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Job market report

Darling Downs - Maranoa 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 Darling Downs - Maranoa, 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 307 Darling Downs - Maranoa
Sources
JSA, ABS, DEWR, ATO and ViewJobs

Key findings

  1. Shrinking: online job ads in the Darling Downs - Maranoa were down 5.8% on a year earlier, from 1,068 to 1,006 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. Carers and aides had the most online ads, 73 a month in the three months to September 2026, followed by automotive and engineering trades (71) and medical practitioners and nurses (68).

    Among occupation groups with at least 5 ads a month a year earlier and now, ads for construction, production and distribution managers rose fastest, up 43.8%.[1]

    Section 2: Which jobs are in demand →

  3. The unemployment rate in the Darling Downs - Maranoa was 3.3% in September 2026, against 4.4% across Queensland.

    A year earlier it was 3.1%. These are the ABS's modelled estimates for the month, not seasonally adjusted.[3][4]

    Section 3: Unemployment and participation, monthly →

  4. 4,870 people in the Darling Downs - Maranoa were in Workforce Australia employment services at 30 June 2026, up 6.9% on a year earlier.

    66.3% of them had been in employment services for 12 months or more.[5]

    Section 5: Job seekers in employment services →
Unemployment rate
3.3%
ABS, September 2026 · up 0.2 points on September 2025[3]
Employed people
69,224
ABS, September 2026 · no change since September 2025[3]
Online job ads a month
1,006
JSA, September 2026 · down 5.8% since September 2025[1]
People in Workforce Australia employment services
4,870
DEWR, June 2026 · up 6.9% since June 2025[5]

1 Job ads and demand

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

Darling Downs - Maranoa
−5.8%
1,006 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, Darling Downs - MaranoaThree-month average, October 2023 to September 2026.
9001k1.1k1.2kJan 2024Sep 2024May 2025Jan 2026Sep 2026Darling Downs - MaranoaDarling Downs - Maranoa, Sep 2026: 1,0061,006

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Show the numbers
Online job ads a month, Darling Downs - Maranoa
MonthOnline job ads a month
October 20231,196
November 20231,146
December 20231,020
January 20241,028
February 20241,055
March 20241,131
April 20241,085
May 20241,068
June 20241,043
July 20241,035
August 20241,049
September 20241,076
October 20241,117
November 20241,103
December 20241,008
January 20251,026
February 2025984
March 20251,055
April 2025972
May 2025988
June 2025989
July 20251,038
August 20251,033
September 20251,068
October 20251,088
November 20251,055
December 2025955
January 2026953
February 2026980
March 20261,090
April 20261,031
May 2026998
June 2026944
July 2026967
August 2026982
September 20261,006

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, Darling Downs - MaranoaThe 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: +26.8%Other labourers+26.8%Engineering, ICT and science technicians: +13.0%Engineering, ICT and science technicians+13.0%Mobile plant operators: +12.0%Mobile plant operators+12.0%Drivers and storepersons: +6.7%Drivers and storepersons+6.7%Medical practitioners and nurses: −1.4%Medical practitioners and nurses−1.4%Sales assistants and salespersons: −5.0%Sales assistants and salespersons−5.0%Carers and aides: −7.6%Carers and aides−7.6%Automotive and engineering trades: −7.8%Automotive and engineering trades−7.8%Health diagnostic and therapy professionals: −15.4%Health diagnostic and therapy professionals−15.4%Hospitality, retail and service managers: −16.7%Hospitality, retail and service managers−16.7%General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists: −21.3%General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists−21.3%Legal, social and welfare professionals: −21.4%Legal, social and welfare professionals−21.4%

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Show the numbers
Change in online job ads by occupation, Darling Downs - Maranoa
Occupation groupAds a month, September 2026A year earlierChange
Carers and aides7379−7.6%
Automotive and engineering trades7177−7.8%
Medical practitioners and nurses6869−1.4%
General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists6380−21.3%
Sales assistants and salespersons5760−5.0%
Other labourers5241+26.8%
Drivers and storepersons4845+6.7%
Legal, social and welfare professionals3342−21.4%
Health diagnostic and therapy professionals3339−15.4%
Hospitality, retail and service managers3036−16.7%
Mobile plant operators2825+12.0%
Engineering, ICT and science technicians2623+13.0%
Electrotechnology and telecommunications trades2623+13.0%
Corporate managers2318+27.8%
Construction, production and distribution managers2316+43.8%
Business, finance and human resource professionals2223−4.3%
Food trades2218+22.2%
Sports, travel and personal service workers2116+31.3%
Engineers1923−17.4%
Other clerical and administrative workers1921−9.5%
Machine and stationary plant operators1922−13.6%
Health and welfare support workers1725−32.0%
Numerical clerks1721−19.0%
Construction trades1619−15.8%
Office managers, administrators and secretaries15150.0%
Cleaners and laundry workers1417−17.6%
Construction and mining labourers1411+27.3%
Farm, forestry and garden workers1419−26.3%
Sales representatives and agents1216−25.0%
Education professionals1116−31.3%
Factory process workers1012−16.7%
Skilled animal and horticultural workers910−10.0%
Hospitality workers910−10.0%
Sales support workers97+28.6%
Health, education, ICT and other managers87+14.3%
Farmers and farm managers610−40.0%
Science professionals and veterinarians610−40.0%
Hairdressers, printing, clothing and wood trades67−14.3%
Food preparation assistants660.0%
Jewellers, arts and other trades workers56−16.7%
Protective service workers5fewer than 5n/a
Chief executives, managing directors & legislatorsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Arts and media professionalsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Transport and design professionals, and architectsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
ICT professionalsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Information professionalsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Sales, marketing & public relations professionalsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Clerical and office support workers, couriersfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a

3 Unemployment and participation, monthly

Monthly unemployment and participation in the Darling Downs - Maranoa, from the ABS's Regional Labour Force, to September 2026.

Figure 3.1: Unemployment rate, Darling Downs - Maranoa, from January 2019Share of the labour force unemployed each month, January 2019 to September 2026, against Queensland and Australia.
  • Darling Downs - Maranoa
  • Queensland
  • Australia
0%2.5%5%7.5%10%Jan 2020Sep 2021May 2023Jan 2025Sep 2026Darling Downs - MaranoaDarling Downs - Maranoa, Sep 2026: 3.3%3.3%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, Darling Downs - Maranoa, from January 2019Share of people aged 15 and over in the labour force each month, January 2019 to September 2026, against Queensland and Australia.
  • Darling Downs - Maranoa
  • Queensland
  • Australia
57.5%60%62.5%65%67.5%70%Sep 2019Jun 2021Mar 2023Dec 2024Sep 2026Darling Downs - MaranoaDarling Downs - Maranoa, Sep 2026: 65.1%65.1%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, Darling Downs - Maranoa, 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.
  • Darling Downs - Maranoa
  • Queensland
  • Australia

Index (Jan 2019 = 100)

90100110120130Jan 2020Sep 2021May 2023Jan 2025Sep 2026Darling Downs - MaranoaDarling Downs - Maranoa, Sep 2026: 109.5109.5QueenslandQueensland, 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, Darling Downs - MaranoaThe 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: 7.7%7.7%All agesAll ages, Sep 2026: 3.3%3.3%

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Show the numbers below
Numbers for Figures 3.1 to 3.4: Labour force each month, Darling Downs - Maranoa, 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, Darling Downs - MaranoaUnemployment rate, QueenslandUnemployment rate, AustraliaParticipation rate, Darling Downs - MaranoaParticipation rate, QueenslandParticipation rate, Australia
January 20194.6%6.3%5.4%64.3%65.0%65.1%
February 20194.3%6.1%5.4%65.4%66.2%66.1%
March 20194.5%6.5%5.4%65.4%66.1%65.8%
April 20194.3%6.0%5.3%65.3%65.7%65.9%
May 20194.5%6.1%5.1%65.8%66.1%66.1%
June 20194.4%6.3%5.1%65.4%65.7%65.9%
July 20194.3%6.0%5.2%64.9%66.0%65.8%
August 20194.9%6.2%5.3%65.0%65.7%65.7%
September 20194.5%6.1%5.1%65.3%66.3%65.8%
October 20194.0%6.0%5.1%64.8%65.8%65.5%
November 20194.0%5.5%4.8%65.3%66.0%65.7%
December 20193.8%5.1%4.8%65.2%65.7%66.2%
January 20205.0%6.5%5.7%62.9%65.3%65.2%
February 20204.6%6.1%5.5%63.6%66.3%66.2%
March 20204.5%5.9%5.5%62.9%65.4%65.8%
April 20205.0%7.0%6.4%60.7%62.7%63.4%
May 20204.9%7.7%6.9%59.7%61.4%62.5%
June 20205.2%7.8%7.2%61.5%62.9%63.8%
July 20205.6%8.3%7.3%62.5%64.0%64.3%
August 20205.1%7.1%6.8%63.3%64.8%64.4%
September 20205.1%7.1%6.7%63.8%65.4%64.4%
October 20204.6%7.2%6.7%64.2%66.1%65.1%
November 20203.7%6.7%6.3%63.7%65.7%65.6%
December 20204.2%6.6%6.2%64.5%66.5%66.1%
January 20215.0%7.3%6.8%64.0%65.7%65.1%
February 20214.5%6.7%6.3%64.9%66.7%66.3%
March 20214.2%6.3%6.0%64.6%66.4%66.2%
April 20214.2%6.0%5.6%64.3%66.0%65.7%
May 20213.9%5.4%5.0%64.7%66.5%66.2%
June 20213.6%5.2%4.9%64.9%66.5%66.0%
July 20213.5%5.1%4.7%64.7%66.3%65.7%
August 20213.4%5.0%4.6%64.4%65.7%64.7%
September 20213.4%4.7%4.6%64.8%66.1%64.2%
October 20213.6%4.9%5.0%64.9%66.1%64.3%
November 20213.2%4.2%4.3%64.9%66.3%65.9%
December 20213.1%4.2%4.0%64.9%66.5%66.4%
January 20223.4%4.7%4.5%64.3%65.6%65.2%
February 20223.3%4.5%4.4%65.6%67.2%66.8%
March 20223.1%4.2%4.2%65.2%66.7%66.4%
April 20223.2%4.2%3.9%65.1%66.5%66.2%
May 20223.1%4.0%3.9%65.7%67.2%66.7%
June 20222.9%3.9%3.5%65.7%67.3%66.6%
July 20222.9%3.6%3.4%65.4%66.8%66.2%
August 20222.7%3.3%3.5%65.2%66.5%66.2%
September 20222.8%3.5%3.5%65.1%66.5%66.2%
October 20222.7%3.1%3.3%65.1%66.1%66.2%
November 20222.3%3.0%3.3%65.3%66.4%66.8%
December 20222.7%3.4%3.3%65.4%66.6%67.0%
January 20233.2%4.1%4.0%64.9%65.8%65.6%
February 20233.0%4.1%3.9%65.2%66.5%67.0%
March 20233.2%4.2%3.8%65.6%66.9%66.9%
April 20233.0%3.9%3.8%65.0%66.1%66.6%
May 20233.1%3.9%3.5%65.9%67.2%67.1%
June 20232.8%3.7%3.4%65.7%66.8%66.8%
July 20233.3%4.3%3.6%65.2%66.5%66.5%
August 20233.1%3.9%3.7%64.6%65.8%66.4%
September 20232.9%3.6%3.5%64.9%65.8%66.2%
October 20233.2%4.0%3.6%65.2%66.3%66.6%
November 20232.9%4.0%3.6%65.1%67.0%67.1%
December 20233.0%4.0%3.8%65.3%67.1%67.1%
January 20243.8%4.4%4.5%64.8%65.7%65.7%
February 20243.1%4.3%4.0%65.9%67.6%67.3%
March 20243.1%4.5%4.1%65.4%66.9%66.9%
April 20243.1%4.2%4.2%66.0%67.4%66.8%
May 20243.2%4.0%3.9%66.1%67.6%67.1%
June 20243.1%3.8%3.9%66.3%67.6%66.9%
July 20243.1%4.4%4.1%65.3%66.8%67.0%
August 20243.3%4.1%4.1%65.6%66.8%66.7%
September 20242.8%3.8%3.9%65.5%66.7%66.8%
October 20243.1%3.6%3.9%66.5%67.5%66.9%
November 20242.9%3.6%3.6%66.3%67.4%67.0%
December 20242.7%3.6%3.8%66.3%67.8%67.5%
January 20253.3%4.2%4.5%65.5%66.6%66.6%
February 20253.5%4.4%4.4%66.2%67.4%67.2%
March 20253.2%4.3%4.3%65.8%67.0%67.0%
April 20253.3%4.3%4.1%66.4%67.5%67.1%
May 20253.1%3.7%4.0%66.8%67.9%67.4%
June 20253.2%4.0%4.2%66.5%67.6%67.1%
July 20253.2%4.3%4.2%65.6%67.1%66.9%
August 20253.6%4.3%4.3%65.3%66.6%66.4%
September 20253.1%4.0%4.3%65.4%66.8%66.7%
October 20253.2%3.9%4.2%65.6%66.8%66.7%
November 20253.2%3.9%4.0%65.5%66.6%66.8%
December 20252.9%3.6%3.9%65.5%66.8%67.1%
January 20263.5%4.7%4.5%65.2%66.4%66.1%
February 20263.8%4.8%4.6%66.2%67.5%67.4%
March 20263.3%4.0%4.5%65.7%66.9%67.1%
April 20263.1%4.3%4.6%65.3%66.8%66.7%
May 20263.2%3.7%4.3%66.1%67.4%67.0%
June 20263.4%4.3%4.3%65.9%67.4%67.1%
July 20263.5%4.4%4.4%65.7%67.1%66.7%
August 20263.6%4.4%4.6%65.4%66.7%66.6%
September 20263.3%4.4%4.6%65.1%66.6%66.5%
Employed people as an index, January 2019 = 100, and youth unemployment
MonthEmployed people, index, Darling Downs - MaranoaEmployed people, index, QueenslandEmployed people, index, AustraliaYouth unemployment rate (15–24), Darling Downs - Maranoa
January 2019100.0100.0100.011.3%
February 2019102.1102.2101.710.9%
March 2019101.9101.9101.511.6%
April 2019102.0102.0101.911.0%
May 2019102.6102.6102.511.4%
June 2019102.1101.9102.311.4%
July 2019101.4102.8102.211.2%
August 2019101.0102.3102.112.6%
September 2019102.0103.4102.611.4%
October 2019101.6103.0102.310.4%
November 2019102.6104.0103.010.2%
December 2019102.7104.2103.89.9%
January 202097.9102.1101.613.1%
February 202099.4104.3103.412.3%
March 202098.6103.4103.011.5%
April 202094.697.998.312.6%
May 202093.095.396.612.4%
June 202095.697.698.112.7%
July 202096.898.998.813.4%
August 202098.6101.599.511.7%
September 202099.4102.499.511.5%
October 2020100.5103.6100.710.5%
November 2020100.7103.7101.98.2%
December 2020101.5105.2102.89.3%
January 2021100.0103.2100.710.8%
February 2021101.9105.6103.19.6%
March 2021101.8105.7103.38.9%
April 2021101.4105.5103.18.6%
May 2021102.4107.1104.58.1%
June 2021103.2107.5104.37.6%
July 2021102.9107.4104.17.6%
August 2021102.5106.5102.77.8%
September 2021103.2107.8101.97.8%
October 2021103.2107.8101.78.6%
November 2021103.7108.8105.17.6%
December 2021103.8109.5106.37.6%
January 2022102.7107.8104.28.2%
February 2022105.1110.8107.08.1%
March 2022104.7110.6106.87.4%
April 2022104.5110.5107.07.5%
May 2022105.7112.1108.17.1%
June 2022106.0112.5108.56.7%
July 2022105.6112.4108.26.7%
August 2022105.6112.5108.36.3%
September 2022105.5112.4108.66.4%
October 2022105.7112.6109.16.0%
November 2022106.6113.5110.25.2%
December 2022106.5113.7110.76.1%
January 2023105.2111.8108.17.4%
February 2023106.1113.4110.87.1%
March 2023106.8114.3111.27.6%
April 2023106.1113.6110.87.3%
May 2023107.6115.7112.37.2%
June 2023107.7115.6112.06.4%
July 2023106.4114.6111.77.4%
August 2023106.0114.1111.76.8%
September 2023106.6114.9112.06.5%
October 2023107.1115.5112.67.3%
November 2023107.3117.0113.67.0%
December 2023107.7117.4113.77.4%
January 2024106.2114.8110.79.2%
February 2024108.8118.5114.17.7%
March 2024108.0117.3113.67.7%
April 2024109.1118.8113.57.6%
May 2024109.2119.4114.57.8%
June 2024109.7119.9114.47.3%
July 2024108.2117.9114.47.3%
August 2024108.5118.5114.17.7%
September 2024108.9119.0114.86.5%
October 2024110.3120.8114.97.0%
November 2024110.3120.9115.76.4%
December 2024110.7121.7116.66.1%
January 2025108.8119.0114.37.3%
February 2025109.9120.5115.88.0%
March 2025109.7120.2115.87.3%
April 2025110.6121.4116.27.7%
May 2025111.4122.9116.97.5%
June 2025111.0122.4116.47.8%
July 2025109.5121.2116.37.8%
August 2025108.7120.4115.68.8%
September 2025109.6121.4116.17.7%
October 2025109.8121.6116.57.8%
November 2025109.6121.5116.97.8%
December 2025110.0122.3117.86.9%
January 2026109.0120.6115.48.5%
February 2026110.3122.6117.89.3%
March 2026110.3122.9117.77.9%
April 2026109.8122.3117.07.5%
May 2026111.1124.5118.07.7%
June 2026110.7124.0118.47.8%
July 2026110.3123.4117.78.0%
August 2026109.7122.8117.58.3%
September 2026109.5122.9117.47.7%

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 the Darling Downs - Maranoa, from Jobs and Skills Australia's monthly nowcast, to September 2026.

Figure 4.1: Largest occupations by estimated employment, Darling Downs - Maranoa, September 2026The 10 occupations with the most people employed in September 2026, of an estimated 69,890 people employed in the Darling Downs - Maranoa across all occupations. The table adds September 2025 and the change. 3 of the Darling Downs - Maranoa's 10 largest occupations are in national shortage.
Livestock Farmers: 2,694Livestock Farmers2,694Aged and Disabled Carers: 2,367Aged and Disabled Carers2,367Sales Assistants (General): 2,326Sales Assistants (General)2,326Registered Nurses: 2,188Registered Nurses2,188Truck Drivers: 1,844Truck Drivers1,844Mixed Crop and Livestock Farmers: 1,723Mixed Crop and Livestock Farmers1,723Crop Farm Workers: 1,692Crop Farm Workers1,692Crop Farmers: 1,641Crop Farmers1,641General Clerks: 1,247General Clerks1,247Retail Managers: 1,209Retail Managers1,209

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

Show the numbers
Largest occupations by estimated employment, Darling Downs - Maranoa, September 2026
OccupationPeople employed, September 2026September 2025ChangeNational shortage, 2026
Livestock Farmers2,6942,950−8.7%
Aged and Disabled Carers2,3671,999+18.4%Shortage
Sales Assistants (General)2,3262,401−3.1%
Registered Nurses2,1881,819+20.3%Shortage
Truck Drivers1,8441,742+5.9%Shortage
Mixed Crop and Livestock Farmers1,7231,653+4.2%
Crop Farm Workers1,6922,059−17.8%
Crop Farmers1,6411,292+27.0%
General Clerks1,2471,220+2.2%
Retail Managers1,2091,243−2.7%
Figure 4.2: Fastest growing and shrinking occupations by estimated employment, Darling Downs - Maranoa, 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.
Forklift Drivers: +33.2%Forklift Drivers+33.2%Agricultural, Forestry and Horticultural Plant Operators: +28.9%Agricultural, Forestry and Horticultural Plant Oper…+28.9%Crop Farmers: +27.0%Crop Farmers+27.0%Other Hospitality, Retail and Service Managers: +20.4%Other Hospitality, Retail and Service Managers+20.4%Registered Nurses: +20.3%Registered Nurses+20.3%Shelf Fillers: −16.7%Shelf Fillers−16.7%Crop Farm Workers: −17.8%Crop Farm Workers−17.8%Plumbers: −18.4%Plumbers−18.4%Laundry Workers: −22.4%Laundry Workers−22.4%Mixed Crop and Livestock Farm Workers: −29.2%Mixed Crop and Livestock Farm Workers−29.2%

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[6].

Show the numbers
Fastest growing and shrinking occupations by estimated employment, Darling Downs - Maranoa, September 2025 to September 2026
OccupationPeople employed, September 2026September 2025Change
Forklift Drivers554416+33.2%
Agricultural, Forestry and Horticultural Plant Operators878681+28.9%
Crop Farmers1,6411,292+27.0%
Other Hospitality, Retail and Service Managers579481+20.4%
Registered Nurses2,1881,819+20.3%
Shelf Fillers348418−16.7%
Crop Farm Workers1,6922,059−17.8%
Plumbers506620−18.4%
Laundry Workers250322−22.4%
Mixed Crop and Livestock Farm Workers243343−29.2%
Figure 4.3: People employed in the largest occupations, Darling Downs - Maranoa, 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.
  • Livestock Farmers
  • Aged and Disabled Carers
  • Sales Assistants (General)
  • Registered Nurses
  • Truck Drivers
1k2k3k4kSep 2022Sep 2024Sep 2026Livestock FarmersLivestock Farmers, Sep 2021: 3,105Livestock Farmers, Sep 2026: 2,6942,694Aged and Disabled CarersAged and Disabled Carers, Sep 2021: 1,259Aged and Disabled Carers, Sep 2026: 2,3672,367Sales Assistants (General)Sales Assistants (General), Sep 2021: 2,829Sales Assistants (General), Sep 2026: 2,3262,326Registered NursesRegistered Nurses, Sep 2021: 1,821Registered Nurses, Sep 2026: 2,1882,188Truck DriversTruck Drivers, Sep 2021: 1,971Truck Drivers, Sep 2026: 1,8441,844

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[6].

Show the numbers
People employed in the largest occupations, Darling Downs - Maranoa, September 2021 to September 2026
MonthLivestock FarmersAged and Disabled CarersSales Assistants (General)Registered NursesTruck Drivers
September 20213,1051,2592,8291,8211,971
September 20222,8331,4322,4931,3241,869
September 20233,3641,3642,2231,2191,870
September 20243,5341,6062,3031,3681,788
September 20252,9501,9992,4011,8191,742
September 20262,6942,3672,3262,1881,844

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 Darling Downs - Maranoa, 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, Darling Downs - MaranoaPeople in employment services at each snapshot, November 2024 to June 2026.
4.2k4.4k4.6k4.8k5kMar 2025Aug 2025Jan 2026Jun 2026Darling Downs - MaranoaDarling Downs - Maranoa, Jun 2026: 4,8704,870

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, Darling Downs - Maranoa, against Queensland and AustraliaShare of people in employment services who had been in services for 12 months or more, and in the Darling Downs - Maranoa for 24 months or more, November 2024 to June 2026.
  • Darling Downs - Maranoa, 12 months or more
  • Darling Downs - Maranoa, 24 months or more
  • Queensland, 12 months or more
  • Australia, 12 months or more
40%50%60%70%Mar 2025Aug 2025Jan 2026Jun 2026Darling Downs - Maranoa, 12 months or moreDarling Downs - Maranoa, 12 months or more, Jun 2026: 66.3%66.3%Darling Downs - Maranoa, 24 months or moreDarling Downs - Maranoa, 24 months or more, Jun 2026: 46.2%46.2%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, Darling Downs - Maranoa, 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, Darling Downs - MaranoaIn services 12 months or more, Darling Downs - MaranoaIn services 24 months or more, Darling Downs - MaranoaIn services 12 months or more, QueenslandIn services 12 months or more, Australia
November 20244,20565.5%45.5%61.1%60.8%
December 20244,21565.0%45.1%61.0%60.7%
January 20254,32065.3%45.4%60.9%60.5%
February 20254,37564.5%44.7%60.8%60.3%
March 20254,36564.7%44.4%61.0%60.3%
April 20254,46564.6%43.8%60.7%60.5%
May 20254,56564.5%43.5%60.8%60.7%
June 20254,55564.8%43.5%61.5%61.3%
July 20254,57065.6%44.1%61.8%61.7%
August 20254,54565.9%45.0%62.3%62.2%
September 20254,62065.3%44.8%62.6%62.4%
October 20254,65065.6%44.9%62.8%62.7%
November 20254,57065.8%46.1%62.6%62.5%
December 20254,51066.3%46.2%62.7%62.6%
January 20264,64566.1%45.6%62.6%62.7%
February 20264,74066.6%46.3%62.9%63.1%
March 20264,82066.2%46.0%63.2%63.4%
April 20264,85066.6%46.2%63.6%63.8%
May 20264,87066.5%46.2%64.0%64.2%
June 20264,87066.3%46.2%64.2%64.4%
Figure 5.3: People in employment services by age group, Darling Downs - Maranoa, June 2026The 5 age groups at the latest snapshot; the table adds each group's share of all people in employment services.
Under 25: 1,230Under 251,23025–34: 1,12525–341,12535–44: 96035–4496045–54: 75545–5475555 and over: 79555 and over795

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

Show the numbers
People in employment services by age group, Darling Downs - Maranoa, June 2026
Age groupPeopleShare
Under 251,23025%
25–341,12523%
35–4496020%
45–5475516%
55 and over79516%
Figure 5.4: People in employment services by allowance group, Darling Downs - Maranoa, June 2026The 3 allowance groups at the latest snapshot; the table adds each group's share of all people in employment services.
JobSeeker Payment: 3,440JobSeeker Payment3,440Youth Allowance (other): 725Youth Allowance (other)725Other: 705Other705

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

Show the numbers
People in employment services by allowance group, Darling Downs - Maranoa, June 2026
Allowance groupPeopleShare
JobSeeker Payment3,44071%
Youth Allowance (other)72515%
Other70514%

6 Jobs on ViewJobs now

Live job ads on ViewJobs in Southern Queensland Country, a ViewJobs region that reaches beyond this ABS area: 85% of its towns are in the area.

Live jobs on ViewJobs in Southern Queensland Country
699
ViewJobs, 29 Oct 2026[9]
Figure 6.1: Live jobs on ViewJobs by classification, Southern Queensland CountryThe 8 classifications with the most live ads, as of 29 Oct 2026.
Healthcare & Medical: 176Healthcare & Medical176Hospitality & Tourism: 70Hospitality & Tourism70Retail & Consumer Products: 70Retail & Consumer Products70Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics: 68Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics68Education & Training: 45Education & Training45Community Services & Development: 44Community Services & Development44Trades & Services: 36Trades & Services36Farming, Animals & Conservation: 26Farming, Animals & Conservation26

Source: ViewJobs live ads[9].

Show the numbers
Live jobs on ViewJobs by classification, Southern Queensland Country
ClassificationLive jobs
Healthcare & Medical176
Hospitality & Tourism70
Retail & Consumer Products70
Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics68
Education & Training45
Community Services & Development44
Trades & Services36
Farming, Animals & Conservation26

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, Darling Downs - Maranoa, 2021–22 to 2023–24 (ATO)Average salary and wages per earner, 2021–22 to 2023–24 income years (ATO), against Queensland and Australia.
  • Darling Downs - Maranoa
  • Queensland
  • Australia
$55k$60k$65k$70k$75k$80k2021–222022–232023–24Darling Downs - MaranoaDarling Downs - Maranoa, 2021–22: $57,604Darling Downs - Maranoa, 2022–23: $61,280Darling Downs - Maranoa, 2023–24: $64,734$64,734QueenslandQueensland, 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, Darling Downs - Maranoa, 2021–22 to 2023–24 (ATO)
Income yearDarling Downs - MaranoaQueenslandAustralia
2021–22$57,604$66,874$69,980
2022–23$61,280$70,435$73,647
2023–24$64,734$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 the Darling Downs - Maranoa's job market, each with its period and source.

How many jobs are advertised in the Darling Downs - Maranoa?

1,006 online job ads a month were placed in the Darling Downs - Maranoa, on average, in the three months to September 2026.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Is the Darling Downs - Maranoa's job market growing or shrinking?

Shrinking: online job ads in the Darling Downs - Maranoa were down 5.8% on a year earlier, from 1,068 to 1,006 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 the Darling Downs - Maranoa?

Carers and aides had the most online ads, 73 a month in the three months to September 2026, followed by automotive and engineering trades (71) and medical practitioners and nurses (68). Among occupation groups with at least 5 ads a month a year earlier and now, ads for construction, production and distribution managers rose fastest, up 43.8%.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

What is the unemployment rate in the Darling Downs - Maranoa?

The unemployment rate in the Darling Downs - Maranoa was 3.3% in September 2026, against 4.4% across Queensland. A year earlier it was 3.1%. These are the ABS's modelled estimates for the month, not seasonally adjusted.

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

Is unemployment rising in the Darling Downs - Maranoa?

Yes. Unemployment in the Darling Downs - Maranoa was up 0.2 points on a year earlier in September 2026, at 3.3% against 3.1% (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 the Darling Downs - Maranoa?

An estimated 2,694 of the 69,890 people employed in the Darling Downs - Maranoa in September 2026 worked as Livestock Farmers, the largest occupation there. Next were Aged and Disabled Carers, with 2,367 people, and Sales Assistants (General), with 2,326 people. These are Jobs and Skills Australia's experimental nowcast estimates.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[6].

Which occupations are growing fastest in the Darling Downs - Maranoa?

Among occupations with at least 200 people employed in both September 2025 and September 2026, Forklift Drivers grew fastest in the Darling Downs - Maranoa, up 33.2% to an estimated 554 people employed, followed by Agricultural, Forestry and Horticultural Plant Operators (up 28.9%) and Crop Farmers (up 27.0%). 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 Darling Downs - Maranoa?

4,870 people in the Darling Downs - Maranoa were in Workforce Australia employment services at 30 June 2026, up 6.9% on a year earlier. 66.3% 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 Darling Downs - Maranoa been in Workforce Australia employment services?

At 30 June 2026, 66.3% had been in employment services for 12 months or more, and 46.2% 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 the Darling Downs - Maranoa?

699 jobs are live on ViewJobs in Southern Queensland Country, a ViewJobs region that reaches beyond the Darling Downs - Maranoa, as of 29 Oct 2026. 85% of its towns are in the area. The most advertised are Healthcare & Medical (176), Hospitality & Tourism (70) and Retail & Consumer Products (70).

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 Darling Downs - Maranoa here is ABS SA4 307 Darling Downs - Maranoa. The reports cover 50 areas, 42 regional ABS regions and the eight capital cities: the areas Jobs and Skills Australia publishes online job ads for.
Online job ads
Jobs and Skills Australia's Internet Vacancy Index is a monthly count of online job ads, compiled from SEEK, CareerOne and Workforce Australia. Regional figures are three-month averages. It is not a count of ViewJobs' own ads. It counts ads, not jobs filled, by occupation and area.
State and national ads
This report reads the index's series by area, so a state or national figure here is the sum of its areas, marked as ViewJobs analysis. It can differ from the state and national totals Jobs and Skills Australia publishes separately.[2]
Small numbers
A figure under 5 ads a month is shown as "fewer than 5". A group with fewer than 5 ads a month, now or a year earlier, is left out of every change, and every ranking by change.
Unemployment
Monthly unemployment, participation and employment are the ABS's Regional Labour Force modelled estimates: the ABS combines its Labour Force Survey with administrative data to estimate each labour market region. They are in original terms, not seasonally adjusted, so every change here compares a month with the same month a year earlier. The ABS's labour market regions follow the 2011 boundaries of its SA4 regions, which differ slightly from today's in a few areas.
Employment by occupation
Jobs and Skills Australia's nowcast is experimental: its figures are model estimates of the people employed in each occupation, not a count of them, and each monthly release revises the months before it. Occupations are ANZSCO unit groups, named as Jobs and Skills Australia publishes them. The growth rankings take only occupations with at least 200 people employed at both points.[6]
People in employment services
The views expressed in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (or DEWR). Counts are of people by home address; the ABS area is the SA4 that address falls in. Capital city, state and national figures are sums of SA4 regions.[5]
Pay
Average salary and wages per earner come from the ATO's Taxation Statistics for individuals. An income year runs from 1 July to 30 June and the figures are published more than a year later, so none leads this report. The ATO assigns a postcode that spans regions wholly to the region holding most of it. Capital city, state and national figures are sums of SA4 regions.[10]
ABS figures
The latest ABS income and jobs figures here are for the year to 30 June 2023; population and business counts are more recent. Every figure shows its year. Change is measured from 2019: the ABS figures for 2018 and 2019 differ sharply for some industries in some areas. Industries with fewer than 1,000 employee jobs are listed but not ranked.
Jobs on ViewJobs
ViewJobs regions do not follow ABS boundaries. Section 6 counts the ads open on ViewJobs on 29 Oct 2026 in each ViewJobs region with at least 20% of its towns in this area, and counts each region whole: a region that reaches beyond the area can include ads from outside it, and a region with fewer of its towns here is left out. A classification links to its own page once it has enough ads for one.

11 References

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

  1. Jobs and Skills Australia, Internet Vacancy Index, September 2026. jobsandskills.gov.au/sites/default/files/2026-10/internet_vacancies_anzsco2_occupations_gccsa_and_sa4_regions_-_september_2026.xlsx. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Accessed 25 October 2026.
  2. ViewJobs, ViewJobs analysis of the Jobs and Skills Australia Internet Vacancy Index, September 2026. jobsandskills.gov.au/data/internet-vacancy-index. State and national figures are the sum of the ABS areas in Jobs and Skills Australia's regional series.
  3. Australian Bureau of Statistics, Regional Labour Force, September 2026. abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/employment-and-unemployment/regional-labour-force/sep-2026/MLF1.xlsx. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Accessed 25 October 2026.
  4. ViewJobs, ViewJobs analysis of the Australian Bureau of Statistics Regional Labour Force, September 2026. abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/employment-and-unemployment/regional-labour-force/latest-release. Capital city, state and national figures are sums of the ABS's modelled labour market regions, with rates worked out from the sums.
  5. Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, Workforce Australia Caseload by Selected Cohorts, June 2026. dewr.gov.au/employment-services-data/resources/workforce-australia-caseload-selected-cohorts-30-june-2026. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Accessed 26 October 2026. The views expressed in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (or DEWR).
  6. Jobs and Skills Australia, Nowcast of Employment by Region and Occupation, September 2026. jobsandskills.gov.au/sites/default/files/2026-10/2026-09_nero.zip. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Accessed 27 October 2026. Source: Jobs and Skills Australia, Nowcast of Employment by Region and Occupation (NERO), September 2026, CC BY 4.0. Experimental estimates.
  7. Jobs and Skills Australia, Occupation Shortage List, 2026. jobsandskills.gov.au/data/occupation-shortage. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Accessed 28 October 2026. Source: Jobs and Skills Australia, 2026 Occupation Shortage List, CC BY 4.0.
  8. ViewJobs, ViewJobs analysis of the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations Workforce Australia Caseload by Selected Cohorts, June 2026. dewr.gov.au/employment-services-data/workforce-australia-caseload-data. Capital city, state and national figures are sums of SA4 regions.
  9. ViewJobs, Live job ads on ViewJobs, 29 Oct 2026. viewjobs.com.au.
  10. Australian Taxation Office, Taxation Statistics, 2023–24. data.gov.au/data/dataset/faea4485-f407-457d-97f8-3f0822ccd654/resource/9d8577b7-a096-4758-9b3b-0649f3b83de7/download/ts24individual06taxablestatusstatesa4postcode.xlsx. Licence: CC BY 2.5 AU. Accessed 26 October 2026.
  11. ViewJobs, ViewJobs analysis of the Australian Taxation Office Taxation Statistics, 2023–24. ato.gov.au/about-ato/research-and-statistics/in-detail/taxation-statistics. Capital city, state and national figures are sums of SA4 regions.
  12. Australian Bureau of Statistics, Data by Region, v1.6.0. dbr.abs.gov.au. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Accessed 25 October 2026.

Cite this report

ViewJobs (2026). Darling Downs - Maranoa job market report, data to September 2026. https://www.viewjobs.com.au/job-market/qld/darling-downs-maranoa

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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