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Job market report

Central Queensland 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 Central Queensland, 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 308 Central Queensland
Sources
JSA, ABS, DEWR, ATO and ViewJobs

Key findings

  1. Steady: online job ads in Central Queensland were up 0.7% on a year earlier, from 2,207 to 2,223 a month in the three months to September 2026.

    Over the same year, ads were up 0.1% across Queensland and up 0.6% across Australia.[1][2]

    Section 1: Job ads and demand →

  2. Automotive and engineering trades had the most online ads, 192 a month in the three months to September 2026, followed by medical practitioners and nurses (143) and drivers and storepersons (137).

    Among occupation groups with at least 5 ads a month a year earlier and now, ads for arts and media professionals rose fastest, up 80.0%.[1]

    Section 2: Which jobs are in demand →

  3. The unemployment rate in Central Queensland was 4.7% in September 2026, against 4.4% across Queensland.

    A year earlier it was 4.4%. These are the ABS's modelled estimates for the month, not seasonally adjusted.[3][4]

    Section 3: Unemployment and participation, monthly →

  4. 9,645 people in Central Queensland were in Workforce Australia employment services at 30 June 2026, up 5.2% on a year earlier.

    69.7% of them had been in employment services for 12 months or more.[5]

    Section 5: Job seekers in employment services →
Unemployment rate
4.7%
ABS, September 2026 · up 0.3 points on September 2025[3]
Employed people
130,678
ABS, September 2026 · up 0.7% since September 2025[3]
Online job ads a month
2,223
JSA, September 2026 · up 0.7% since September 2025[1]
People in Workforce Australia employment services
9,645
DEWR, June 2026 · up 5.2% since June 2025[5]

1 Job ads and demand

Jobs and Skills Australia's Internet Vacancy Index is a monthly count of online job ads, compiled from SEEK, CareerOne and Workforce Australia. Regional figures are three-month averages. It is not a count of ViewJobs' own ads.

Central Queensland
+0.7%
2,223 ads a month[1]
Queensland
+0.1%
the sum of its areas[1][2]
Australia
+0.6%
the sum of every area[1][2]

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

Figure 1.1: Online job ads a month, Central QueenslandThree-month average, October 2023 to September 2026.
1.8k2k2.2k2.4k2.6k2.8kJan 2024Sep 2024May 2025Jan 2026Sep 2026Central QueenslandCentral Queensland, Sep 2026: 2,2232,223

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Show the numbers
Online job ads a month, Central Queensland
MonthOnline job ads a month
October 20232,610
November 20232,436
December 20232,147
January 20242,159
February 20242,238
March 20242,440
April 20242,332
May 20242,276
June 20242,207
July 20242,254
August 20242,269
September 20242,387
October 20242,437
November 20242,390
December 20242,124
January 20252,114
February 20252,076
March 20252,265
April 20252,076
May 20252,094
June 20252,082
July 20252,201
August 20252,171
September 20252,207
October 20252,220
November 20252,179
December 20251,985
January 20261,984
February 20262,023
March 20262,194
April 20262,106
May 20262,062
June 20262,005
July 20262,091
August 20262,132
September 20262,223

2 Which jobs are in demand

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

Figure 2.1: Change in online job ads by occupation, Central QueenslandThe 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.
Mobile plant operators: +51.0%Mobile plant operators+51.0%Other labourers: +34.3%Other labourers+34.3%Health diagnostic and therapy professionals: +25.0%Health diagnostic and therapy professionals+25.0%Engineers: +22.2%Engineers+22.2%Medical practitioners and nurses: +2.9%Medical practitioners and nurses+2.9%Automotive and engineering trades: +2.1%Automotive and engineering trades+2.1%Drivers and storepersons: +1.5%Drivers and storepersons+1.5%Sales assistants and salespersons: −1.6%Sales assistants and salespersons−1.6%Hospitality, retail and service managers: −5.7%Hospitality, retail and service managers−5.7%Carers and aides: −9.3%Carers and aides−9.3%General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists: −21.9%General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists−21.9%Legal, social and welfare professionals: −28.7%Legal, social and welfare professionals−28.7%

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Show the numbers
Change in online job ads by occupation, Central Queensland
Occupation groupAds a month, September 2026A year earlierChange
Automotive and engineering trades192188+2.1%
Medical practitioners and nurses143139+2.9%
Drivers and storepersons137135+1.5%
Sales assistants and salespersons125127−1.6%
General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists121155−21.9%
Carers and aides117129−9.3%
Other labourers9067+34.3%
Legal, social and welfare professionals87122−28.7%
Hospitality, retail and service managers8287−5.7%
Mobile plant operators7449+51.0%
Engineers6654+22.2%
Health diagnostic and therapy professionals6552+25.0%
Machine and stationary plant operators6553+22.6%
Engineering, ICT and science technicians6358+8.6%
Electrotechnology and telecommunications trades5870−17.1%
Cleaners and laundry workers5842+38.1%
Health and welfare support workers51510.0%
Construction trades4858−17.2%
Corporate managers4639+17.9%
Business, finance and human resource professionals4236+16.7%
Food trades4149−16.3%
Construction and mining labourers4130+36.7%
Other clerical and administrative workers4032+25.0%
Construction, production and distribution managers3546−23.9%
Sales representatives and agents35350.0%
Education professionals3132−3.1%
Office managers, administrators and secretaries31310.0%
Numerical clerks2126−19.2%
Sports, travel and personal service workers20200.0%
Health, education, ICT and other managers1914+35.7%
Transport and design professionals, and architects1711+54.5%
Hospitality workers1727−37.0%
Sales support workers1712+41.7%
Science professionals and veterinarians1416−12.5%
Jewellers, arts and other trades workers12120.0%
Farm, forestry and garden workers129+33.3%
Food preparation assistants1112−8.3%
Skilled animal and horticultural workers1012−16.7%
Hairdressers, printing, clothing and wood trades108+25.0%
Arts and media professionals95+80.0%
Factory process workers98+12.5%
ICT professionals811−27.3%
Protective service workers87+14.3%
Clerical and office support workers, couriers89−11.1%
Chief executives, managing directors & legislators770.0%
Sales, marketing & public relations professionals67−14.3%
Information professionals56−16.7%
Farmers and farm managersfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a

3 Unemployment and participation, monthly

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

Figure 3.1: Unemployment rate, Central Queensland, from January 2019Share of the labour force unemployed each month, January 2019 to September 2026, against Queensland and Australia.
  • Central Queensland
  • Queensland
  • Australia
2%4%6%8%10%Jan 2020Sep 2021May 2023Jan 2025Sep 2026Central QueenslandCentral Queensland, Sep 2026: 4.7%4.7%QueenslandQueensland, Sep 2026: 4.4%4.4%AustraliaAustralia, Sep 2026: 4.6%4.6%

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

Show the numbers below
Figure 3.2: Participation rate, Central Queensland, from January 2019Share of people aged 15 and over in the labour force each month, January 2019 to September 2026, against Queensland and Australia.
  • Central Queensland
  • Queensland
  • Australia
60%62.5%65%67.5%70%72.5%Sep 2019Jun 2021Mar 2023Dec 2024Sep 2026Central QueenslandCentral Queensland, Sep 2026: 69.0%69.0%QueenslandQueensland, Sep 2026: 66.6%66.6%AustraliaAustralia, Sep 2026: 66.5%66.5%

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

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

Index (Jan 2019 = 100)

90100110120130Jan 2020Sep 2021May 2023Jan 2025Sep 2026Central QueenslandCentral Queensland, Sep 2026: 117.5117.5QueenslandQueensland, Sep 2026: 122.9122.9AustraliaAustralia, Sep 2026: 117.4117.4

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

Show the numbers below
Figure 3.4: Youth unemployment (15–24) and all ages, Central QueenslandThe 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: 9.9%9.9%All agesAll ages, Sep 2026: 4.7%4.7%

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

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

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

Show the numbers
Unemployment and participation rates
MonthUnemployment rate, Central QueenslandUnemployment rate, QueenslandUnemployment rate, AustraliaParticipation rate, Central QueenslandParticipation rate, QueenslandParticipation rate, Australia
January 20197.4%6.3%5.4%67.4%65.0%65.1%
February 20197.1%6.1%5.4%68.5%66.2%66.1%
March 20197.2%6.5%5.4%68.3%66.1%65.8%
April 20196.8%6.0%5.3%68.1%65.7%65.9%
May 20196.4%6.1%5.1%68.1%66.1%66.1%
June 20197.5%6.3%5.1%68.4%65.7%65.9%
July 20197.3%6.0%5.2%68.9%66.0%65.8%
August 20197.4%6.2%5.3%68.6%65.7%65.7%
September 20197.4%6.1%5.1%69.3%66.3%65.8%
October 20197.5%6.0%5.1%69.0%65.8%65.5%
November 20196.7%5.5%4.8%69.0%66.0%65.7%
December 20195.8%5.1%4.8%68.4%65.7%66.2%
January 20207.0%6.5%5.7%67.2%65.3%65.2%
February 20206.5%6.1%5.5%68.1%66.3%66.2%
March 20206.8%5.9%5.5%67.8%65.4%65.8%
April 20207.0%7.0%6.4%65.0%62.7%63.4%
May 20207.8%7.7%6.9%64.7%61.4%62.5%
June 20207.6%7.8%7.2%66.1%62.9%63.8%
July 20208.0%8.3%7.3%67.0%64.0%64.3%
August 20207.3%7.1%6.8%68.1%64.8%64.4%
September 20207.3%7.1%6.7%68.5%65.4%64.4%
October 20207.3%7.2%6.7%69.0%66.1%65.1%
November 20206.7%6.7%6.3%68.5%65.7%65.6%
December 20206.3%6.6%6.2%68.9%66.5%66.1%
January 20217.2%7.3%6.8%68.3%65.7%65.1%
February 20216.9%6.7%6.3%69.4%66.7%66.3%
March 20215.8%6.3%6.0%68.5%66.4%66.2%
April 20216.2%6.0%5.6%68.5%66.0%65.7%
May 20215.6%5.4%5.0%69.0%66.5%66.2%
June 20215.9%5.2%4.9%69.2%66.5%66.0%
July 20215.2%5.1%4.7%68.5%66.3%65.7%
August 20214.8%5.0%4.6%67.9%65.7%64.7%
September 20215.1%4.7%4.6%68.5%66.1%64.2%
October 20215.4%4.9%5.0%68.6%66.1%64.3%
November 20214.8%4.2%4.3%68.6%66.3%65.9%
December 20214.8%4.2%4.0%68.7%66.5%66.4%
January 20225.1%4.7%4.5%67.9%65.6%65.2%
February 20224.9%4.5%4.4%69.2%67.2%66.8%
March 20224.5%4.2%4.2%68.8%66.7%66.4%
April 20224.8%4.2%3.9%68.7%66.5%66.2%
May 20224.5%4.0%3.9%69.3%67.2%66.7%
June 20224.2%3.9%3.5%69.3%67.3%66.6%
July 20223.8%3.6%3.4%68.7%66.8%66.2%
August 20223.8%3.3%3.5%68.6%66.5%66.2%
September 20224.2%3.5%3.5%68.7%66.5%66.2%
October 20223.7%3.1%3.3%68.2%66.1%66.2%
November 20223.3%3.0%3.3%68.3%66.4%66.8%
December 20223.8%3.4%3.3%68.6%66.6%67.0%
January 20234.6%4.1%4.0%68.0%65.8%65.6%
February 20234.7%4.1%3.9%68.8%66.5%67.0%
March 20235.0%4.2%3.8%69.4%66.9%66.9%
April 20234.4%3.9%3.8%68.3%66.1%66.6%
May 20234.5%3.9%3.5%69.4%67.2%67.1%
June 20234.2%3.7%3.4%69.1%66.8%66.8%
July 20235.0%4.3%3.6%68.7%66.5%66.5%
August 20234.5%3.9%3.7%68.0%65.8%66.4%
September 20234.2%3.6%3.5%68.0%65.8%66.2%
October 20234.4%4.0%3.6%68.4%66.3%66.6%
November 20234.4%4.0%3.6%69.1%67.0%67.1%
December 20234.2%4.0%3.8%69.0%67.1%67.1%
January 20244.7%4.4%4.5%68.0%65.7%65.7%
February 20245.0%4.3%4.0%70.1%67.6%67.3%
March 20244.7%4.5%4.1%69.2%66.9%66.9%
April 20244.5%4.2%4.2%69.8%67.4%66.8%
May 20244.4%4.0%3.9%69.9%67.6%67.1%
June 20244.2%3.8%3.9%69.9%67.6%66.9%
July 20244.9%4.4%4.1%69.2%66.8%67.0%
August 20244.5%4.1%4.1%69.1%66.8%66.7%
September 20244.2%3.8%3.9%69.0%66.7%66.8%
October 20244.1%3.6%3.9%69.6%67.5%66.9%
November 20244.0%3.6%3.6%69.6%67.4%67.0%
December 20244.2%3.6%3.8%70.1%67.8%67.5%
January 20254.7%4.2%4.5%68.9%66.6%66.6%
February 20254.7%4.4%4.4%69.7%67.4%67.2%
March 20254.5%4.3%4.3%69.5%67.0%67.0%
April 20254.5%4.3%4.1%69.9%67.5%67.1%
May 20254.1%3.7%4.0%70.3%67.9%67.4%
June 20254.4%4.0%4.2%70.0%67.6%67.1%
July 20254.8%4.3%4.2%69.7%67.1%66.9%
August 20254.7%4.3%4.3%69.0%66.6%66.4%
September 20254.4%4.0%4.3%69.2%66.8%66.7%
October 20254.3%3.9%4.2%69.1%66.8%66.7%
November 20254.1%3.9%4.0%68.8%66.6%66.8%
December 20253.7%3.6%3.9%68.9%66.8%67.1%
January 20265.5%4.7%4.5%69.2%66.4%66.1%
February 20265.3%4.8%4.6%70.0%67.5%67.4%
March 20264.2%4.0%4.5%69.1%66.9%67.1%
April 20264.7%4.3%4.6%69.2%66.8%66.7%
May 20264.1%3.7%4.3%69.8%67.4%67.0%
June 20264.8%4.3%4.3%70.1%67.4%67.1%
July 20264.9%4.4%4.4%69.6%67.1%66.7%
August 20264.2%4.4%4.6%68.6%66.7%66.6%
September 20264.7%4.4%4.6%69.0%66.6%66.5%
Employed people as an index, January 2019 = 100, and youth unemployment
MonthEmployed people, index, Central QueenslandEmployed people, index, QueenslandEmployed people, index, AustraliaYouth unemployment rate (15–24), Central Queensland
January 2019100.0100.0100.016.0%
February 2019102.1102.2101.715.5%
March 2019101.8101.9101.516.1%
April 2019101.9102.0101.915.2%
May 2019102.5102.6102.514.5%
June 2019101.8101.9102.316.9%
July 2019102.9102.8102.216.4%
August 2019102.4102.3102.116.4%
September 2019103.6103.4102.616.3%
October 2019103.1103.0102.316.6%
November 2019104.1104.0103.015.0%
December 2019104.2104.2103.813.4%
January 2020101.2102.1101.616.1%
February 2020103.3104.3103.415.1%
March 2020102.5103.4103.015.5%
April 202098.197.998.315.6%
May 202096.995.396.616.9%
June 202099.397.698.116.1%
July 2020100.398.998.816.6%
August 2020102.6101.599.514.6%
September 2020103.2102.499.514.4%
October 2020104.1103.6100.714.4%
November 2020104.1103.7101.913.1%
December 2020105.3105.2102.812.3%
January 2021103.6103.2100.713.6%
February 2021105.5105.6103.113.0%
March 2021105.5105.7103.310.8%
April 2021105.2105.5103.111.2%
May 2021106.7107.1104.510.2%
June 2021106.8107.5104.310.8%
July 2021106.5107.4104.19.9%
August 2021106.1106.5102.79.7%
September 2021106.8107.8101.910.5%
October 2021106.7107.8101.711.3%
November 2021107.4108.8105.110.2%
December 2021107.7109.5106.310.3%
January 2022106.3107.8104.210.9%
February 2022108.8110.8107.010.6%
March 2022108.8110.6106.89.5%
April 2022108.4110.5107.010.0%
May 2022109.9112.1108.19.2%
June 2022110.3112.5108.58.6%
July 2022109.9112.4108.27.9%
August 2022110.0112.5108.37.9%
September 2022109.9112.4108.68.5%
October 2022109.9112.6109.17.4%
November 2022110.7113.5110.26.7%
December 2022110.7113.7110.77.8%
January 2023109.1111.8108.19.6%
February 2023110.5113.4110.810.0%
March 2023111.3114.3111.210.6%
April 2023110.5113.6110.89.5%
May 2023112.4115.7112.39.4%
June 2023112.3115.6112.08.7%
July 2023110.9114.6111.710.1%
August 2023110.7114.1111.79.0%
September 2023111.3114.9112.08.3%
October 2023111.9115.5112.69.1%
November 2023113.0117.0113.69.5%
December 2023113.4117.4113.79.3%
January 2024111.4114.8110.710.5%
February 2024114.7118.5114.111.0%
March 2024113.7117.3113.610.3%
April 2024115.0118.8113.59.7%
May 2024115.4119.4114.59.3%
June 2024115.9119.9114.48.8%
July 2024114.0117.9114.410.1%
August 2024114.4118.5114.19.3%
September 2024114.7119.0114.88.5%
October 2024116.1120.8114.98.2%
November 2024116.2120.9115.77.9%
December 2024117.1121.7116.68.5%
January 2025114.7119.0114.39.3%
February 2025116.1120.5115.89.6%
March 2025116.3120.2115.89.3%
April 2025117.1121.4116.29.4%
May 2025118.5122.9116.98.7%
June 2025117.6122.4116.49.6%
July 2025116.7121.2116.310.5%
August 2025115.8120.4115.610.5%
September 2025116.7121.4116.19.8%
October 2025116.8121.6116.59.4%
November 2025116.6121.5116.99.0%
December 2025117.3122.3117.88.0%
January 2026115.9120.6115.411.8%
February 2026117.5122.6117.811.6%
March 2026117.6122.9117.79.2%
April 2026117.3122.3117.010.2%
May 2026119.2124.5118.08.8%
June 2026118.9124.0118.410.0%
July 2026118.1123.4117.710.1%
August 2026117.4122.8117.58.7%
September 2026117.5122.9117.49.9%

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 Central Queensland, from Jobs and Skills Australia's monthly nowcast, to September 2026.

Figure 4.1: Largest occupations by estimated employment, Central Queensland, September 2026The 10 occupations with the most people employed in September 2026, of an estimated 130,866 people employed in Central Queensland across all occupations. The table adds September 2025 and the change. 5 of Central Queensland's 10 largest occupations are in national shortage, and 1 is in shortage in regional Australia.
Drillers, Miners and Shot Firers: 4,071Drillers, Miners and Shot Firers4,071Sales Assistants (General): 3,938Sales Assistants (General)3,938Electricians: 3,908Electricians3,908Metal Fitters and Machinists: 3,584Metal Fitters and Machinists3,584Aged and Disabled Carers: 3,155Aged and Disabled Carers3,155General Clerks: 2,714General Clerks2,714Truck Drivers: 2,438Truck Drivers2,438Receptionists: 2,336Receptionists2,336Commercial Cleaners: 2,216Commercial Cleaners2,216Registered Nurses: 1,877Registered Nurses1,877

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

Show the numbers
Largest occupations by estimated employment, Central Queensland, September 2026
OccupationPeople employed, September 2026September 2025ChangeNational shortage, 2026
Drillers, Miners and Shot Firers4,0713,419+19.1%Regional shortage
Sales Assistants (General)3,9383,762+4.7%
Electricians3,9083,624+7.8%Shortage
Metal Fitters and Machinists3,5843,494+2.6%Shortage
Aged and Disabled Carers3,1553,230−2.3%Shortage
General Clerks2,7142,888−6.0%
Truck Drivers2,4382,662−8.4%Shortage
Receptionists2,3361,969+18.6%
Commercial Cleaners2,2162,326−4.7%
Registered Nurses1,8772,071−9.4%Shortage
Figure 4.2: Fastest growing and shrinking occupations by estimated employment, Central Queensland, 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.
Automotive Electricians: +39.2%Automotive Electricians+39.2%Structural Steel Construction Workers: +29.5%Structural Steel Construction Workers+29.5%Housekeepers: +24.2%Housekeepers+24.2%Beauty Therapists: +22.3%Beauty Therapists+22.3%Bar Attendants and Baristas: +21.1%Bar Attendants and Baristas+21.1%Hairdressers: −14.3%Hairdressers−14.3%Hotel and Motel Managers: −14.8%Hotel and Motel Managers−14.8%Train and Tram Drivers: −17.0%Train and Tram Drivers−17.0%Police: −18.5%Police−18.5%Other Construction and Mining Labourers: −21.4%Other Construction and Mining Labourers−21.4%

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[6].

Show the numbers
Fastest growing and shrinking occupations by estimated employment, Central Queensland, September 2025 to September 2026
OccupationPeople employed, September 2026September 2025Change
Automotive Electricians600431+39.2%
Structural Steel Construction Workers1,002774+29.5%
Housekeepers836673+24.2%
Beauty Therapists888726+22.3%
Bar Attendants and Baristas1,6791,387+21.1%
Hairdressers723844−14.3%
Hotel and Motel Managers495581−14.8%
Train and Tram Drivers9641,161−17.0%
Police611750−18.5%
Other Construction and Mining Labourers456580−21.4%
Figure 4.3: People employed in the largest occupations, Central Queensland, 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.
  • Drillers, Miners and Shot Firers
  • Sales Assistants (General)
  • Electricians
  • Metal Fitters and Machinists
  • Aged and Disabled Carers
2k3k4k5kSep 2022Sep 2024Sep 2026Drillers, Miners and Shot FirersDrillers, Miners and Shot Firers, Sep 2021: 3,445Drillers, Miners and Shot Firers, Sep 2026: 4,0714,071Sales Assistants (General)Sales Assistants (General), Sep 2021: 4,803Sales Assistants (General), Sep 2026: 3,9383,938ElectriciansElectricians, Sep 2021: 2,539Electricians, Sep 2026: 3,9083,908Metal Fitters and MachinistsMetal Fitters and Machinists, Sep 2021: 3,825Metal Fitters and Machinists, Sep 2026: 3,5843,584Aged and Disabled CarersAged and Disabled Carers, Sep 2021: 2,594Aged and Disabled Carers, Sep 2026: 3,1553,155

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[6].

Show the numbers
People employed in the largest occupations, Central Queensland, September 2021 to September 2026
MonthDrillers, Miners and Shot FirersSales Assistants (General)ElectriciansMetal Fitters and MachinistsAged and Disabled Carers
September 20213,4454,8032,5393,8252,594
September 20223,1714,7412,2823,7223,321
September 20233,3754,8732,6283,6843,099
September 20243,4224,3463,1323,4843,175
September 20253,4193,7623,6243,4943,230
September 20264,0713,9383,9083,5843,155

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 Central Queensland, from the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, to June 2026. These are people getting help to find work, not an unemployment count.

Figure 5.1: People in Workforce Australia employment services, Central QueenslandPeople in employment services at each snapshot, November 2024 to June 2026.
8.5k9k9.5k10kMar 2025Aug 2025Jan 2026Jun 2026Central QueenslandCentral Queensland, Jun 2026: 9,6459,645

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

Show the numbers below
Figure 5.2: In employment services for 12 months or more and 24 months or more, Central Queensland, against Queensland and AustraliaShare of people in employment services who had been in services for 12 months or more, and in Central Queensland for 24 months or more, November 2024 to June 2026.
  • Central Queensland, 12 months or more
  • Central Queensland, 24 months or more
  • Queensland, 12 months or more
  • Australia, 12 months or more
40%50%60%70%Mar 2025Aug 2025Jan 2026Jun 2026Central Queensland, 12 months or moreCentral Queensland, 12 months or more, Jun 2026: 69.7%69.7%Central Queensland, 24 months or moreCentral Queensland, 24 months or more, Jun 2026: 49.9%49.9%Queensland, 12 months or moreQueensland, 12 months or more, Jun 2026: 64.2%64.2%Australia, 12 months or moreAustralia, 12 months or more, Jun 2026: 64.4%64.4%

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

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

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

Show the numbers
People in employment services and the shares in services for 12 and 24 months or more
SnapshotPeople in employment services, Central QueenslandIn services 12 months or more, Central QueenslandIn services 24 months or more, Central QueenslandIn services 12 months or more, QueenslandIn services 12 months or more, Australia
November 20248,55067.3%48.7%61.1%60.8%
December 20248,58567.2%48.8%61.0%60.7%
January 20258,77067.1%48.5%60.9%60.5%
February 20258,90566.8%48.2%60.8%60.3%
March 20259,02066.6%48.1%61.0%60.3%
April 20259,10066.7%47.8%60.7%60.5%
May 20259,20566.5%47.6%60.8%60.7%
June 20259,17067.1%47.7%61.5%61.3%
July 20259,24567.3%47.5%61.8%61.7%
August 20259,22567.9%48.2%62.3%62.2%
September 20259,22068.0%48.6%62.6%62.4%
October 20259,33067.7%48.5%62.8%62.7%
November 20259,27067.9%48.7%62.6%62.5%
December 20259,30567.7%48.6%62.7%62.6%
January 20269,51567.9%48.2%62.6%62.7%
February 20269,69068.5%48.7%62.9%63.1%
March 20269,74068.5%48.7%63.2%63.4%
April 20269,77068.7%49.0%63.6%63.8%
May 20269,72569.4%49.4%64.0%64.2%
June 20269,64569.7%49.9%64.2%64.4%
Figure 5.3: People in employment services by age group, Central Queensland, June 2026The 5 age groups at the latest snapshot; the table adds each group's share of all people in employment services.
Under 25: 2,160Under 252,16025–34: 2,30025–342,30035–44: 2,02535–442,02545–54: 1,66545–541,66555 and over: 1,49055 and over1,490

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

Show the numbers
People in employment services by age group, Central Queensland, June 2026
Age groupPeopleShare
Under 252,16022%
25–342,30024%
35–442,02521%
45–541,66517%
55 and over1,49015%
Figure 5.4: People in employment services by allowance group, Central Queensland, June 2026The 3 allowance groups at the latest snapshot; the table adds each group's share of all people in employment services.
JobSeeker Payment: 6,965JobSeeker Payment6,965Youth Allowance (other): 1,260Youth Allowance (other)1,260Other: 1,420Other1,420

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

Show the numbers
People in employment services by allowance group, Central Queensland, June 2026
Allowance groupPeopleShare
JobSeeker Payment6,96572%
Youth Allowance (other)1,26013%
Other1,42015%

6 Jobs on ViewJobs now

Live job ads on ViewJobs in Capricorn and Gladstone, ViewJobs regions whose towns all sit in this ABS area.

Live jobs on ViewJobs in these regions
742
ViewJobs, 30 Oct 2026[9]
Figure 6.1: Live jobs on ViewJobs by classification, Capricorn and GladstoneThe 8 classifications with the most live ads, as of 30 Oct 2026.
Healthcare & Medical: 186Healthcare & Medical186Community Services & Development: 90Community Services & Development90Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics: 85Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics85Retail & Consumer Products: 64Retail & Consumer Products64Hospitality & Tourism: 51Hospitality & Tourism51Education & Training: 44Education & Training44Trades & Services: 44Trades & Services44Mining, Resources & Energy: 34Mining, Resources & Energy34

Source: ViewJobs live ads[9].

Show the numbers
Live jobs on ViewJobs by classification, Capricorn and Gladstone
ClassificationLive jobs
Healthcare & Medical186
Community Services & Development90
Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics85
Retail & Consumer Products64
Hospitality & Tourism51
Education & Training44
Trades & Services44
Mining, Resources & Energy34

7 Pay

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

Figure 7.1: Average salary and wages per earner, Central Queensland, 2021–22 to 2023–24 (ATO)Average salary and wages per earner, 2021–22 to 2023–24 income years (ATO), against Queensland and Australia.
  • Central Queensland
  • Queensland
  • Australia
$65k$70k$75k$80k$85k2021–222022–232023–24Central QueenslandCentral Queensland, 2021–22: $73,040Central Queensland, 2022–23: $76,689Central Queensland, 2023–24: $81,291$81,291QueenslandQueensland, 2021–22: $66,874Queensland, 2022–23: $70,435Queensland, 2023–24: $74,356$74,356AustraliaAustralia, 2021–22: $69,980Australia, 2022–23: $73,647Australia, 2023–24: $76,760$76,760

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

Show the numbers
Average salary and wages per earner, Central Queensland, 2021–22 to 2023–24 (ATO)
Income yearCentral QueenslandQueenslandAustralia
2021–22$73,040$66,874$69,980
2022–23$76,689$70,435$73,647
2023–24$81,291$74,356$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 Central Queensland's job market, each with its period and source.

How many jobs are advertised in Central Queensland?

2,223 online job ads a month were placed in Central Queensland, on average, in the three months to September 2026.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Is Central Queensland's job market growing or shrinking?

Steady: online job ads in Central Queensland were up 0.7% on a year earlier, from 2,207 to 2,223 a month in the three months to September 2026. Over the same year, ads were up 0.1% across Queensland and up 0.6% across Australia.

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

Which jobs are most in demand in Central Queensland?

Automotive and engineering trades had the most online ads, 192 a month in the three months to September 2026, followed by medical practitioners and nurses (143) and drivers and storepersons (137). Among occupation groups with at least 5 ads a month a year earlier and now, ads for arts and media professionals rose fastest, up 80.0%.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

What is the unemployment rate in Central Queensland?

The unemployment rate in Central Queensland was 4.7% in September 2026, against 4.4% across Queensland. A year earlier it was 4.4%. 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 Central Queensland?

Yes. Unemployment in Central Queensland was up 0.3 points on a year earlier in September 2026, at 4.7% against 4.4% (ABS modelled estimates). Across Queensland it was up 0.4 points.

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

What are the biggest occupations in Central Queensland?

An estimated 4,071 of the 130,866 people employed in Central Queensland in September 2026 worked as Drillers, Miners and Shot Firers, the largest occupation there. Next were Sales Assistants (General), with 3,938 people, and Electricians, with 3,908 people. These are Jobs and Skills Australia's experimental nowcast estimates.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[6].

Which occupations are growing fastest in Central Queensland?

Among occupations with at least 200 people employed in both September 2025 and September 2026, Automotive Electricians grew fastest in Central Queensland, up 39.2% to an estimated 600 people employed, followed by Structural Steel Construction Workers (up 29.5%) and Housekeepers (up 24.2%). These are Jobs and Skills Australia's experimental nowcast estimates.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[6].

How many people are in Workforce Australia employment services in Central Queensland?

9,645 people in Central Queensland were in Workforce Australia employment services at 30 June 2026, up 5.2% on a year earlier. 69.7% 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 Central Queensland been in Workforce Australia employment services?

At 30 June 2026, 69.7% had been in employment services for 12 months or more, and 49.9% for two years or more, against 64.2% and 43.1% across Queensland.

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

How many jobs are on ViewJobs in Central Queensland?

At least 742 jobs are live on ViewJobs in Central Queensland, as of 30 Oct 2026. They are the ads in Capricorn and Gladstone, ViewJobs regions whose towns all sit in the area. The most advertised are Healthcare & Medical (186), Community Services & Development (90) and Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics (85).

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
Central Queensland here is ABS SA4 308 Central Queensland. The reports cover 50 areas, 42 regional ABS regions and the eight capital cities: the areas Jobs and Skills Australia publishes online job ads for.
Online job ads
Jobs and Skills Australia's Internet Vacancy Index is a monthly count of online job ads, compiled from SEEK, CareerOne and Workforce Australia. Regional figures are three-month averages. It is not a count of ViewJobs' own ads. It counts ads, not jobs filled, by occupation and area.
State and national ads
This report reads the index's series by area, so a state or national figure here is the sum of its areas, marked as ViewJobs analysis. It can differ from the state and national totals Jobs and Skills Australia publishes separately.[2]
Small numbers
A figure under 5 ads a month is shown as "fewer than 5". A group with fewer than 5 ads a month, now or a year earlier, is left out of every change, and every ranking by change.
Unemployment
Monthly unemployment, participation and employment are the ABS's Regional Labour Force modelled estimates: the ABS combines its Labour Force Survey with administrative data to estimate each labour market region. They are in original terms, not seasonally adjusted, so every change here compares a month with the same month a year earlier. The ABS's labour market regions follow the 2011 boundaries of its SA4 regions, which differ slightly from today's in a few areas.
Employment by occupation
Jobs and Skills Australia's nowcast is experimental: its figures are model estimates of the people employed in each occupation, not a count of them, and each monthly release revises the months before it. Occupations are ANZSCO unit groups, named as Jobs and Skills Australia publishes them. The growth rankings take only occupations with at least 200 people employed at both points.[6]
People in employment services
The views expressed in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (or DEWR). Counts are of people by home address; the ABS area is the SA4 that address falls in. Capital city, state and national figures are sums of SA4 regions.[5]
Pay
Average salary and wages per earner come from the ATO's Taxation Statistics for individuals. An income year runs from 1 July to 30 June and the figures are published more than a year later, so none leads this report. The ATO assigns a postcode that spans regions wholly to the region holding most of it. Capital city, state and national figures are sums of SA4 regions.[10]
ABS figures
The latest ABS income and jobs figures here are for the year to 30 June 2023; population and business counts are more recent. Every figure shows its year. Change is measured from 2019: the ABS figures for 2018 and 2019 differ sharply for some industries in some areas. Industries with fewer than 1,000 employee jobs are listed but not ranked.
Jobs on ViewJobs
ViewJobs regions do not follow ABS boundaries. Section 6 counts the ads open on ViewJobs on 30 Oct 2026 in each ViewJobs region with at least 20% of its towns in this area, and counts each region whole: a region that reaches beyond the area can include ads from outside it, and a region with fewer of its towns here is left out. A classification links to its own page once it has enough ads for one.

11 References

Every figure on this page points at one of these entries.

  1. Jobs and Skills Australia, Internet Vacancy Index, September 2026. jobsandskills.gov.au/sites/default/files/2026-10/internet_vacancies_anzsco2_occupations_gccsa_and_sa4_regions_-_september_2026.xlsx. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Accessed 25 October 2026.
  2. ViewJobs, ViewJobs analysis of the Jobs and Skills Australia Internet Vacancy Index, September 2026. jobsandskills.gov.au/data/internet-vacancy-index. State and national figures are the sum of the ABS areas in Jobs and Skills Australia's regional series.
  3. Australian Bureau of Statistics, Regional Labour Force, September 2026. abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/employment-and-unemployment/regional-labour-force/sep-2026/MLF1.xlsx. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Accessed 25 October 2026.
  4. ViewJobs, ViewJobs analysis of the Australian Bureau of Statistics Regional Labour Force, September 2026. abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/employment-and-unemployment/regional-labour-force/latest-release. Capital city, state and national figures are sums of the ABS's modelled labour market regions, with rates worked out from the sums.
  5. Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, Workforce Australia Caseload by Selected Cohorts, June 2026. dewr.gov.au/employment-services-data/resources/workforce-australia-caseload-selected-cohorts-30-june-2026. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Accessed 26 October 2026. The views expressed in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (or DEWR).
  6. Jobs and Skills Australia, Nowcast of Employment by Region and Occupation, September 2026. jobsandskills.gov.au/sites/default/files/2026-10/2026-09_nero.zip. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Accessed 27 October 2026. Source: Jobs and Skills Australia, Nowcast of Employment by Region and Occupation (NERO), September 2026, CC BY 4.0. Experimental estimates.
  7. Jobs and Skills Australia, Occupation Shortage List, 2026. jobsandskills.gov.au/data/occupation-shortage. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Accessed 28 October 2026. Source: Jobs and Skills Australia, 2026 Occupation Shortage List, CC BY 4.0.
  8. ViewJobs, ViewJobs analysis of the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations Workforce Australia Caseload by Selected Cohorts, June 2026. dewr.gov.au/employment-services-data/workforce-australia-caseload-data. Capital city, state and national figures are sums of SA4 regions.
  9. ViewJobs, Live job ads on ViewJobs, 30 Oct 2026. viewjobs.com.au.
  10. Australian Taxation Office, Taxation Statistics, 2023–24. data.gov.au/data/dataset/faea4485-f407-457d-97f8-3f0822ccd654/resource/9d8577b7-a096-4758-9b3b-0649f3b83de7/download/ts24individual06taxablestatusstatesa4postcode.xlsx. Licence: CC BY 2.5 AU. Accessed 26 October 2026.
  11. ViewJobs, ViewJobs analysis of the Australian Taxation Office Taxation Statistics, 2023–24. ato.gov.au/about-ato/research-and-statistics/in-detail/taxation-statistics. Capital city, state and national figures are sums of SA4 regions.
  12. Australian Bureau of Statistics, Data by Region, v1.6.0. dbr.abs.gov.au. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Accessed 25 October 2026.

Cite this report

ViewJobs (2026). Central Queensland job market report, data to September 2026. https://www.viewjobs.com.au/job-market/qld/central-queensland

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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