShare
JobSeeker Payment7,15571%
Youth Allowance (other)1,58016%
Other1,38014%

6 Jobs on ViewJobs now

Live job ads on ViewJobs in the Hunter, a ViewJobs region that reaches beyond this ABS area: 66% of its towns are in the area.

Live jobs on ViewJobs in the Hunter
1,808
ViewJobs, 30 Oct 2026[9]
Figure 6.1: Live jobs on ViewJobs by classification, HunterThe 8 classifications with the most live ads, as of 30 Oct 2026.
Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics: 301Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics301Healthcare & Medical: 287Healthcare & Medical287Hospitality & Tourism: 219Hospitality & Tourism219Retail & Consumer Products: 156Retail & Consumer Products156Community Services & Development: 147Community Services & Development147Trades & Services: 117Trades & Services117Education & Training: 84Education & Training84Engineering: 60Engineering60

Source: ViewJobs live ads[9].

Show the numbers
Live jobs on ViewJobs by classification, Hunter
ClassificationLive jobs
Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics301
Healthcare & Medical287
Hospitality & Tourism219
Retail & Consumer Products156
Community Services & Development147
Trades & Services117
Education & Training84
Engineering60

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, Hunter Valley, 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.
  • Hunter Valley
  • New South Wales
  • Australia
$65k$70k$75k$80k$85k2021–222022–232023–24Hunter ValleyHunter Valley, 2021–22: $66,336Hunter Valley, 2022–23: $70,919Hunter Valley, 2023–24: $74,758$74,758New 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, Hunter Valley, 2021–22 to 2023–24 (ATO)
Income yearHunter ValleyNew South WalesAustralia
2021–22$66,336$72,962$69,980
2022–23$70,919$77,277$73,647
2023–24$74,758$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 Hunter Valley's job market, each with its period and source.

How many jobs are advertised in the Hunter Valley?

2,051 online job ads a month were placed in the Hunter Valley, on average, in the three months to September 2026.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Is the Hunter Valley's job market growing or shrinking?

Shrinking: online job ads in the Hunter Valley were down 3.3% on a year earlier, from 2,121 to 2,051 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 Hunter Valley?

Medical practitioners and nurses had the most online ads, 236 a month in the three months to September 2026, followed by carers and aides (138) and general-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists (126). Among occupation groups with at least 5 ads a month a year earlier and now, ads for protective service workers rose fastest, up 66.7%.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

What is the unemployment rate in the Hunter Valley?

The unemployment rate in the Hunter Valley was 5.2% in September 2026, against 4.7% across New South Wales. A year earlier it was 4.1%. 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 Hunter Valley?

Yes. Unemployment in the Hunter Valley was up 1.1 points on a year earlier in September 2026, at 5.2% against 4.1% (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 Hunter Valley?

An estimated 7,356 of the 151,502 people employed in the Hunter Valley in September 2026 worked as Sales Assistants (General), the largest occupation there. Next were Aged and Disabled Carers (5,024 people) and Truck Drivers (3,924 people). These are Jobs and Skills Australia's experimental nowcast estimates.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[6].

Which occupations are growing fastest in the Hunter Valley?

Among occupations with at least 200 people employed in both September 2025 and September 2026, Prison Officers grew fastest in the Hunter Valley, up 43.3% to an estimated 926 people employed, followed by Software and Applications Programmers (up 20.9%) and Livestock Farmers (up 19.9%). 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 Hunter Valley?

10,115 people in the Hunter Valley were in Workforce Australia employment services at 30 June 2026, up 4.2% on a year earlier. 65.9% 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 Hunter Valley been in Workforce Australia employment services?

At 30 June 2026, 65.9% had been in employment services for 12 months or more, and 44.9% 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 Hunter Valley?

1,808 jobs are live on ViewJobs in the Hunter, a ViewJobs region that reaches beyond the Hunter Valley, as of 30 Oct 2026. 66% of its towns are in the area. The most advertised are Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics (301), Healthcare & Medical (287) and Hospitality & Tourism (219).

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 Hunter Valley here is ABS SA4 106 Hunter Valley exc Newcastle. 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). Hunter Valley job market report, data to September 2026. https://www.viewjobs.com.au/job-market/nsw/hunter-valley

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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