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Job market report

Outback 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 Outback 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 315 Queensland - Outback
Sources
JSA, ABS, DEWR, ATO and ViewJobs

Key findings

  1. Steady: online job ads in Outback Queensland were up 2.4% on a year earlier, from 761 to 779 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. Medical practitioners and nurses had the most online ads, 70 a month in the three months to September 2026, followed by general-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists (59) and automotive and engineering trades (50).

    Among occupation groups with at least 5 ads a month a year earlier and now, ads for engineers rose fastest, up 68.4%.[1]

    Section 2: Which jobs are in demand →

  3. The unemployment rate in Outback Queensland was 6.8% in September 2026, against 4.4% across Queensland.

    A year earlier it was 6.1%. These are the ABS's modelled estimates for the month, not seasonally adjusted.[3][4]

    Section 3: Unemployment and participation, monthly →

  4. 1,525 people in Outback Queensland were in Workforce Australia employment services at 30 June 2026, up 1.0% on a year earlier.

    65.6% of them had been in employment services for 12 months or more.[5]

    Section 5: Job seekers in employment services →
Unemployment rate
6.8%
ABS, September 2026 · up 0.7 points on September 2025[3]
Employed people
39,829
ABS, September 2026 · down 0.9% since September 2025[3]
Online job ads a month
779
JSA, September 2026 · up 2.4% since September 2025[1]
People in Workforce Australia employment services
1,525
DEWR, June 2026 · up 1.0% since June 2025[5]

1 Job ads and demand

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

Outback Queensland
+2.4%
779 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, Outback QueenslandThree-month average, October 2023 to September 2026.
6007008009001kJan 2024Sep 2024May 2025Jan 2026Sep 2026Outback QueenslandOutback Queensland, Sep 2026: 779779

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Show the numbers
Online job ads a month, Outback Queensland
MonthOnline job ads a month
October 2023938
November 2023923
December 2023814
January 2024797
February 2024756
March 2024790
April 2024740
May 2024754
June 2024750
July 2024748
August 2024752
September 2024773
October 2024823
November 2024817
December 2024736
January 2025727
February 2025697
March 2025782
April 2025716
May 2025720
June 2025708
July 2025761
August 2025749
September 2025761
October 2025756
November 2025768
December 2025712
January 2026736
February 2026759
March 2026852
April 2026827
May 2026813
June 2026786
July 2026777
August 2026784
September 2026779

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, Outback 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.
Engineers: +68.4%Engineers+68.4%Engineering, ICT and science technicians: +37.5%Engineering, ICT and science technicians+37.5%Drivers and storepersons: +29.0%Drivers and storepersons+29.0%Automotive and engineering trades: +11.1%Automotive and engineering trades+11.1%Other labourers: +9.5%Other labourers+9.5%Medical practitioners and nurses: +6.1%Medical practitioners and nurses+6.1%Sales assistants and salespersons: +2.9%Sales assistants and salespersons+2.9%General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists: −9.2%General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists−9.2%Legal, social and welfare professionals: −9.3%Legal, social and welfare professionals−9.3%Carers and aides: −10.0%Carers and aides−10.0%Health diagnostic and therapy professionals: −10.7%Health diagnostic and therapy professionals−10.7%Hospitality, retail and service managers: −25.8%Hospitality, retail and service managers−25.8%

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Show the numbers
Change in online job ads by occupation, Outback Queensland
Occupation groupAds a month, September 2026A year earlierChange
Medical practitioners and nurses7066+6.1%
General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists5965−9.2%
Automotive and engineering trades5045+11.1%
Drivers and storepersons4031+29.0%
Legal, social and welfare professionals3943−9.3%
Carers and aides3640−10.0%
Sales assistants and salespersons3534+2.9%
Engineers3219+68.4%
Health diagnostic and therapy professionals2528−10.7%
Hospitality, retail and service managers2331−25.8%
Other labourers2321+9.5%
Engineering, ICT and science technicians2216+37.5%
Construction trades1819−5.3%
Electrotechnology and telecommunications trades1820−10.0%
Food trades1826−30.8%
Mobile plant operators1817+5.9%
Corporate managers1718−5.6%
Construction, production and distribution managers1712+41.7%
Business, finance and human resource professionals1715+13.3%
Health and welfare support workers1718−5.6%
Machine and stationary plant operators1510+50.0%
Cleaners and laundry workers1514+7.1%
Numerical clerks1312+8.3%
Education professionals1115−26.7%
Office managers, administrators and secretaries1110+10.0%
Farm, forestry and garden workers117+57.1%
Science professionals and veterinarians107+42.9%
Other clerical and administrative workers1011−9.1%
Sales representatives and agents880.0%
Construction and mining labourers880.0%
Transport and design professionals, and architects7fewer than 5n/a
Hospitality workers78−12.5%
Sports, travel and personal service workers770.0%
Arts and media professionals6fewer than 5n/a
Sales support workers660.0%
Health, education, ICT and other managers57−28.6%
Information professionalsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Skilled animal and horticultural workersfewer than 56n/a
Jewellers, arts and other trades workersfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Sales, marketing & public relations professionalsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Hairdressers, printing, clothing and wood tradesfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Protective service workersfewer than 56n/a
Clerical and office support workers, couriersfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Food preparation assistantsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Chief executives, managing directors & legislatorsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
ICT professionalsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Factory process workersfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Farmers and farm managersfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a

3 Unemployment and participation, monthly

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

Figure 3.1: Unemployment rate, Outback Queensland, from January 2019Share of the labour force unemployed each month, January 2019 to September 2026, against Queensland and Australia.
  • Outback Queensland
  • Queensland
  • Australia
2%4%6%8%10%Jan 2020Sep 2021May 2023Jan 2025Sep 2026Outback QueenslandOutback Queensland, Sep 2026: 6.8%6.8%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, Outback 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.
  • Outback Queensland
  • Queensland
  • Australia
60%62%64%66%68%Jan 2020Sep 2021May 2023Jan 2025Sep 2026Outback QueenslandOutback Queensland, Sep 2026: 66.4%66.4%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, Outback 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.
  • Outback Queensland
  • Queensland
  • Australia

Index (Jan 2019 = 100)

90100110120130Jan 2020Sep 2021May 2023Jan 2025Sep 2026Outback QueenslandOutback Queensland, Sep 2026: 102.9102.9QueenslandQueensland, 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, Outback 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%10%20%30%Jan 2020Sep 2021May 2023Jan 2025Sep 2026Aged 15–24Aged 15–24, Sep 2026: 17.7%17.7%All agesAll ages, Sep 2026: 6.8%6.8%

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Show the numbers below
Numbers for Figures 3.1 to 3.4: Labour force each month, Outback 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, Outback QueenslandUnemployment rate, QueenslandUnemployment rate, AustraliaParticipation rate, Outback QueenslandParticipation rate, QueenslandParticipation rate, Australia
January 20196.8%6.3%5.4%66.2%65.0%65.1%
February 20196.9%6.1%5.4%67.5%66.2%66.1%
March 20197.0%6.5%5.4%67.4%66.1%65.8%
April 20196.7%6.0%5.3%67.3%65.7%65.9%
May 20196.8%6.1%5.1%68.0%66.1%66.1%
June 20197.1%6.3%5.1%67.6%65.7%65.9%
July 20197.1%6.0%5.2%66.9%66.0%65.8%
August 20197.3%6.2%5.3%66.8%65.7%65.7%
September 20197.2%6.1%5.1%67.4%66.3%65.8%
October 20197.2%6.0%5.1%67.0%65.8%65.5%
November 20196.7%5.5%4.8%67.1%66.0%65.7%
December 20196.3%5.1%4.8%66.9%65.7%66.2%
January 20207.5%6.5%5.7%65.5%65.3%65.2%
February 20207.3%6.1%5.5%66.3%66.3%66.2%
March 20206.9%5.9%5.5%65.8%65.4%65.8%
April 20207.1%7.0%6.4%63.8%62.7%63.4%
May 20207.1%7.7%6.9%63.0%61.4%62.5%
June 20207.0%7.8%7.2%64.9%62.9%63.8%
July 20207.6%8.3%7.3%65.7%64.0%64.3%
August 20207.1%7.1%6.8%66.3%64.8%64.4%
September 20207.2%7.1%6.7%66.5%65.4%64.4%
October 20207.4%7.2%6.7%67.0%66.1%65.1%
November 20206.7%6.7%6.3%66.6%65.7%65.6%
December 20206.8%6.6%6.2%67.0%66.5%66.1%
January 20217.2%7.3%6.8%66.2%65.7%65.1%
February 20216.8%6.7%6.3%67.3%66.7%66.3%
March 20216.5%6.3%6.0%67.1%66.4%66.2%
April 20216.4%6.0%5.6%66.8%66.0%65.7%
May 20216.1%5.4%5.0%67.2%66.5%66.2%
June 20216.0%5.2%4.9%67.2%66.5%66.0%
July 20216.0%5.1%4.7%66.7%66.3%65.7%
August 20216.0%5.0%4.6%66.4%65.7%64.7%
September 20215.9%4.7%4.6%66.7%66.1%64.2%
October 20216.4%4.9%5.0%66.6%66.1%64.3%
November 20215.9%4.2%4.3%66.4%66.3%65.9%
December 20216.1%4.2%4.0%66.3%66.5%66.4%
January 20226.4%4.7%4.5%65.5%65.6%65.2%
February 20226.4%4.5%4.4%66.9%67.2%66.8%
March 20226.0%4.2%4.2%66.6%66.7%66.4%
April 20226.1%4.2%3.9%66.5%66.5%66.2%
May 20225.7%4.0%3.9%67.0%67.2%66.7%
June 20225.7%3.9%3.5%67.3%67.3%66.6%
July 20225.4%3.6%3.4%66.3%66.8%66.2%
August 20225.2%3.3%3.5%65.9%66.5%66.2%
September 20225.4%3.5%3.5%65.9%66.5%66.2%
October 20225.1%3.1%3.3%65.7%66.1%66.2%
November 20225.0%3.0%3.3%65.9%66.4%66.8%
December 20225.4%3.4%3.3%65.7%66.6%67.0%
January 20236.2%4.1%4.0%65.3%65.8%65.6%
February 20236.5%4.1%3.9%66.0%66.5%67.0%
March 20236.4%4.2%3.8%66.3%66.9%66.9%
April 20236.1%3.9%3.8%65.8%66.1%66.6%
May 20236.0%3.9%3.5%66.9%67.2%67.1%
June 20235.6%3.7%3.4%66.8%66.8%66.8%
July 20236.4%4.3%3.6%65.9%66.5%66.5%
August 20236.0%3.9%3.7%65.2%65.8%66.4%
September 20235.6%3.6%3.5%65.0%65.8%66.2%
October 20236.0%4.0%3.6%65.5%66.3%66.6%
November 20235.8%4.0%3.6%66.1%67.0%67.1%
December 20236.1%4.0%3.8%65.8%67.1%67.1%
January 20246.6%4.4%4.5%65.0%65.7%65.7%
February 20246.6%4.3%4.0%66.6%67.6%67.3%
March 20246.6%4.5%4.1%66.1%66.9%66.9%
April 20246.0%4.2%4.2%66.5%67.4%66.8%
May 20246.0%4.0%3.9%66.6%67.6%67.1%
June 20245.6%3.8%3.9%66.9%67.6%66.9%
July 20246.5%4.4%4.1%66.4%66.8%67.0%
August 20246.1%4.1%4.1%66.2%66.8%66.7%
September 20245.7%3.8%3.9%66.2%66.7%66.8%
October 20245.6%3.6%3.9%66.7%67.5%66.9%
November 20245.5%3.6%3.6%66.5%67.4%67.0%
December 20245.7%3.6%3.8%66.5%67.8%67.5%
January 20256.3%4.2%4.5%65.9%66.6%66.6%
February 20256.6%4.4%4.4%66.7%67.4%67.2%
March 20256.2%4.3%4.3%66.5%67.0%67.0%
April 20256.2%4.3%4.1%66.8%67.5%67.1%
May 20255.8%3.7%4.0%67.1%67.9%67.4%
June 20256.0%4.0%4.2%67.2%67.6%67.1%
July 20256.3%4.3%4.2%67.1%67.1%66.9%
August 20256.4%4.3%4.3%66.7%66.6%66.4%
September 20256.1%4.0%4.3%66.7%66.8%66.7%
October 20256.4%3.9%4.2%66.6%66.8%66.7%
November 20256.3%3.9%4.0%66.2%66.6%66.8%
December 20256.0%3.6%3.9%66.1%66.8%67.1%
January 20267.4%4.7%4.5%66.0%66.4%66.1%
February 20267.7%4.8%4.6%67.0%67.5%67.4%
March 20266.8%4.0%4.5%66.5%66.9%67.1%
April 20267.0%4.3%4.6%66.5%66.8%66.7%
May 20266.4%3.7%4.3%66.9%67.4%67.0%
June 20267.0%4.3%4.3%67.3%67.4%67.1%
July 20267.2%4.4%4.4%67.0%67.1%66.7%
August 20267.3%4.4%4.6%66.6%66.7%66.6%
September 20266.8%4.4%4.6%66.4%66.6%66.5%
Employed people as an index, January 2019 = 100, and youth unemployment
MonthEmployed people, index, Outback QueenslandEmployed people, index, QueenslandEmployed people, index, AustraliaYouth unemployment rate (15–24), Outback Queensland
January 2019100.0100.0100.018.2%
February 2019102.0102.2101.718.7%
March 2019101.7101.9101.519.4%
April 2019101.9102.0101.918.6%
May 2019102.8102.6102.518.8%
June 2019101.9101.9102.319.9%
July 2019100.9102.8102.219.7%
August 2019100.5102.3102.120.0%
September 2019101.5103.4102.619.7%
October 2019101.0103.0102.319.6%
November 2019101.8104.0103.018.4%
December 2019102.0104.2103.817.6%
January 202098.6102.1101.621.0%
February 2020100.2104.3103.420.5%
March 202099.7103.4103.019.4%
April 202096.497.998.319.8%
May 202095.395.396.619.6%
June 202098.397.698.118.9%
July 202098.798.998.820.0%
August 2020100.2101.599.518.1%
September 2020100.5102.499.518.3%
October 2020101.1103.6100.718.2%
November 2020101.3103.7101.916.5%
December 2020101.7105.2102.816.5%
January 2021100.2103.2100.717.1%
February 2021102.3105.6103.116.1%
March 2021102.2105.7103.315.3%
April 2021102.1105.5103.114.7%
May 2021103.0107.1104.514.3%
June 2021103.2107.5104.314.1%
July 2021102.4107.4104.114.6%
August 2021101.8106.5102.715.1%
September 2021102.3107.8101.915.3%
October 2021101.6107.8101.716.7%
November 2021101.7108.8105.115.7%
December 2021101.5109.5106.315.9%
January 202299.9107.8104.216.8%
February 2022102.1110.8107.017.0%
March 2022102.3110.6106.815.6%
April 2022102.0110.5107.015.8%
May 2022103.3112.1108.115.0%
June 2022103.7112.5108.514.8%
July 2022102.6112.4108.213.8%
August 2022102.1112.5108.314.0%
September 2022102.0112.4108.613.9%
October 2022101.9112.6109.113.3%
November 2022102.5113.5110.212.7%
December 2022101.7113.7110.714.0%
January 2023100.3111.8108.116.3%
February 2023101.2113.4110.817.5%
March 2023101.8114.3111.217.4%
April 2023101.4113.6110.816.8%
May 2023103.3115.7112.316.1%
June 2023103.6115.6112.015.0%
July 2023101.5114.6111.716.5%
August 2023100.8114.1111.715.4%
September 2023101.1114.9112.014.4%
October 2023101.6115.5112.615.7%
November 2023102.6117.0113.615.7%
December 2023102.1117.4113.716.5%
January 2024100.3114.8110.717.9%
February 2024102.8118.5114.118.0%
March 2024102.2117.3113.617.9%
April 2024103.4118.8113.516.5%
May 2024103.5119.4114.516.2%
June 2024104.4119.9114.415.1%
July 2024102.7117.9114.417.2%
August 2024102.8118.5114.116.1%
September 2024103.3119.0114.814.9%
October 2024104.2120.8114.914.5%
November 2024104.0120.9115.713.9%
December 2024103.9121.7116.614.6%
January 2025102.3119.0114.316.2%
February 2025103.2120.5115.817.0%
March 2025103.4120.2115.816.4%
April 2025103.8121.4116.216.5%
May 2025104.8122.9116.915.8%
June 2025104.7122.4116.416.5%
July 2025104.3121.2116.317.4%
August 2025103.5120.4115.618.1%
September 2025103.9121.4116.117.2%
October 2025103.5121.6116.517.6%
November 2025103.0121.5116.917.3%
December 2025103.1122.3117.816.5%
January 2026101.5120.6115.420.0%
February 2026102.7122.6117.820.7%
March 2026103.0122.9117.718.4%
April 2026102.8122.3117.018.8%
May 2026103.9124.5118.017.0%
June 2026103.9124.0118.417.9%
July 2026103.3123.4117.718.3%
August 2026102.5122.8117.518.6%
September 2026102.9122.9117.417.7%

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

Figure 4.1: Largest occupations by estimated employment, Outback Queensland, September 2026The 10 occupations with the most people employed in September 2026, of an estimated 40,166 people employed in Outback Queensland across all occupations. The table adds September 2025 and the change. 4 of Outback Queensland's 10 largest occupations are in national shortage, and 1 is in shortage in regional Australia.
Livestock Farmers: 1,879Livestock Farmers1,879Sales Assistants (General): 1,689Sales Assistants (General)1,689Drillers, Miners and Shot Firers: 1,486Drillers, Miners and Shot Firers1,486General Clerks: 1,418General Clerks1,418Registered Nurses: 1,388Registered Nurses1,388Metal Fitters and Machinists: 1,244Metal Fitters and Machinists1,244Earthmoving Plant Operators: 1,055Earthmoving Plant Operators1,055Commercial Cleaners: 897Commercial Cleaners897Livestock Farm Workers: 828Livestock Farm Workers828Truck Drivers: 788Truck Drivers788

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

Show the numbers
Largest occupations by estimated employment, Outback Queensland, September 2026
OccupationPeople employed, September 2026September 2025ChangeNational shortage, 2026
Livestock Farmers1,8791,912−1.7%
Sales Assistants (General)1,6891,603+5.4%
Drillers, Miners and Shot Firers1,4861,375+8.1%Regional shortage
General Clerks1,4181,317+7.7%
Registered Nurses1,3881,402−1.0%Shortage
Metal Fitters and Machinists1,2441,175+5.9%Shortage
Earthmoving Plant Operators1,055837+26.0%Shortage
Commercial Cleaners897954−6.0%
Livestock Farm Workers828788+5.1%
Truck Drivers788863−8.7%Shortage
Figure 4.2: Fastest growing and shrinking occupations by estimated employment, Outback 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.
Bar Attendants and Baristas: +31.5%Bar Attendants and Baristas+31.5%Welfare, Recreation and Community Arts Workers: +30.6%Welfare, Recreation and Community Arts Workers+30.6%Earthmoving Plant Operators: +26.0%Earthmoving Plant Operators+26.0%Carpenters and Joiners: +22.6%Carpenters and Joiners+22.6%Other Hospitality, Retail and Service Managers: +19.9%Other Hospitality, Retail and Service Managers+19.9%Secondary School Teachers: −15.5%Secondary School Teachers−15.5%Retail Managers: −15.8%Retail Managers−15.8%Police: −17.5%Police−17.5%Other Building and Engineering Technicians: −18.2%Other Building and Engineering Technicians−18.2%Kitchenhands: −26.7%Kitchenhands−26.7%

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[6].

Show the numbers
Fastest growing and shrinking occupations by estimated employment, Outback Queensland, September 2025 to September 2026
OccupationPeople employed, September 2026September 2025Change
Bar Attendants and Baristas330251+31.5%
Welfare, Recreation and Community Arts Workers469359+30.6%
Earthmoving Plant Operators1,055837+26.0%
Carpenters and Joiners677552+22.6%
Other Hospitality, Retail and Service Managers379316+19.9%
Secondary School Teachers454537−15.5%
Retail Managers656779−15.8%
Police296359−17.5%
Other Building and Engineering Technicians311380−18.2%
Kitchenhands401547−26.7%
Figure 4.3: People employed in the largest occupations, Outback 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.
  • Livestock Farmers
  • Sales Assistants (General)
  • Drillers, Miners and Shot Firers
  • General Clerks
  • Registered Nurses
01k2k3k4kSep 2022Sep 2024Sep 2026Livestock FarmersLivestock Farmers, Sep 2021: 3,126Livestock Farmers, Sep 2026: 1,8791,879Sales Assistants (General)Sales Assistants (General), Sep 2021: 1,650Sales Assistants (General), Sep 2026: 1,6891,689Drillers, Miners and Shot FirersDrillers, Miners and Shot Firers, Sep 2021: 1,622Drillers, Miners and Shot Firers, Sep 2026: 1,4861,486General ClerksGeneral Clerks, Sep 2021: 918General Clerks, Sep 2026: 1,4181,418Registered NursesRegistered Nurses, Sep 2021: 899Registered Nurses, Sep 2026: 1,3881,388

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[6].

Show the numbers
People employed in the largest occupations, Outback Queensland, September 2021 to September 2026
MonthLivestock FarmersSales Assistants (General)Drillers, Miners and Shot FirersGeneral ClerksRegistered Nurses
September 20213,1261,6501,622918899
September 20222,1161,9471,5091,135922
September 20232,2271,9261,5291,165984
September 20242,2131,7211,5261,2081,179
September 20251,9121,6031,3751,3171,402
September 20261,8791,6891,4861,4181,388

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 Outback 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, Outback QueenslandPeople in employment services at each snapshot, November 2024 to June 2026.
1.4k1.45k1.5k1.55kMar 2025Aug 2025Jan 2026Jun 2026Outback QueenslandOutback Queensland, Jun 2026: 1,5251,525

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, Outback Queensland, against Queensland and AustraliaShare of people in employment services who had been in services for 12 months or more, and in Outback Queensland for 24 months or more, November 2024 to June 2026.
  • Outback Queensland, 12 months or more
  • Outback Queensland, 24 months or more
  • Queensland, 12 months or more
  • Australia, 12 months or more
40%50%60%70%Mar 2025Aug 2025Jan 2026Jun 2026Outback Queensland, 12 months or moreOutback Queensland, 12 months or more, Jun 2026: 65.6%65.6%Outback Queensland, 24 months or moreOutback Queensland, 24 months or more, Jun 2026: 47.2%47.2%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, Outback 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, Outback QueenslandIn services 12 months or more, Outback QueenslandIn services 24 months or more, Outback QueenslandIn services 12 months or more, QueenslandIn services 12 months or more, Australia
November 20241,40569.4%52.3%61.1%60.8%
December 20241,41068.8%51.8%61.0%60.7%
January 20251,42568.8%51.2%60.9%60.5%
February 20251,46567.9%49.5%60.8%60.3%
March 20251,47066.3%48.3%61.0%60.3%
April 20251,49066.1%47.3%60.7%60.5%
May 20251,50565.1%47.2%60.8%60.7%
June 20251,51064.6%46.4%61.5%61.3%
July 20251,54064.6%45.5%61.8%61.7%
August 20251,55063.5%45.2%62.3%62.2%
September 20251,53563.8%45.3%62.6%62.4%
October 20251,50564.1%45.5%62.8%62.7%
November 20251,44564.4%46.0%62.6%62.5%
December 20251,48063.2%45.6%62.7%62.6%
January 20261,51562.4%45.2%62.6%62.7%
February 20261,53063.1%45.8%62.9%63.1%
March 20261,54064.0%45.8%63.2%63.4%
April 20261,54063.6%45.5%63.6%63.8%
May 20261,54063.6%45.5%64.0%64.2%
June 20261,52565.6%47.2%64.2%64.4%
Figure 5.3: People in employment services by age group, Outback 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: 420Under 2542025–34: 38525–3438535–44: 33035–4433045–54: 24045–5424055 and over: 15055 and over150

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

Show the numbers
People in employment services by age group, Outback Queensland, June 2026
Age groupPeopleShare
Under 2542028%
25–3438525%
35–4433022%
45–5424016%
55 and over15010%
Figure 5.4: People in employment services by allowance group, Outback 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: 1,095JobSeeker Payment1,095Youth Allowance (other): 225Youth Allowance (other)225Other: 205Other205

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

Show the numbers
People in employment services by allowance group, Outback Queensland, June 2026
Allowance groupPeopleShare
JobSeeker Payment1,09572%
Youth Allowance (other)22515%
Other20513%

6 Jobs on ViewJobs now

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

Live jobs on ViewJobs in Outback Queensland
269
ViewJobs, 29 Oct 2026[9]
Figure 6.1: Live jobs on ViewJobs by classification, Outback QueenslandThe 8 classifications with the most live ads, as of 29 Oct 2026.
Healthcare & Medical: 50Healthcare & Medical50Education & Training: 35Education & Training35Community Services & Development: 28Community Services & Development28Hospitality & Tourism: 24Hospitality & Tourism24Retail & Consumer Products: 22Retail & Consumer Products22Trades & Services: 21Trades & Services21Mining, Resources & Energy: 20Mining, Resources & Energy20Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics: 16Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics16

Source: ViewJobs live ads[9].

Show the numbers
Live jobs on ViewJobs by classification, Outback Queensland
ClassificationLive jobs
Healthcare & Medical50
Education & Training35
Community Services & Development28
Hospitality & Tourism24
Retail & Consumer Products22
Trades & Services21
Mining, Resources & Energy20
Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics16

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, Outback 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.
  • Outback Queensland
  • Queensland
  • Australia
$65k$67.5k$70k$72.5k$75k$77.5k2021–222022–232023–24Outback QueenslandOutback Queensland, 2021–22: $68,513Outback Queensland, 2022–23: $69,660Outback Queensland, 2023–24: $72,639$72,639QueenslandQueensland, 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, Outback Queensland, 2021–22 to 2023–24 (ATO)
Income yearOutback QueenslandQueenslandAustralia
2021–22$68,513$66,874$69,980
2022–23$69,660$70,435$73,647
2023–24$72,639$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 Outback Queensland's job market, each with its period and source.

How many jobs are advertised in Outback Queensland?

779 online job ads a month were placed in Outback Queensland, on average, in the three months to September 2026.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Is Outback Queensland's job market growing or shrinking?

Steady: online job ads in Outback Queensland were up 2.4% on a year earlier, from 761 to 779 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 Outback Queensland?

Medical practitioners and nurses had the most online ads, 70 a month in the three months to September 2026, followed by general-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists (59) and automotive and engineering trades (50). Among occupation groups with at least 5 ads a month a year earlier and now, ads for engineers rose fastest, up 68.4%.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

What is the unemployment rate in Outback Queensland?

The unemployment rate in Outback Queensland was 6.8% in September 2026, against 4.4% across Queensland. A year earlier it was 6.1%. 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 Outback Queensland?

Yes. Unemployment in Outback Queensland was up 0.7 points on a year earlier in September 2026, at 6.8% against 6.1% (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 Outback Queensland?

An estimated 1,879 of the 40,166 people employed in Outback Queensland in September 2026 worked as Livestock Farmers, the largest occupation there. Next were Sales Assistants (General), with 1,689 people, and Drillers, Miners and Shot Firers, with 1,486 people. These are Jobs and Skills Australia's experimental nowcast estimates.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[6].

Which occupations are growing fastest in Outback Queensland?

Among occupations with at least 200 people employed in both September 2025 and September 2026, Bar Attendants and Baristas grew fastest in Outback Queensland, up 31.5% to an estimated 330 people employed, followed by Welfare, Recreation and Community Arts Workers (up 30.6%) and Earthmoving Plant Operators (up 26.0%). 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 Outback Queensland?

1,525 people in Outback Queensland were in Workforce Australia employment services at 30 June 2026, up 1.0% on a year earlier. 65.6% 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 Outback Queensland been in Workforce Australia employment services?

At 30 June 2026, 65.6% had been in employment services for 12 months or more, and 47.2% 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 Outback Queensland?

At least 269 jobs are live on ViewJobs in Outback Queensland, as of 29 Oct 2026. They are the ads in the ViewJobs region of the same name, whose towns all sit in the area. The most advertised are Healthcare & Medical (50), Education & Training (35) and Community Services & Development (28).

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
Outback Queensland here is ABS SA4 315 Queensland - Outback. 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). Outback Queensland job market report, data to September 2026. https://www.viewjobs.com.au/job-market/qld/outback

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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