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Job market report

Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven 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 Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven, 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 114 Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven
Sources
JSA, ABS, DEWR, ATO and ViewJobs

Key findings

  1. Growing: online job ads in the Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven were up 10.0% on a year earlier, from 703 to 773 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, 79 a month in the three months to September 2026, followed by carers and aides (66) and legal, social and welfare professionals (63).

    Among occupation groups with at least 5 ads a month a year earlier and now, ads for sports, travel and personal service workers rose fastest, up 75.0%.[1]

    Section 2: Which jobs are in demand →

  3. The unemployment rate in the Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven was 4.2% in September 2026, against 4.7% across New South Wales.

    A year earlier it was 4.0%. These are the ABS's modelled estimates for the month, not seasonally adjusted.[3][4]

    Section 3: Unemployment and participation, monthly →

  4. 4,320 people in the Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven were in Workforce Australia employment services at 30 June 2026, up 3.0% on a year earlier.

    67.5% of them had been in employment services for 12 months or more.[5]

    Section 5: Job seekers in employment services →
Unemployment rate
4.2%
ABS, September 2026 · up 0.2 points on September 2025[3]
Employed people
73,024
ABS, September 2026 · up 0.7% since September 2025[3]
Online job ads a month
773
JSA, September 2026 · up 10.0% since September 2025[1]
People in Workforce Australia employment services
4,320
DEWR, June 2026 · up 3.0% 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.

Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven
+10.0%
773 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, Southern Highlands and ShoalhavenThree-month average, October 2023 to September 2026.
6007008009001kJan 2024Sep 2024May 2025Jan 2026Sep 2026Southern Highlands and ShoalhavenSouthern Highlands and Shoalhaven, Sep 2026: 773773

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Show the numbers
Online job ads a month, Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven
MonthOnline job ads a month
October 2023963
November 2023887
December 2023770
January 2024736
February 2024730
March 2024784
April 2024760
May 2024741
June 2024717
July 2024702
August 2024711
September 2024732
October 2024753
November 2024742
December 2024662
January 2025648
February 2025631
March 2025707
April 2025674
May 2025696
June 2025679
July 2025704
August 2025683
September 2025703
October 2025712
November 2025732
December 2025663
January 2026674
February 2026689
March 2026774
April 2026741
May 2026705
June 2026698
July 2026734
August 2026762
September 2026773

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, Southern Highlands and ShoalhavenThe 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.
Other labourers: +50.0%Other labourers+50.0%Sales assistants and salespersons: +44.7%Sales assistants and salespersons+44.7%Legal, social and welfare professionals: +34.0%Legal, social and welfare professionals+34.0%Health diagnostic and therapy professionals: +33.3%Health diagnostic and therapy professionals+33.3%Food trades: +20.0%Food trades+20.0%Hospitality, retail and service managers: +18.2%Hospitality, retail and service managers+18.2%Medical practitioners and nurses: +12.9%Medical practitioners and nurses+12.9%Cleaners and laundry workers: +11.1%Cleaners and laundry workers+11.1%Drivers and storepersons: +8.3%Drivers and storepersons+8.3%Carers and aides: −2.9%Carers and aides−2.9%Automotive and engineering trades: −3.1%Automotive and engineering trades−3.1%General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists: −8.5%General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists−8.5%

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Show the numbers
Change in online job ads by occupation, Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven
Occupation groupAds a month, September 2026A year earlierChange
Medical practitioners and nurses7970+12.9%
Carers and aides6668−2.9%
Legal, social and welfare professionals6347+34.0%
Sales assistants and salespersons5538+44.7%
General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists4347−8.5%
Health diagnostic and therapy professionals3224+33.3%
Automotive and engineering trades3132−3.1%
Food trades3025+20.0%
Other labourers3020+50.0%
Hospitality, retail and service managers2622+18.2%
Drivers and storepersons2624+8.3%
Cleaners and laundry workers2018+11.1%
Hospitality workers1816+12.5%
Education professionals1619−15.8%
Business, finance and human resource professionals1512+25.0%
Engineering, ICT and science technicians1412+16.7%
Sports, travel and personal service workers148+75.0%
Corporate managers1210+20.0%
Construction, production and distribution managers128+50.0%
Electrotechnology and telecommunications trades12120.0%
Health and welfare support workers1112−8.3%
Numerical clerks118+37.5%
Sales representatives and agents1112−8.3%
Construction trades1012−16.7%
Engineers911−18.2%
Skilled animal and horticultural workers98+12.5%
Mobile plant operators990.0%
Other clerical and administrative workers812−33.3%
Office managers, administrators and secretaries810−20.0%
Factory process workers89−11.1%
Machine and stationary plant operators78−12.5%
Health, education, ICT and other managers65+20.0%
Construction and mining labourers660.0%
Jewellers, arts and other trades workers59−44.4%
ICT professionalsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Transport and design professionals, and architectsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Hairdressers, printing, clothing and wood tradesfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Sales support workersfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Farmers and farm managersfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Information professionalsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Sales, marketing & public relations professionalsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Science professionals and veterinariansfewer than 55n/a
Protective service workersfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Farm, forestry and garden workersfewer than 55n/a
Food preparation assistantsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Chief executives, managing directors & legislatorsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Arts and media professionalsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Clerical and office support workers, couriersfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a

3 Unemployment and participation, monthly

Monthly unemployment and participation in the Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven, from the ABS's Regional Labour Force, to September 2026.

Figure 3.1: Unemployment rate, Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven, from January 2019Share of the labour force unemployed each month, January 2019 to September 2026, against New South Wales and Australia.
  • Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven
  • New South Wales
  • Australia
2%4%6%8%May 2020Dec 2021Jul 2023Feb 2025Sep 2026Southern Highlands and ShoalhavenSouthern Highlands and Shoalhaven, Sep 2026: 4.2%4.2%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, Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven, 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.
  • Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven
  • New South Wales
  • Australia
50%55%60%65%70%Jan 2020Sep 2021May 2023Jan 2025Sep 2026Southern Highlands and ShoalhavenSouthern Highlands and Shoalhaven, Sep 2026: 54.9%54.9%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, Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven, 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.
  • Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven
  • New South Wales
  • Australia

Index (Jan 2019 = 100)

90100110120Jan 2020Sep 2021May 2023Jan 2025Sep 2026Southern Highlands and ShoalhavenSouthern Highlands and Shoalhaven, Sep 2026: 114.5114.5New 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, Southern Highlands and ShoalhavenThe 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: 10.3%10.3%All agesAll ages, Sep 2026: 4.2%4.2%

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Show the numbers below
Numbers for Figures 3.1 to 3.4: Labour force each month, Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven, 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, Southern Highlands and ShoalhavenUnemployment rate, New South WalesUnemployment rate, AustraliaParticipation rate, Southern Highlands and ShoalhavenParticipation rate, New South WalesParticipation rate, Australia
January 20194.8%4.3%5.4%52.1%64.3%65.1%
February 20194.9%4.7%5.4%52.6%65.3%66.1%
March 20194.6%4.6%5.4%52.2%65.1%65.8%
April 20194.7%4.5%5.3%52.5%65.5%65.9%
May 20194.7%4.5%5.1%52.7%65.9%66.1%
June 20194.9%4.6%5.1%52.6%65.6%65.9%
July 20194.4%4.5%5.2%52.7%65.4%65.8%
August 20194.7%4.4%5.3%52.7%65.1%65.7%
September 20194.6%4.4%5.1%52.6%65.2%65.8%
October 20194.8%4.7%5.1%52.2%64.9%65.5%
November 20194.6%4.4%4.8%52.2%64.7%65.7%
December 20194.1%4.4%4.8%52.6%65.6%66.2%
January 20204.6%4.8%5.7%52.9%64.2%65.2%
February 20205.2%5.0%5.5%53.8%65.1%66.2%
March 20205.0%5.1%5.5%53.1%65.0%65.8%
April 20205.8%6.3%6.4%51.3%62.6%63.4%
May 20206.1%6.3%6.9%51.1%61.8%62.5%
June 20205.1%6.6%7.2%52.1%63.2%63.8%
July 20206.4%7.1%7.3%53.0%64.2%64.3%
August 20206.0%6.4%6.8%53.2%64.3%64.4%
September 20205.7%6.8%6.7%53.2%64.8%64.4%
October 20205.2%6.3%6.7%53.3%64.7%65.1%
November 20205.2%6.0%6.3%53.7%65.2%65.6%
December 20204.7%6.2%6.2%53.7%65.6%66.1%
January 20215.4%6.4%6.8%53.0%64.1%65.1%
February 20214.9%6.0%6.3%53.9%65.7%66.3%
March 20214.7%5.8%6.0%53.9%65.6%66.2%
April 20214.2%5.4%5.6%53.3%65.1%65.7%
May 20214.1%5.0%5.0%53.8%65.9%66.2%
June 20214.2%5.1%4.9%53.7%65.7%66.0%
July 20213.9%4.5%4.7%53.9%64.7%65.7%
August 20214.0%4.7%4.6%52.3%61.9%64.7%
September 20214.1%4.5%4.6%51.0%61.6%64.2%
October 20214.6%5.3%5.0%51.7%62.2%64.3%
November 20213.7%4.4%4.3%53.4%64.5%65.9%
December 20213.6%3.9%4.0%53.9%65.1%66.4%
January 20223.8%4.5%4.5%52.8%63.8%65.2%
February 20223.6%4.0%4.4%54.0%65.3%66.8%
March 20223.8%4.1%4.2%53.8%65.2%66.4%
April 20223.2%3.5%3.9%53.5%65.0%66.2%
May 20223.5%4.0%3.9%54.3%66.1%66.7%
June 20223.1%3.3%3.5%54.2%65.9%66.6%
July 20223.2%3.3%3.4%53.2%65.6%66.2%
August 20223.4%3.5%3.5%53.5%65.6%66.2%
September 20223.0%3.3%3.5%53.8%66.0%66.2%
October 20222.8%3.0%3.3%54.0%66.0%66.2%
November 20222.9%3.1%3.3%54.5%66.5%66.8%
December 20222.9%3.1%3.3%54.6%66.8%67.0%
January 20233.0%3.4%4.0%53.5%65.0%65.6%
February 20233.1%3.4%3.9%54.4%66.4%67.0%
March 20233.1%3.5%3.8%54.0%65.7%66.9%
April 20233.2%3.4%3.8%54.0%65.9%66.6%
May 20232.9%3.1%3.5%54.3%66.3%67.1%
June 20232.7%2.9%3.4%54.2%66.2%66.8%
July 20232.8%3.3%3.6%54.2%65.7%66.5%
August 20233.2%3.6%3.7%54.5%66.0%66.4%
September 20233.0%3.3%3.5%54.4%65.7%66.2%
October 20233.2%3.4%3.6%54.6%66.0%66.6%
November 20232.9%3.3%3.6%55.0%66.7%67.1%
December 20233.0%3.3%3.8%55.1%66.6%67.1%
January 20243.7%4.5%4.5%53.8%65.1%65.7%
February 20243.5%3.9%4.0%54.7%66.2%67.3%
March 20243.4%4.0%4.1%54.3%66.1%66.9%
April 20243.4%4.0%4.2%54.2%65.8%66.8%
May 20243.7%3.7%3.9%54.6%66.2%67.1%
June 20243.4%3.8%3.9%54.3%66.1%66.9%
July 20243.2%3.9%4.1%54.9%66.5%67.0%
August 20243.4%4.1%4.1%54.5%65.9%66.7%
September 20243.2%3.7%3.9%54.8%66.1%66.8%
October 20243.9%3.9%3.9%54.9%65.8%66.9%
November 20243.5%3.7%3.6%55.2%66.3%67.0%
December 20243.0%3.6%3.8%55.3%66.9%67.5%
January 20254.0%4.4%4.5%54.7%65.9%66.6%
February 20253.4%4.3%4.4%54.6%66.3%67.2%
March 20254.3%4.4%4.3%55.1%66.3%67.0%
April 20253.4%3.9%4.1%54.9%66.3%67.1%
May 20253.7%4.1%4.0%55.0%66.4%67.4%
June 20253.9%4.3%4.2%54.7%66.1%67.1%
July 20253.7%3.9%4.2%55.1%66.0%66.9%
August 20253.7%4.3%4.3%54.3%65.2%66.4%
September 20254.0%4.2%4.3%54.9%65.4%66.7%
October 20253.8%4.1%4.2%55.2%65.9%66.7%
November 20253.3%3.6%4.0%54.9%65.5%66.8%
December 20253.4%3.7%3.9%55.3%66.1%67.1%
January 20263.7%4.5%4.5%54.4%65.0%66.1%
February 20264.0%4.3%4.6%55.5%66.4%67.4%
March 20264.2%4.6%4.5%55.7%66.8%67.1%
April 20264.0%4.5%4.6%55.0%66.0%66.7%
May 20263.7%4.3%4.3%55.0%66.2%67.0%
June 20263.6%3.9%4.3%55.4%66.4%67.1%
July 20263.6%4.1%4.4%55.2%66.2%66.7%
August 20263.8%4.3%4.6%55.0%65.9%66.6%
September 20264.2%4.7%4.6%54.9%65.6%66.5%
Employed people as an index, January 2019 = 100, and youth unemployment
MonthEmployed people, index, Southern Highlands and ShoalhavenEmployed people, index, New South WalesEmployed people, index, AustraliaYouth unemployment rate (15–24), Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven
January 2019100.0100.0100.012.5%
February 2019101.0101.2101.712.6%
March 2019100.7101.0101.512.1%
April 2019101.3101.9101.912.1%
May 2019101.8102.5102.512.1%
June 2019101.5102.1102.312.5%
July 2019102.3102.0102.211.5%
August 2019102.0101.9102.112.2%
September 2019102.0102.0102.612.1%
October 2019101.4101.3102.312.5%
November 2019101.7101.5103.012.1%
December 2019103.1102.9103.810.8%
January 2020103.2100.3101.612.4%
February 2020104.5101.8103.413.7%
March 2020103.6101.6103.012.8%
April 202099.496.698.314.6%
May 202098.795.396.615.0%
June 2020101.697.298.112.4%
July 2020102.198.198.815.0%
August 2020103.098.999.513.6%
September 2020103.499.299.513.1%
October 2020104.299.6100.712.0%
November 2020105.2100.7101.911.9%
December 2020105.7101.1102.810.9%
January 2021103.798.6100.712.5%
February 2021106.1101.4103.111.3%
March 2021106.4101.5103.311.0%
April 2021105.8101.1103.110.0%
May 2021107.2102.8104.59.9%
June 2021107.1102.6104.310.4%
July 2021107.8101.5104.19.8%
August 2021104.596.9102.710.3%
September 2021101.796.6101.910.6%
October 2021102.796.8101.711.8%
November 2021107.2101.5105.19.3%
December 2021108.4103.1106.38.8%
January 2022106.2100.6104.29.1%
February 2022108.9103.7107.08.7%
March 2022108.4103.5106.89.1%
April 2022108.6104.1107.07.6%
May 2022110.0105.4108.18.4%
June 2022110.4105.9108.57.3%
July 2022108.3105.7108.27.6%
August 2022108.7105.7108.38.2%
September 2022109.8106.8108.67.2%
October 2022110.6107.4109.16.6%
November 2022111.6108.3110.26.9%
December 2022111.9109.0110.76.8%
January 2023109.5106.0108.17.1%
February 2023111.3108.5110.87.4%
March 2023110.6107.6111.27.5%
April 2023110.7108.3110.87.7%
May 2023111.6109.5112.37.0%
June 2023111.7109.8112.06.4%
July 2023111.8108.8111.77.0%
August 2023112.0109.1111.77.9%
September 2023112.2109.3112.07.5%
October 2023112.6109.8112.67.9%
November 2023113.7111.3113.67.3%
December 2023113.8111.2113.77.7%
January 2024110.5107.6110.79.5%
February 2024112.7110.4114.18.9%
March 2024112.3110.2113.68.8%
April 2024111.9109.9113.59.1%
May 2024112.5110.8114.59.8%
June 2024112.1110.6114.48.9%
July 2024113.6111.4114.48.6%
August 2024112.6110.4114.19.0%
September 2024113.6111.3114.88.4%
October 2024113.1110.6114.910.1%
November 2024114.2111.8115.79.3%
December 2024115.1113.2116.68.1%
January 2025112.9110.7114.310.6%
February 2025113.4111.6115.89.3%
March 2025113.6111.6115.811.4%
April 2025114.3112.4116.29.1%
May 2025114.1112.4116.910.1%
June 2025113.3111.6116.410.8%
July 2025114.5112.2116.39.8%
August 2025113.0110.6115.69.7%
September 2025113.7111.2116.110.5%
October 2025114.7112.1116.59.8%
November 2025114.8112.3116.98.4%
December 2025115.5113.2117.88.9%
January 2026113.4110.7115.49.8%
February 2026115.5113.4117.810.6%
March 2026115.8113.9117.711.0%
April 2026114.6112.7117.010.6%
May 2026115.1113.3118.09.5%
June 2026116.0114.4118.49.2%
July 2026115.7113.7117.78.9%
August 2026115.0113.3117.59.4%
September 2026114.5112.4117.410.3%

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 Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven, from Jobs and Skills Australia's monthly nowcast, to September 2026.

Figure 4.1: Largest occupations by estimated employment, Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven, September 2026The 10 occupations with the most people employed in September 2026, of an estimated 73,427 people employed in the Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven across all occupations. The table adds September 2025 and the change. 5 of the Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven's 10 largest occupations are in national shortage.
Sales Assistants (General): 3,089Sales Assistants (General)3,089Retail Managers: 2,173Retail Managers2,173Aged and Disabled Carers: 1,961Aged and Disabled Carers1,961Registered Nurses: 1,684Registered Nurses1,684General Clerks: 1,529General Clerks1,529Carpenters and Joiners: 1,396Carpenters and Joiners1,396Primary School Teachers: 1,286Primary School Teachers1,286Human Resource Managers: 1,177Human Resource Managers1,177Electricians: 1,168Electricians1,168Truck Drivers: 1,102Truck Drivers1,102

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

Show the numbers
Largest occupations by estimated employment, Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven, September 2026
OccupationPeople employed, September 2026September 2025ChangeNational shortage, 2026
Sales Assistants (General)3,0893,015+2.5%
Retail Managers2,1732,206−1.5%
Aged and Disabled Carers1,9611,977−0.8%Shortage
Registered Nurses1,6841,515+11.2%Shortage
General Clerks1,5291,492+2.5%
Carpenters and Joiners1,3961,302+7.2%Shortage
Primary School Teachers1,2861,175+9.4%
Human Resource Managers1,1771,135+3.7%
Electricians1,1681,196−2.3%Shortage
Truck Drivers1,1021,179−6.5%Shortage
Figure 4.2: Fastest growing and shrinking occupations by estimated employment, Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven, 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: +28.1%Prison Officers+28.1%Cafe and Restaurant Managers: +19.0%Cafe and Restaurant Managers+19.0%Checkout Operators and Office Cashiers: +14.6%Checkout Operators and Office Cashiers+14.6%Construction Managers: +13.4%Construction Managers+13.4%Child Carers: +12.8%Child Carers+12.8%Bookkeepers: −9.1%Bookkeepers−9.1%Police: −9.3%Police−9.3%Plumbers: −10.5%Plumbers−10.5%University Lecturers and Tutors: −11.9%University Lecturers and Tutors−11.9%Air Transport Professionals: −18.4%Air Transport Professionals−18.4%

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[6].

Show the numbers
Fastest growing and shrinking occupations by estimated employment, Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven, September 2025 to September 2026
OccupationPeople employed, September 2026September 2025Change
Prison Officers260203+28.1%
Cafe and Restaurant Managers851715+19.0%
Checkout Operators and Office Cashiers1,039907+14.6%
Construction Managers1,060935+13.4%
Child Carers931825+12.8%
Bookkeepers781859−9.1%
Police538593−9.3%
Plumbers810905−10.5%
University Lecturers and Tutors398452−11.9%
Air Transport Professionals222272−18.4%
Figure 4.3: People employed in the largest occupations, Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven, 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)
  • Retail Managers
  • Aged and Disabled Carers
  • Registered Nurses
  • General Clerks
1k2k3k4kSep 2022Sep 2024Sep 2026Sales Assistants (General)Sales Assistants (General), Sep 2021: 3,047Sales Assistants (General), Sep 2026: 3,0893,089Retail ManagersRetail Managers, Sep 2021: 2,072Retail Managers, Sep 2026: 2,1732,173Aged and Disabled CarersAged and Disabled Carers, Sep 2021: 1,833Aged and Disabled Carers, Sep 2026: 1,9611,961Registered NursesRegistered Nurses, Sep 2021: 1,500Registered Nurses, Sep 2026: 1,6841,684General ClerksGeneral Clerks, Sep 2021: 2,105General Clerks, Sep 2026: 1,5291,529

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[6].

Show the numbers
People employed in the largest occupations, Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven, September 2021 to September 2026
MonthSales Assistants (General)Retail ManagersAged and Disabled CarersRegistered NursesGeneral Clerks
September 20213,0472,0721,8331,5002,105
September 20223,6521,9071,6351,4882,129
September 20233,6321,8611,5281,3771,627
September 20243,1421,8661,7311,3871,408
September 20253,0152,2061,9771,5151,492
September 20263,0892,1731,9611,6841,529

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 Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven, 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, Southern Highlands and ShoalhavenPeople in employment services at each snapshot, November 2024 to June 2026.
3.6k3.8k4k4.2k4.4kMar 2025Aug 2025Jan 2026Jun 2026Southern Highlands and ShoalhavenSouthern Highlands and Shoalhaven, Jun 2026: 4,3204,320

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, Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven, against New South Wales and AustraliaShare of people in employment services who had been in services for 12 months or more, and in the Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven for 24 months or more, November 2024 to June 2026.
  • Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven, 12 months or more
  • Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven, 24 months or more
  • New South Wales, 12 months or more
  • Australia, 12 months or more
30%40%50%60%70%Mar 2025Aug 2025Jan 2026Jun 2026Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven, 12 months or moreSouthern Highlands and Shoalhaven, 12 months or more, Jun 2026: 67.5%67.5%Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven, 24 months or moreSouthern Highlands and Shoalhaven, 24 months or more, Jun 2026: 45.3%45.3%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, Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven, 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, Southern Highlands and ShoalhavenIn services 12 months or more, Southern Highlands and ShoalhavenIn services 24 months or more, Southern Highlands and ShoalhavenIn services 12 months or more, New South WalesIn services 12 months or more, Australia
November 20243,80059.2%39.5%60.7%60.8%
December 20243,78559.4%39.4%60.7%60.7%
January 20253,90060.0%39.2%60.4%60.5%
February 20253,98559.6%38.9%60.4%60.3%
March 20254,04560.4%38.7%60.5%60.3%
April 20254,09560.9%38.3%60.8%60.5%
May 20254,18061.2%38.5%61.0%60.7%
June 20254,19562.2%38.5%61.7%61.3%
July 20254,19063.1%39.1%62.0%61.7%
August 20254,23563.8%39.7%62.6%62.2%
September 20254,23063.5%39.8%62.8%62.4%
October 20254,23563.9%40.1%63.1%62.7%
November 20254,18063.5%40.1%62.9%62.5%
December 20254,16564.2%40.9%63.1%62.6%
January 20264,25065.1%41.3%63.1%62.7%
February 20264,29065.7%42.1%63.5%63.1%
March 20264,28066.4%42.8%63.8%63.4%
April 20264,30066.6%44.1%64.1%63.8%
May 20264,34566.6%44.4%64.4%64.2%
June 20264,32067.5%45.3%64.6%64.4%
Figure 5.3: People in employment services by age group, Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven, June 2026The 5 age groups at the latest snapshot; the table adds each group's share of all people in employment services.
Under 25: 990Under 2599025–34: 93525–3493535–44: 82035–4482045–54: 78045–5478055 and over: 79555 and over795

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

Show the numbers
People in employment services by age group, Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven, June 2026
Age groupPeopleShare
Under 2599023%
25–3493522%
35–4482019%
45–5478018%
55 and over79518%
Figure 5.4: People in employment services by allowance group, Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven, June 2026The 3 allowance groups at the latest snapshot; the table adds each group's share of all people in employment services.
JobSeeker Payment: 3,245JobSeeker Payment3,245Youth Allowance (other): 550Youth Allowance (other)550Other: 525Other525

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

Show the numbers
People in employment services by allowance group, Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven, June 2026
Allowance groupPeopleShare
JobSeeker Payment3,24575%
Youth Allowance (other)55013%
Other52512%

6 Jobs on ViewJobs now

Live job ads on ViewJobs in the South Coast, a ViewJobs region that reaches beyond this ABS area: 30% of its towns are in the area.

Live jobs on ViewJobs in the South Coast
910
ViewJobs, 30 Oct 2026[9]
Figure 6.1: Live jobs on ViewJobs by classification, South CoastThe 8 classifications with the most live ads, as of 30 Oct 2026.
Healthcare & Medical: 298Healthcare & Medical298Retail & Consumer Products: 99Retail & Consumer Products99Hospitality & Tourism: 88Hospitality & Tourism88Community Services & Development: 86Community Services & Development86Education & Training: 72Education & Training72Trades & Services: 49Trades & Services49Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics: 38Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics38Sport & Recreation: 23Sport & Recreation23

Source: ViewJobs live ads[9].

Show the numbers
Live jobs on ViewJobs by classification, South Coast
ClassificationLive jobs
Healthcare & Medical298
Retail & Consumer Products99
Hospitality & Tourism88
Community Services & Development86
Education & Training72
Trades & Services49
Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics38
Sport & Recreation23

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, Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven, 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.
  • Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven
  • New South Wales
  • Australia
$60k$65k$70k$75k$80k$85k2021–222022–232023–24Southern Highlands and ShoalhavenSouthern Highlands and Shoalhaven, 2021–22: $61,593Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven, 2022–23: $65,377Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven, 2023–24: $68,588$68,588New 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, Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven, 2021–22 to 2023–24 (ATO)
Income yearSouthern Highlands and ShoalhavenNew South WalesAustralia
2021–22$61,593$72,962$69,980
2022–23$65,377$77,277$73,647
2023–24$68,588$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 Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven's job market, each with its period and source.

How many jobs are advertised in the Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven?

773 online job ads a month were placed in the Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven, on average, in the three months to September 2026.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Is the Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven's job market growing or shrinking?

Growing: online job ads in the Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven were up 10.0% on a year earlier, from 703 to 773 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 Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven?

Medical practitioners and nurses had the most online ads, 79 a month in the three months to September 2026, followed by carers and aides (66) and legal, social and welfare professionals (63). Among occupation groups with at least 5 ads a month a year earlier and now, ads for sports, travel and personal service workers rose fastest, up 75.0%.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

What is the unemployment rate in the Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven?

The unemployment rate in the Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven was 4.2% in September 2026, against 4.7% across New South Wales. A year earlier it was 4.0%. 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 Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven?

Yes. Unemployment in the Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven was up 0.2 points on a year earlier in September 2026, at 4.2% against 4.0% (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 Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven?

An estimated 3,089 of the 73,427 people employed in the Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven in September 2026 worked as Sales Assistants (General), the largest occupation there. Next were Retail Managers (2,173 people) and Aged and Disabled Carers (1,961 people). These are Jobs and Skills Australia's experimental nowcast estimates.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[6].

Which occupations are growing fastest in the Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven?

Among occupations with at least 200 people employed in both September 2025 and September 2026, Prison Officers grew fastest in the Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven, up 28.1% to an estimated 260 people employed, followed by Cafe and Restaurant Managers (up 19.0%) and Checkout Operators and Office Cashiers (up 14.6%). 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 Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven?

4,320 people in the Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven were in Workforce Australia employment services at 30 June 2026, up 3.0% on a year earlier. 67.5% 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 Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven been in Workforce Australia employment services?

At 30 June 2026, 67.5% had been in employment services for 12 months or more, and 45.3% 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 Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven?

910 jobs are live on ViewJobs in the South Coast, a ViewJobs region that reaches beyond the Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven, as of 30 Oct 2026. 30% of its towns are in the area. The most advertised are Healthcare & Medical (298), Retail & Consumer Products (99) and Hospitality & Tourism (88).

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 Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven here is ABS SA4 114 Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven. 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). Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven job market report, data to September 2026. https://www.viewjobs.com.au/job-market/nsw/southern-highlands-and-shoalhaven

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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