ViewJobs
Sign In

Job market report

Greater Darwin 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 Greater Darwin, 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 Greater Capital City Statistical Area 7GDAR
Sources
JSA, ABS, DEWR, ATO and ViewJobs

Key findings

  1. Shrinking: online job ads in Greater Darwin were down 11.7% on a year earlier, from 2,116 to 1,869 a month in the three months to September 2026.

    Over the same year, ads were down 8.5% across the Northern Territory and up 0.6% across Australia.[1][2]

    Section 1: Job ads and demand →

  2. General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists had the most online ads, 127 a month in the three months to September 2026, followed by automotive and engineering trades (118) and medical practitioners and nurses (102).[1]

    Section 2: Which jobs are in demand →

  3. The unemployment rate in Greater Darwin was 3.0% in September 2026, against 4.3% across the Northern Territory.

    A year earlier it was 2.9%. These are the ABS's modelled estimates for the month, not seasonally adjusted.[3][4]

    Section 3: Unemployment and participation, monthly →

  4. At 30 June 2026, 62.0% had been in employment services for 12 months or more, and 41.4% for two years or more, against 61.1% and 41.1% across the Northern Territory.[5][6]

    Section 5: Job seekers in employment services →
Unemployment rate
3.0%
ViewJobs analysis of ABS, September 2026 · up 0.1 points on September 2025[3][4]
Employed people
91,007
ViewJobs analysis of ABS, September 2026 · down 0.5% since September 2025[3][4]
Online job ads a month
1,869
JSA, September 2026 · down 11.7% since September 2025[1]
People in Workforce Australia employment services
4,645
ViewJobs analysis of DEWR, June 2026 · down 4.3% since June 2025[5][6]

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.

Greater Darwin
−11.7%
1,869 ads a month[1]
Northern Territory
−8.5%
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, Greater DarwinThree-month average, October 2023 to September 2026.
1.6k1.8k2k2.2k2.4k2.6kJan 2024Sep 2024May 2025Jan 2026Sep 2026Greater DarwinGreater Darwin, Sep 2026: 1,8691,869

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Show the numbers
Online job ads a month, Greater Darwin
MonthOnline job ads a month
October 20232,417
November 20232,290
December 20232,006
January 20241,987
February 20242,041
March 20242,273
April 20242,216
May 20242,244
June 20242,165
July 20242,192
August 20242,147
September 20242,274
October 20242,335
November 20242,276
December 20241,987
January 20251,942
February 20251,929
March 20252,159
April 20252,071
May 20252,094
June 20252,036
July 20252,118
August 20252,099
September 20252,116
October 20252,082
November 20251,974
December 20251,721
January 20261,638
February 20261,696
March 20261,947
April 20261,942
May 20261,924
June 20261,820
July 20261,804
August 20261,805
September 20261,869

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, Greater DarwinThe 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.
Automotive and engineering trades: +3.5%Automotive and engineering trades+3.5%Drivers and storepersons: +3.4%Drivers and storepersons+3.4%Hospitality, retail and service managers: +2.8%Hospitality, retail and service managers+2.8%Medical practitioners and nurses: +1.0%Medical practitioners and nurses+1.0%Sales assistants and salespersons: −1.0%Sales assistants and salespersons−1.0%Corporate managers: −14.1%Corporate managers−14.1%Other labourers: −15.5%Other labourers−15.5%General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists: −15.9%General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists−15.9%Legal, social and welfare professionals: −22.9%Legal, social and welfare professionals−22.9%Construction, production and distribution managers: −25.0%Construction, production and distribution managers−25.0%Carers and aides: −28.1%Carers and aides−28.1%Health diagnostic and therapy professionals: −28.2%Health diagnostic and therapy professionals−28.2%

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Show the numbers
Change in online job ads by occupation, Greater Darwin
Occupation groupAds a month, September 2026A year earlierChange
General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists127151−15.9%
Automotive and engineering trades118114+3.5%
Medical practitioners and nurses102101+1.0%
Legal, social and welfare professionals101131−22.9%
Sales assistants and salespersons9596−1.0%
Drivers and storepersons9087+3.4%
Hospitality, retail and service managers7472+2.8%
Health diagnostic and therapy professionals74103−28.2%
Carers and aides6489−28.1%
Corporate managers6171−14.1%
Other labourers6071−15.5%
Construction, production and distribution managers5472−25.0%
Business, finance and human resource professionals5161−16.4%
Office managers, administrators and secretaries5156−8.9%
Construction trades4744+6.8%
Electrotechnology and telecommunications trades4752−9.6%
Engineering, ICT and science technicians4543+4.7%
Engineers4250−16.0%
Numerical clerks4138+7.9%
Other clerical and administrative workers3959−33.9%
Mobile plant operators3842−9.5%
ICT professionals3331+6.5%
Education professionals32320.0%
Food trades3233−3.0%
Sales representatives and agents3028+7.1%
Machine and stationary plant operators2635−25.7%
Health and welfare support workers2536−30.6%
Cleaners and laundry workers2526−3.8%
Hospitality workers2331−25.8%
Science professionals and veterinarians2118+16.7%
Sports, travel and personal service workers1923−17.4%
Chief executives, managing directors & legislators189+100.0%
Construction and mining labourers1723−26.1%
Health, education, ICT and other managers1517−11.8%
Sales support workers1510+50.0%
Information professionals1423−39.1%
Protective service workers1319−31.6%
Sales, marketing & public relations professionals1216−25.0%
Skilled animal and horticultural workers1219−36.8%
Transport and design professionals, and architects1020−50.0%
Jewellers, arts and other trades workers1015−33.3%
Factory process workers105+100.0%
Farm, forestry and garden workers910−10.0%
Hairdressers, printing, clothing and wood trades880.0%
Clerical and office support workers, couriers87+14.3%
Arts and media professionals612−50.0%
Food preparation assistantsfewer than 58n/a
Farmers and farm managersfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a

3 Unemployment and participation, monthly

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

Figure 3.1: Unemployment rate, Greater Darwin, from January 2019Share of the labour force unemployed each month, January 2019 to September 2026, against the Northern Territory and Australia.
  • Greater Darwin
  • Northern Territory
  • Australia
2%4%6%8%10%Jan 2020Sep 2021May 2023Jan 2025Sep 2026Greater DarwinGreater Darwin, Sep 2026: 3.0%3.0%Northern TerritoryNorthern Territory, Sep 2026: 4.3%4.3%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, Greater Darwin, from January 2019Share of people aged 15 and over in the labour force each month, January 2019 to September 2026, against the Northern Territory and Australia.
  • Greater Darwin
  • Northern Territory
  • Australia
60%65%70%75%80%Jan 2020Sep 2021May 2023Jan 2025Sep 2026Greater DarwinGreater Darwin, Sep 2026: 73.0%73.0%Northern TerritoryNorthern Territory, Sep 2026: 71.0%71.0%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, Greater Darwin, indexed to January 2019 = 100Employed people each month as an index, January 2019 = 100, against the Northern Territory and Australia, so places of different size share one scale.
  • Greater Darwin
  • Northern Territory
  • Australia

Index (Jan 2019 = 100)

90100110120Jan 2020Sep 2021May 2023Jan 2025Sep 2026Greater DarwinGreater Darwin, Sep 2026: 111.8111.8Northern TerritoryNorthern Territory, Sep 2026: 111.5111.5AustraliaAustralia, 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, Greater DarwinThe 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: 7.7%7.7%All agesAll ages, Sep 2026: 3.0%3.0%

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

Show the numbers below
Numbers for Figures 3.1 to 3.4: Labour force each month, Greater Darwin, 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, Greater DarwinUnemployment rate, Northern TerritoryUnemployment rate, AustraliaParticipation rate, Greater DarwinParticipation rate, Northern TerritoryParticipation rate, Australia
January 20195.1%5.8%5.4%75.7%73.3%65.1%
February 20195.8%6.6%5.4%76.2%74.0%66.1%
March 20194.2%5.4%5.4%75.1%73.2%65.8%
April 20194.8%6.0%5.3%75.0%73.1%65.9%
May 20195.2%6.1%5.1%75.1%73.0%66.1%
June 20194.6%5.9%5.1%76.3%74.4%65.9%
July 20194.8%6.3%5.2%74.6%73.0%65.8%
August 20195.1%6.2%5.3%75.4%73.5%65.7%
September 20195.3%6.8%5.1%77.2%75.5%65.8%
October 20194.9%6.5%5.1%75.4%73.9%65.5%
November 20195.0%6.1%4.8%76.6%74.7%65.7%
December 20194.1%5.4%4.8%75.8%74.1%66.2%
January 20205.0%6.3%5.7%74.2%72.2%65.2%
February 20206.5%7.3%5.5%76.5%74.2%66.2%
March 20206.4%7.1%5.5%77.3%74.8%65.8%
April 20206.6%7.3%6.4%75.7%73.2%63.4%
May 20208.2%8.2%6.9%76.7%73.4%62.5%
June 20207.0%7.1%7.2%77.0%73.8%63.8%
July 20208.4%8.4%7.3%77.6%74.2%64.3%
August 20205.6%6.2%6.8%77.0%74.0%64.4%
September 20205.3%5.9%6.7%76.2%73.3%64.4%
October 20206.2%6.7%6.7%77.2%74.2%65.1%
November 20205.5%6.1%6.3%76.6%73.8%65.6%
December 20204.5%5.6%6.2%76.3%73.8%66.1%
January 20215.0%6.1%6.8%76.3%73.6%65.1%
February 20215.2%6.3%6.3%76.8%74.4%66.3%
March 20216.1%7.1%6.0%76.7%74.3%66.2%
April 20214.0%5.6%5.6%75.6%73.8%65.7%
May 20214.1%5.9%5.0%76.1%74.4%66.2%
June 20214.8%6.2%4.9%75.2%73.3%66.0%
July 20215.1%6.2%4.7%74.7%72.5%65.7%
August 20214.2%5.5%4.6%74.7%72.6%64.7%
September 20214.0%5.2%4.6%75.6%73.5%64.2%
October 20213.4%4.8%5.0%75.2%73.1%64.3%
November 20213.4%4.6%4.3%75.4%73.1%65.9%
December 20214.0%4.8%4.0%75.5%72.8%66.4%
January 20223.6%4.7%4.5%73.1%70.7%65.2%
February 20223.2%4.5%4.4%74.1%71.9%66.8%
March 20224.3%5.3%4.2%74.4%72.0%66.4%
April 20224.0%4.8%3.9%74.9%72.3%66.2%
May 20223.5%4.6%3.9%76.1%73.6%66.7%
June 20223.6%4.7%3.5%75.0%72.6%66.6%
July 20223.1%4.2%3.4%74.6%72.3%66.2%
August 20223.3%4.3%3.5%75.9%73.5%66.2%
September 20222.9%3.8%3.5%75.1%72.7%66.2%
October 20222.6%3.8%3.3%74.9%72.8%66.2%
November 20222.9%3.8%3.3%75.2%72.9%66.8%
December 20223.5%4.6%3.3%75.4%73.1%67.0%
January 20233.3%4.3%4.0%74.2%71.8%65.6%
February 20234.8%5.6%3.9%76.5%74.0%67.0%
March 20233.7%4.8%3.8%75.7%73.5%66.9%
April 20233.2%4.1%3.8%76.3%73.9%66.6%
May 20233.0%3.9%3.5%75.8%73.5%67.1%
June 20233.2%4.1%3.4%74.6%72.3%66.8%
July 20233.6%4.7%3.6%74.4%72.0%66.5%
August 20234.0%4.8%3.7%75.4%72.8%66.4%
September 20233.2%4.2%3.5%74.8%72.4%66.2%
October 20233.3%4.1%3.6%75.2%72.8%66.6%
November 20233.7%4.6%3.6%75.9%73.3%67.1%
December 20233.3%4.3%3.8%76.4%73.9%67.1%
January 20243.5%4.3%4.5%75.2%72.4%65.7%
February 20243.8%4.5%4.0%77.4%74.5%67.3%
March 20242.9%4.0%4.1%76.5%74.0%66.9%
April 20243.2%4.1%4.2%76.0%73.5%66.8%
May 20242.9%4.0%3.9%75.4%73.0%67.1%
June 20243.7%4.6%3.9%75.6%73.1%66.9%
July 20243.2%4.3%4.1%75.9%73.5%67.0%
August 20243.2%4.2%4.1%75.6%73.1%66.7%
September 20242.9%3.9%3.9%75.2%72.8%66.8%
October 20243.4%4.3%3.9%75.7%73.2%66.9%
November 20242.6%3.6%3.6%74.4%72.1%67.0%
December 20243.4%4.1%3.8%75.4%72.8%67.5%
January 20253.6%4.7%4.5%74.6%72.2%66.6%
February 20253.4%4.6%4.4%75.9%73.6%67.2%
March 20252.9%3.8%4.3%75.7%73.2%67.0%
April 20253.2%4.1%4.1%75.4%73.0%67.1%
May 20253.1%4.0%4.0%75.7%73.3%67.4%
June 20253.1%3.9%4.2%75.0%72.5%67.1%
July 20253.9%4.6%4.2%74.9%72.5%66.9%
August 20253.7%4.6%4.3%75.2%72.8%66.4%
September 20252.9%4.0%4.3%74.9%72.6%66.7%
October 20253.7%4.8%4.2%75.2%73.0%66.7%
November 20253.0%4.0%4.0%75.5%73.2%66.8%
December 20252.8%3.9%3.9%76.4%74.0%67.1%
January 20263.7%4.8%4.5%74.7%72.4%66.1%
February 20264.7%5.5%4.6%76.3%73.7%67.4%
March 20263.5%4.5%4.5%75.6%73.2%67.1%
April 20264.2%5.2%4.6%76.8%74.5%66.7%
May 20262.9%4.0%4.3%76.8%74.4%67.0%
June 20263.7%5.0%4.3%74.8%72.8%67.1%
July 20263.6%4.6%4.4%73.1%71.0%66.7%
August 20263.4%4.9%4.6%73.9%72.1%66.6%
September 20263.0%4.3%4.6%73.0%71.0%66.5%
Employed people as an index, January 2019 = 100, and youth unemployment
MonthEmployed people, index, Greater DarwinEmployed people, index, Northern TerritoryEmployed people, index, AustraliaYouth unemployment rate (15–24), Greater Darwin
January 2019100.0100.0100.012.9%
February 2019100.0100.0101.714.3%
March 2019100.1100.3101.510.7%
April 201999.499.7101.911.9%
May 201999.199.5102.512.5%
June 2019101.3101.7102.311.0%
July 201998.999.5102.211.4%
August 201999.8100.3102.112.0%
September 2019101.8102.4102.612.5%
October 201999.8100.5102.311.7%
November 2019101.2101.9103.011.6%
December 2019101.1101.8103.810.1%
January 202098.198.5101.612.4%
February 202099.7100.2103.415.6%
March 2020101.0101.4103.014.9%
April 202098.899.098.315.2%
May 202098.598.596.618.2%
June 2020100.1100.298.115.4%
July 202099.499.498.818.3%
August 2020101.7101.699.512.0%
September 2020101.0101.099.511.6%
October 2020101.3101.4100.713.8%
November 2020101.2101.5101.912.5%
December 2020101.8102.1102.810.6%
January 2021101.4101.4100.712.0%
February 2021102.1102.3103.112.1%
March 2021101.1101.4103.313.7%
April 2021101.8102.3103.18.8%
May 2021102.4102.8104.58.8%
June 2021100.3101.0104.310.3%
July 202199.6100.2104.111.0%
August 2021100.8101.3102.79.5%
September 2021102.4103.1101.99.3%
October 2021102.7103.2101.78.1%
November 2021103.2103.6105.18.0%
December 2021102.7103.0106.39.4%
January 2022100.2100.4104.28.6%
February 2022102.2102.5107.07.6%
March 2022101.6102.1106.89.9%
April 2022102.7103.2107.09.1%
May 2022105.1105.6108.18.0%
June 2022103.6104.1108.58.4%
July 2022103.8104.4108.27.5%
August 2022105.7106.3108.38.1%
September 2022105.2105.9108.67.0%
October 2022105.5106.3109.16.5%
November 2022105.8106.6110.27.0%
December 2022105.5106.0110.78.7%
January 2023104.3104.7108.18.6%
February 2023106.2106.8110.811.9%
March 2023106.6107.3111.29.4%
April 2023108.2108.8110.88.3%
May 2023107.9108.6112.37.6%
June 2023106.2106.8112.08.0%
July 2023105.6105.9111.79.1%
August 2023106.8107.1111.710.1%
September 2023106.9107.4112.08.1%
October 2023107.6108.1112.68.3%
November 2023108.2108.5113.69.7%
December 2023109.5109.7113.78.8%
January 2024107.7107.8110.79.4%
February 2024110.6110.7114.110.1%
March 2024110.5110.7113.67.9%
April 2024109.7109.9113.58.4%
May 2024109.3109.6114.57.9%
June 2024108.8109.1114.49.7%
July 2024110.4110.3114.48.6%
August 2024110.1110.0114.18.5%
September 2024110.0110.0114.87.5%
October 2024110.4110.5114.98.4%
November 2024109.6109.8115.76.3%
December 2024110.4110.4116.68.4%
January 2025109.4109.2114.39.0%
February 2025111.9111.7115.88.4%
March 2025112.5112.4115.87.1%
April 2025111.9111.8116.28.0%
May 2025112.6112.6116.97.6%
June 2025111.7111.7116.47.8%
July 2025110.8110.9116.39.7%
August 2025111.7111.6115.69.3%
September 2025112.3112.2116.17.5%
October 2025112.0112.1116.59.2%
November 2025113.5113.4116.97.4%
December 2025115.2114.9117.86.9%
January 2026111.9111.6115.49.3%
February 2026113.3113.0117.812.2%
March 2026114.0113.7117.79.3%
April 2026115.1114.9117.011.1%
May 2026116.9116.5118.07.5%
June 2026113.1113.0118.49.2%
July 2026110.8110.7117.79.0%
August 2026112.5112.3117.58.5%
September 2026111.8111.5117.47.7%

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 Greater Darwin, from Jobs and Skills Australia's monthly nowcast, to September 2026.

Figure 4.1: Largest occupations by estimated employment, Greater Darwin, September 2026The 10 occupations with the most people employed in September 2026, of an estimated 92,192 people employed in Greater Darwin across all occupations. The table adds September 2025 and the change. 6 of Greater Darwin's 10 largest occupations are in national shortage.
Sales Assistants (General): 3,454Sales Assistants (General)3,454General Clerks: 2,576General Clerks2,576Registered Nurses: 2,564Registered Nurses2,564Electricians: 2,109Electricians2,109Aged and Disabled Carers: 2,046Aged and Disabled Carers2,046Retail Managers: 1,503Retail Managers1,503Office Managers: 1,342Office Managers1,342Motor Mechanics: 1,276Motor Mechanics1,276Child Carers: 1,265Child Carers1,265Chefs: 1,250Chefs1,250

Sources: Jobs and Skills Australia[7]; ViewJobs[8]; Jobs and Skills Australia[9].

Show the numbers
Largest occupations by estimated employment, Greater Darwin, September 2026
OccupationPeople employed, September 2026September 2025ChangeNational shortage, 2026
Sales Assistants (General)3,4543,469−0.4%
General Clerks2,5762,675−3.7%
Registered Nurses2,5642,463+4.1%Shortage
Electricians2,1091,907+10.6%Shortage
Aged and Disabled Carers2,0462,041+0.2%Shortage
Retail Managers1,5031,429+5.2%
Office Managers1,3421,328+1.1%
Motor Mechanics1,2761,187+7.5%Shortage
Child Carers1,2651,209+4.6%Shortage
Chefs1,2501,196+4.5%Shortage
Figure 4.2: Fastest growing and shrinking occupations by estimated employment, Greater Darwin, 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.
Painting Trades Workers: +45.2%Painting Trades Workers+45.2%Science Technicians: +32.9%Science Technicians+32.9%Cafe Workers: +27.8%Cafe Workers+27.8%Airconditioning and Refrigeration Mechanics: +24.1%Airconditioning and Refrigeration Mechanics+24.1%Garden and Nursery Labourers: +22.8%Garden and Nursery Labourers+22.8%Earthmoving Plant Operators: −15.1%Earthmoving Plant Operators−15.1%Policy and Planning Managers: −15.9%Policy and Planning Managers−15.9%Carpenters and Joiners: −17.3%Carpenters and Joiners−17.3%Fire and Emergency Workers: −19.2%Fire and Emergency Workers−19.2%Occupational Therapists: −36.2%Occupational Therapists−36.2%

Sources: Jobs and Skills Australia[7]; ViewJobs[8].

Show the numbers
Fastest growing and shrinking occupations by estimated employment, Greater Darwin, September 2025 to September 2026
OccupationPeople employed, September 2026September 2025Change
Painting Trades Workers302208+45.2%
Science Technicians315237+32.9%
Cafe Workers308241+27.8%
Airconditioning and Refrigeration Mechanics437352+24.1%
Garden and Nursery Labourers296241+22.8%
Earthmoving Plant Operators326384−15.1%
Policy and Planning Managers297353−15.9%
Carpenters and Joiners536648−17.3%
Fire and Emergency Workers202250−19.2%
Occupational Therapists233365−36.2%
Figure 4.3: People employed in the largest occupations, Greater Darwin, 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)
  • General Clerks
  • Registered Nurses
  • Electricians
  • Aged and Disabled Carers
1k2k3k4kSep 2022Sep 2024Sep 2026Sales Assistants (General)Sales Assistants (General), Sep 2021: 3,612Sales Assistants (General), Sep 2026: 3,4543,454General ClerksGeneral Clerks, Sep 2021: 3,128General Clerks, Sep 2026: 2,5762,576Registered NursesRegistered Nurses, Sep 2021: 2,719Registered Nurses, Sep 2026: 2,5642,564ElectriciansElectricians, Sep 2021: 1,227Electricians, Sep 2026: 2,1092,109Aged and Disabled CarersAged and Disabled Carers, Sep 2021: 1,268Aged and Disabled Carers, Sep 2026: 2,0462,046

Sources: Jobs and Skills Australia[7]; ViewJobs[8].

Show the numbers
People employed in the largest occupations, Greater Darwin, September 2021 to September 2026
MonthSales Assistants (General)General ClerksRegistered NursesElectriciansAged and Disabled Carers
September 20213,6123,1282,7191,2271,268
September 20223,2763,1642,8041,3961,251
September 20233,0633,0762,7371,6841,615
September 20243,2232,8792,6821,6482,028
September 20253,4692,6752,4631,9072,041
September 20263,4542,5762,5642,1092,046

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 Greater Darwin, 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, Greater DarwinPeople in employment services at each snapshot, November 2024 to June 2026.
4.2k4.4k4.6k4.8k5kMar 2025Aug 2025Jan 2026Jun 2026Greater DarwinGreater Darwin, Jun 2026: 4,6454,645

Sources: Department of Employment and Workplace Relations[5]; ViewJobs[6].

Show the numbers below
Figure 5.2: In employment services for 12 months or more and 24 months or more, Greater Darwin, against the Northern Territory and AustraliaShare of people in employment services who had been in services for 12 months or more, and in Greater Darwin for 24 months or more, November 2024 to June 2026.
  • Greater Darwin, 12 months or more
  • Greater Darwin, 24 months or more
  • Northern Territory, 12 months or more
  • Australia, 12 months or more
30%40%50%60%70%Mar 2025Aug 2025Jan 2026Jun 2026Greater Darwin, 12 months or moreGreater Darwin, 12 months or more, Jun 2026: 62.0%62.0%Greater Darwin, 24 months or moreGreater Darwin, 24 months or more, Jun 2026: 41.4%41.4%Northern Territory, 12 months or moreNorthern Territory, 12 months or more, Jun 2026: 61.1%61.1%Australia, 12 months or moreAustralia, 12 months or more, Jun 2026: 64.4%64.4%

Sources: Department of Employment and Workplace Relations[5]; ViewJobs[6].

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

Sources: Department of Employment and Workplace Relations[5]; ViewJobs[6].

Show the numbers
People in employment services and the shares in services for 12 and 24 months or more
SnapshotPeople in employment services, Greater DarwinIn services 12 months or more, Greater DarwinIn services 24 months or more, Greater DarwinIn services 12 months or more, Northern TerritoryIn services 12 months or more, Australia
November 20244,34068.0%51.7%69.1%60.8%
December 20244,33066.5%50.2%67.3%60.7%
January 20254,48065.1%48.5%66.0%60.5%
February 20254,74562.0%46.3%62.6%60.3%
March 20254,78560.9%44.9%61.7%60.3%
April 20254,81559.7%43.6%60.2%60.5%
May 20254,87059.0%43.0%59.0%60.7%
June 20254,85559.0%42.4%58.6%61.3%
July 20254,77059.3%41.9%58.8%61.7%
August 20254,65060.0%41.9%59.6%62.2%
September 20254,68059.3%41.2%58.6%62.4%
October 20254,65060.3%41.6%59.6%62.7%
November 20254,62560.0%41.6%59.5%62.5%
December 20254,70059.6%41.3%59.1%62.6%
January 20264,78059.0%40.4%58.8%62.7%
February 20264,85559.6%39.8%59.3%63.1%
March 20264,81560.4%40.2%59.7%63.4%
April 20264,80060.5%40.0%59.8%63.8%
May 20264,78061.2%40.8%60.4%64.2%
June 20264,64562.0%41.4%61.1%64.4%
Figure 5.3: People in employment services by age group, Greater Darwin, June 2026The 5 age groups at the latest snapshot; the table adds each group's share of all people in employment services.
Under 25: 1,035Under 251,03525–34: 1,10025–341,10035–44: 1,08035–441,08045–54: 83545–5483555 and over: 59055 and over590

Sources: Department of Employment and Workplace Relations[5]; ViewJobs[6].

Show the numbers
People in employment services by age group, Greater Darwin, June 2026
Age groupPeopleShare
Under 251,03522%
25–341,10024%
35–441,08023%
45–5483518%
55 and over59013%
Figure 5.4: People in employment services by allowance group, Greater Darwin, June 2026The 3 allowance groups at the latest snapshot; the table adds each group's share of all people in employment services.
JobSeeker Payment: 3,460JobSeeker Payment3,460Youth Allowance (other): 595Youth Allowance (other)595Other: 590Other590

Sources: Department of Employment and Workplace Relations[5]; ViewJobs[6].

Show the numbers
People in employment services by allowance group, Greater Darwin, June 2026
Allowance groupPeopleShare
JobSeeker Payment3,46074%
Youth Allowance (other)59513%
Other59013%

6 Jobs on ViewJobs now

Live job ads on ViewJobs in Darwin, a ViewJobs region whose towns all sit in this ABS area.

Live jobs on ViewJobs in Darwin
795
ViewJobs, 30 Oct 2026[10]
Figure 6.1: Live jobs on ViewJobs by classification, DarwinThe 8 classifications with the most live ads, as of 30 Oct 2026.
Healthcare & Medical: 130Healthcare & Medical130Hospitality & Tourism: 72Hospitality & Tourism72Trades & Services: 61Trades & Services61Construction: 60Construction60Retail & Consumer Products: 59Retail & Consumer Products59Community Services & Development: 56Community Services & Development56Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics: 55Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics55Information & Communication Technology: 51Information & Communication Technology51

Source: ViewJobs live ads[10].

Show the numbers
Live jobs on ViewJobs by classification, Darwin
ClassificationLive jobs
Healthcare & Medical130
Hospitality & Tourism72
Trades & Services61
Construction60
Retail & Consumer Products59
Community Services & Development56
Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics55
Information & Communication Technology51

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, Greater Darwin, 2021–22 to 2023–24 (ATO)Average salary and wages per earner, 2021–22 to 2023–24 income years (ATO), against the Northern Territory and Australia.
  • Greater Darwin
  • Northern Territory
  • Australia
$67.5k$70k$72.5k$75k$77.5k$80k2021–222022–232023–24Greater DarwinGreater Darwin, 2021–22: $75,861Greater Darwin, 2022–23: $78,010Greater Darwin, 2023–24: $79,889$79,889Northern TerritoryNorthern Territory, 2021–22: $72,019Northern Territory, 2022–23: $74,144Northern Territory, 2023–24: $75,839$75,839AustraliaAustralia, 2021–22: $69,980Australia, 2022–23: $73,647Australia, 2023–24: $76,760$76,760

Sources: Australian Taxation Office[11]; ViewJobs[12].

Show the numbers
Average salary and wages per earner, Greater Darwin, 2021–22 to 2023–24 (ATO)
Income yearGreater DarwinNorthern TerritoryAustralia
2021–22$75,861$72,019$69,980
2022–23$78,010$74,144$73,647
2023–24$79,889$75,839$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 Greater Darwin's job market, each with its period and source.

How many jobs are advertised in Greater Darwin?

1,869 online job ads a month were placed in Greater Darwin, on average, in the three months to September 2026.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Is Greater Darwin's job market growing or shrinking?

Shrinking: online job ads in Greater Darwin were down 11.7% on a year earlier, from 2,116 to 1,869 a month in the three months to September 2026. Over the same year, ads were down 8.5% across the Northern Territory and up 0.6% across Australia.

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

Which jobs are most in demand in Greater Darwin?

General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists had the most online ads, 127 a month in the three months to September 2026, followed by automotive and engineering trades (118) and medical practitioners and nurses (102).

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

What is the unemployment rate in Greater Darwin?

The unemployment rate in Greater Darwin was 3.0% in September 2026, against 4.3% across the Northern Territory. A year earlier it was 2.9%. 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 Greater Darwin?

Yes. Unemployment in Greater Darwin was up 0.1 points on a year earlier in September 2026, at 3.0% against 2.9% (ABS modelled estimates). Across the Northern Territory it was up 0.3 points.

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

What are the biggest occupations in Greater Darwin?

An estimated 3,454 of the 92,192 people employed in Greater Darwin in September 2026 worked as Sales Assistants (General), the largest occupation there. Next were General Clerks (2,576 people) and Registered Nurses (2,564 people). These are Jobs and Skills Australia's experimental nowcast estimates.

Sources: Jobs and Skills Australia[7]; ViewJobs[8].

Which occupations are growing fastest in Greater Darwin?

Among occupations with at least 200 people employed in both September 2025 and September 2026, Painting Trades Workers grew fastest in Greater Darwin, up 45.2% to an estimated 302 people employed, followed by Science Technicians (up 32.9%) and Cafe Workers (up 27.8%). These are Jobs and Skills Australia's experimental nowcast estimates.

Sources: Jobs and Skills Australia[7]; ViewJobs[8].

How many people are in Workforce Australia employment services in Greater Darwin?

4,645 people in Greater Darwin were in Workforce Australia employment services at 30 June 2026, down 4.3% on a year earlier. 62.0% of them had been in employment services for 12 months or more.

Sources: Department of Employment and Workplace Relations[5]; ViewJobs[6].

How long have people in Greater Darwin been in Workforce Australia employment services?

At 30 June 2026, 62.0% had been in employment services for 12 months or more, and 41.4% for two years or more, against 61.1% and 41.1% across the Northern Territory.

Sources: Department of Employment and Workplace Relations[5]; ViewJobs[6].

How many jobs are on ViewJobs in Greater Darwin?

At least 795 jobs are live on ViewJobs in Greater Darwin, as of 30 Oct 2026. They are the ads in Darwin, a ViewJobs region whose towns all sit in the area. The most advertised are Healthcare & Medical (130), Hospitality & Tourism (72) and Trades & Services (61).

Source: ViewJobs live ads[10].

10 Notes and method

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

The area
Greater Darwin here is ABS Greater Capital City Statistical Area 7GDAR. It takes in 1 ABS SA4 regions: Darwin. 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. Capital city, state and national figures are sums of SA4 regions.[7][8]
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.[11]
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. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. ViewJobs, ViewJobs analysis of the Jobs and Skills Australia Nowcast of Employment by Region and Occupation, September 2026. jobsandskills.gov.au/data/nero. Capital city, state and national figures are sums of SA4 regions.
  9. 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.
  10. ViewJobs, Live job ads on ViewJobs, 30 Oct 2026. viewjobs.com.au.
  11. 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.
  12. 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.
  13. 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). Greater Darwin job market report, data to September 2026. https://www.viewjobs.com.au/job-market/nt/greater-darwin

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.

ViewJobs

Across 85+ mastheads