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Job market report

Sunshine Coast 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 Sunshine Coast, 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 316 Sunshine Coast
Sources
JSA, ABS, DEWR, ATO and ViewJobs

Key findings

  1. Shrinking: online job ads in the Sunshine Coast were down 3.4% on a year earlier, from 3,331 to 3,218 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. Sales assistants and salespersons had the most online ads, 260 a month in the three months to September 2026, followed by carers and aides (254) and general-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists (214).

    Among occupation groups with at least 5 ads a month a year earlier and now, ads for chief executives, managing directors & legislators rose fastest, up 71.4%.[1]

    Section 2: Which jobs are in demand →

  3. The unemployment rate in the Sunshine Coast was 3.2% in September 2026, against 4.4% across Queensland.

    A year earlier it was 2.7%. These are the ABS's modelled estimates for the month, not seasonally adjusted.[3][4]

    Section 3: Unemployment and participation, monthly →

  4. 8,605 people in the Sunshine Coast were in Workforce Australia employment services at 30 June 2026, down 0.5% on a year earlier.

    59.4% of them had been in employment services for 12 months or more.[5]

    Section 5: Job seekers in employment services →
Unemployment rate
3.2%
ABS, September 2026 · up 0.5 points on September 2025[3]
Employed people
228,578
ABS, September 2026 · up 1.8% since September 2025[3]
Online job ads a month
3,218
JSA, September 2026 · down 3.4% since September 2025[1]
People in Workforce Australia employment services
8,605
DEWR, June 2026 · down 0.5% 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.

Sunshine Coast
−3.4%
3,218 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, Sunshine CoastThree-month average, October 2023 to September 2026.
2.75k3k3.25k3.5k3.75kJan 2024Sep 2024May 2025Jan 2026Sep 2026Sunshine CoastSunshine Coast, Sep 2026: 3,2183,218

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Show the numbers
Online job ads a month, Sunshine Coast
MonthOnline job ads a month
October 20233,671
November 20233,453
December 20233,008
January 20242,990
February 20242,922
March 20243,214
April 20243,042
May 20243,057
June 20242,991
July 20243,067
August 20243,192
September 20243,400
October 20243,544
November 20243,481
December 20243,039
January 20252,975
February 20252,856
March 20253,075
April 20252,832
May 20252,865
June 20252,939
July 20253,108
August 20253,160
September 20253,331
October 20253,394
November 20253,346
December 20252,930
January 20262,919
February 20262,947
March 20263,261
April 20262,995
May 20262,868
June 20262,767
July 20262,945
August 20263,058
September 20263,218

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, Sunshine CoastThe 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: +16.5%Other labourers+16.5%Cleaners and laundry workers: +14.6%Cleaners and laundry workers+14.6%Drivers and storepersons: +7.6%Drivers and storepersons+7.6%Sales assistants and salespersons: 0.0%Sales assistants and salespersons0.0%Health diagnostic and therapy professionals: −0.8%Health diagnostic and therapy professionals−0.8%Food trades: −2.1%Food trades−2.1%Hospitality, retail and service managers: −2.2%Hospitality, retail and service managers−2.2%Medical practitioners and nurses: −2.5%Medical practitioners and nurses−2.5%Automotive and engineering trades: −5.7%Automotive and engineering trades−5.7%Legal, social and welfare professionals: −9.8%Legal, social and welfare professionals−9.8%Carers and aides: −11.8%Carers and aides−11.8%General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists: −19.5%General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists−19.5%

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Show the numbers
Change in online job ads by occupation, Sunshine Coast
Occupation groupAds a month, September 2026A year earlierChange
Sales assistants and salespersons2602600.0%
Carers and aides254288−11.8%
General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists214266−19.5%
Medical practitioners and nurses192197−2.5%
Food trades138141−2.1%
Hospitality, retail and service managers133136−2.2%
Other labourers120103+16.5%
Health diagnostic and therapy professionals117118−0.8%
Drivers and storepersons113105+7.6%
Automotive and engineering trades99105−5.7%
Cleaners and laundry workers9482+14.6%
Legal, social and welfare professionals92102−9.8%
Hospitality workers9089+1.1%
Sales representatives and agents8597−12.4%
Engineering, ICT and science technicians7975+5.3%
Corporate managers7666+15.2%
Business, finance and human resource professionals7495−22.1%
Construction trades7195−25.3%
Numerical clerks6761+9.8%
Other clerical and administrative workers6080−25.0%
Construction, production and distribution managers5740+42.5%
Education professionals5659−5.1%
Office managers, administrators and secretaries5155−7.3%
Skilled animal and horticultural workers4543+4.7%
Engineers4432+37.5%
Health and welfare support workers4443+2.3%
Sports, travel and personal service workers4434+29.4%
Electrotechnology and telecommunications trades4344−2.3%
Mobile plant operators4232+31.3%
Construction and mining labourers3935+11.4%
Food preparation assistants3338−13.2%
Machine and stationary plant operators32320.0%
Sales, marketing & public relations professionals2837−24.3%
Hairdressers, printing, clothing and wood trades2733−18.2%
Factory process workers2327−14.8%
Sales support workers2217+29.4%
Jewellers, arts and other trades workers2019+5.3%
Health, education, ICT and other managers1917+11.8%
ICT professionals1724−29.2%
Farm, forestry and garden workers17170.0%
Transport and design professionals, and architects1623−30.4%
Science professionals and veterinarians1621−23.8%
Chief executives, managing directors & legislators127+71.4%
Information professionals10fewer than 5n/a
Protective service workers108+25.0%
Clerical and office support workers, couriers1014−28.6%
Arts and media professionals914−35.7%
Farmers and farm managersfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a

3 Unemployment and participation, monthly

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

Figure 3.1: Unemployment rate, Sunshine Coast, from January 2019Share of the labour force unemployed each month, January 2019 to September 2026, against Queensland and Australia.
  • Sunshine Coast
  • Queensland
  • Australia
0%2.5%5%7.5%10%Jan 2020Sep 2021May 2023Jan 2025Sep 2026Sunshine CoastSunshine Coast, Sep 2026: 3.2%3.2%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, Sunshine Coast, from January 2019Share of people aged 15 and over in the labour force each month, January 2019 to September 2026, against Queensland and Australia.
  • Sunshine Coast
  • Queensland
  • Australia
55%60%65%70%Jan 2020Sep 2021May 2023Jan 2025Sep 2026Sunshine CoastSunshine Coast, Sep 2026: 62.5%62.5%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, Sunshine Coast, 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.
  • Sunshine Coast
  • Queensland
  • Australia

Index (Jan 2019 = 100)

90100110120130Jan 2020Sep 2021May 2023Jan 2025Sep 2026Sunshine CoastSunshine Coast, Sep 2026: 126.3126.3QueenslandQueensland, 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, Sunshine CoastThe 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: 7.3%7.3%All agesAll ages, Sep 2026: 3.2%3.2%

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Show the numbers below
Numbers for Figures 3.1 to 3.4: Labour force each month, Sunshine Coast, 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, Sunshine CoastUnemployment rate, QueenslandUnemployment rate, AustraliaParticipation rate, Sunshine CoastParticipation rate, QueenslandParticipation rate, Australia
January 20195.9%6.3%5.4%61.3%65.0%65.1%
February 20195.8%6.1%5.4%62.5%66.2%66.1%
March 20196.1%6.5%5.4%62.4%66.1%65.8%
April 20195.0%6.0%5.3%61.7%65.7%65.9%
May 20195.9%6.1%5.1%62.5%66.1%66.1%
June 20196.1%6.3%5.1%61.9%65.7%65.9%
July 20195.7%6.0%5.2%62.7%66.0%65.8%
August 20195.7%6.2%5.3%62.3%65.7%65.7%
September 20195.8%6.1%5.1%62.9%66.3%65.8%
October 20195.7%6.0%5.1%62.4%65.8%65.5%
November 20194.8%5.5%4.8%62.3%66.0%65.7%
December 20194.8%5.1%4.8%62.2%65.7%66.2%
January 20205.5%6.5%5.7%60.2%65.3%65.2%
February 20205.4%6.1%5.5%61.2%66.3%66.2%
March 20205.1%5.9%5.5%60.3%65.4%65.8%
April 20206.6%7.0%6.4%57.5%62.7%63.4%
May 20208.1%7.7%6.9%56.6%61.4%62.5%
June 20208.1%7.8%7.2%58.3%62.9%63.8%
July 20208.9%8.3%7.3%59.7%64.0%64.3%
August 20207.2%7.1%6.8%60.3%64.8%64.4%
September 20207.1%7.1%6.7%60.8%65.4%64.4%
October 20206.5%7.2%6.7%61.1%66.1%65.1%
November 20206.6%6.7%6.3%61.3%65.7%65.6%
December 20206.0%6.6%6.2%61.8%66.5%66.1%
January 20216.4%7.3%6.8%61.0%65.7%65.1%
February 20215.3%6.7%6.3%61.6%66.7%66.3%
March 20214.9%6.3%6.0%61.3%66.4%66.2%
April 20215.4%6.0%5.6%61.4%66.0%65.7%
May 20214.9%5.4%5.0%61.9%66.5%66.2%
June 20214.1%5.2%4.9%61.5%66.5%66.0%
July 20214.2%5.1%4.7%61.7%66.3%65.7%
August 20214.1%5.0%4.6%61.0%65.7%64.7%
September 20213.8%4.7%4.6%61.5%66.1%64.2%
October 20214.4%4.9%5.0%61.8%66.1%64.3%
November 20213.5%4.2%4.3%61.8%66.3%65.9%
December 20213.5%4.2%4.0%62.2%66.5%66.4%
January 20223.7%4.7%4.5%61.0%65.6%65.2%
February 20223.9%4.5%4.4%62.7%67.2%66.8%
March 20223.2%4.2%4.2%61.9%66.7%66.4%
April 20223.6%4.2%3.9%62.0%66.5%66.2%
May 20223.3%4.0%3.9%62.5%67.2%66.7%
June 20223.5%3.9%3.5%62.9%67.3%66.6%
July 20222.8%3.6%3.4%61.6%66.8%66.2%
August 20222.4%3.3%3.5%61.3%66.5%66.2%
September 20222.9%3.5%3.5%61.5%66.5%66.2%
October 20222.4%3.1%3.3%61.1%66.1%66.2%
November 20222.4%3.0%3.3%61.6%66.4%66.8%
December 20222.9%3.4%3.3%61.9%66.6%67.0%
January 20233.3%4.1%4.0%60.9%65.8%65.6%
February 20233.4%4.1%3.9%61.7%66.5%67.0%
March 20233.1%4.2%3.8%61.8%66.9%66.9%
April 20232.9%3.9%3.8%61.2%66.1%66.6%
May 20233.1%3.9%3.5%62.2%67.2%67.1%
June 20233.2%3.7%3.4%62.1%66.8%66.8%
July 20233.4%4.3%3.6%61.8%66.5%66.5%
August 20233.1%3.9%3.7%61.1%65.8%66.4%
September 20232.6%3.6%3.5%61.1%65.8%66.2%
October 20233.1%4.0%3.6%61.7%66.3%66.6%
November 20233.1%4.0%3.6%62.4%67.0%67.1%
December 20233.3%4.0%3.8%62.6%67.1%67.1%
January 20243.8%4.4%4.5%61.3%65.7%65.7%
February 20243.4%4.3%4.0%63.1%67.6%67.3%
March 20243.5%4.5%4.1%62.2%66.9%66.9%
April 20243.3%4.2%4.2%62.7%67.4%66.8%
May 20243.2%4.0%3.9%62.9%67.6%67.1%
June 20243.3%3.8%3.9%63.1%67.6%66.9%
July 20243.2%4.4%4.1%62.0%66.8%67.0%
August 20242.9%4.1%4.1%62.0%66.8%66.7%
September 20242.8%3.8%3.9%62.1%66.7%66.8%
October 20243.1%3.6%3.9%63.2%67.5%66.9%
November 20242.8%3.6%3.6%63.0%67.4%67.0%
December 20242.6%3.6%3.8%63.3%67.8%67.5%
January 20253.6%4.2%4.5%62.3%66.6%66.6%
February 20253.3%4.4%4.4%62.9%67.4%67.2%
March 20253.1%4.3%4.3%62.3%67.0%67.0%
April 20253.1%4.3%4.1%62.9%67.5%67.1%
May 20253.1%3.7%4.0%63.6%67.9%67.4%
June 20253.3%4.0%4.2%63.3%67.6%67.1%
July 20253.6%4.3%4.2%62.9%67.1%66.9%
August 20253.2%4.3%4.3%62.2%66.6%66.4%
September 20252.7%4.0%4.3%62.2%66.8%66.7%
October 20253.2%3.9%4.2%62.7%66.8%66.7%
November 20253.1%3.9%4.0%62.4%66.6%66.8%
December 20253.0%3.6%3.9%62.8%66.8%67.1%
January 20263.5%4.7%4.5%62.1%66.4%66.1%
February 20263.7%4.8%4.6%63.0%67.5%67.4%
March 20263.3%4.0%4.5%62.8%66.9%67.1%
April 20263.2%4.3%4.6%62.4%66.8%66.7%
May 20262.7%3.7%4.3%63.1%67.4%67.0%
June 20262.9%4.3%4.3%62.9%67.4%67.1%
July 20263.2%4.4%4.4%62.9%67.1%66.7%
August 20263.8%4.4%4.6%62.9%66.7%66.6%
September 20263.2%4.4%4.6%62.5%66.6%66.5%
Employed people as an index, January 2019 = 100, and youth unemployment
MonthEmployed people, index, Sunshine CoastEmployed people, index, QueenslandEmployed people, index, AustraliaYouth unemployment rate (15–24), Sunshine Coast
January 2019100.0100.0100.014.2%
February 2019102.5102.2101.714.1%
March 2019102.2101.9101.515.0%
April 2019102.4102.0101.912.6%
May 2019102.9102.6102.514.8%
June 2019102.0101.9102.315.4%
July 2019104.1102.8102.214.4%
August 2019103.5102.3102.114.3%
September 2019104.6103.4102.614.4%
October 2019104.1103.0102.314.3%
November 2019105.2104.0103.012.0%
December 2019105.2104.2103.812.3%
January 2020101.3102.1101.614.4%
February 2020103.4104.3103.414.1%
March 2020102.6103.4103.013.0%
April 202096.497.998.316.3%
May 202093.595.396.619.3%
June 202096.497.698.119.0%
July 202098.198.998.820.2%
August 2020101.1101.599.516.1%
September 2020102.3102.499.515.6%
October 2020103.7103.6100.714.1%
November 2020104.1103.7101.914.1%
December 2020105.8105.2102.812.8%
January 2021104.1103.2100.713.6%
February 2021106.6105.6103.111.3%
March 2021106.8105.7103.310.3%
April 2021106.5105.5103.111.1%
May 2021108.3107.1104.510.1%
June 2021108.7107.5104.38.6%
July 2021109.1107.4104.19.1%
August 2021108.1106.5102.79.2%
September 2021109.5107.8101.98.8%
October 2021109.4107.8101.710.5%
November 2021110.7108.8105.18.4%
December 2021111.5109.5106.38.6%
January 2022109.4107.8104.29.1%
February 2022112.6110.8107.09.4%
March 2022112.2110.6106.87.7%
April 2022112.2110.5107.08.4%
May 2022113.7112.1108.17.6%
June 2022114.5112.5108.58.1%
July 2022113.0112.4108.26.5%
August 2022113.4112.5108.35.6%
September 2022113.4112.4108.66.6%
October 2022113.5112.6109.15.6%
November 2022114.7113.5110.25.3%
December 2022115.0113.7110.76.5%
January 2023113.0111.8108.17.6%
February 2023114.6113.4110.88.0%
March 2023115.5114.3111.27.4%
April 2023115.0113.6110.87.0%
May 2023116.9115.7112.37.2%
June 2023116.8115.6112.07.3%
July 2023116.3114.6111.77.7%
August 2023115.7114.1111.76.8%
September 2023116.5114.9112.05.8%
October 2023117.3115.5112.67.1%
November 2023118.9117.0113.67.4%
December 2023119.3117.4113.77.9%
January 2024116.6114.8110.79.1%
February 2024120.6118.5114.18.4%
March 2024119.2117.3113.68.4%
April 2024120.5118.8113.57.9%
May 2024121.2119.4114.57.7%
June 2024121.7119.9114.47.8%
July 2024120.0117.9114.47.4%
August 2024120.5118.5114.16.8%
September 2024121.1119.0114.86.2%
October 2024123.0120.8114.97.0%
November 2024123.2120.9115.76.2%
December 2024124.3121.7116.65.8%
January 2025121.4119.0114.37.9%
February 2025123.0120.5115.87.5%
March 2025122.6120.2115.87.1%
April 2025123.7121.4116.27.3%
May 2025125.3122.9116.97.5%
June 2025124.7122.4116.48.1%
July 2025123.8121.2116.38.7%
August 2025123.0120.4115.68.1%
September 2025124.0121.4116.16.8%
October 2025124.4121.6116.57.9%
November 2025124.3121.5116.97.5%
December 2025125.3122.3117.87.1%
January 2026123.4120.6115.48.3%
February 2026125.3122.6117.88.8%
March 2026125.7122.9117.77.9%
April 2026125.2122.3117.07.7%
May 2026127.4124.5118.06.4%
June 2026126.8124.0118.46.8%
July 2026126.7123.4117.77.2%
August 2026126.2122.8117.58.7%
September 2026126.3122.9117.47.3%

Note: Monthly unemployment, participation and employment are the ABS's Regional Labour Force modelled estimates: the ABS combines its Labour Force Survey with administrative data to estimate each labour market region. They are in original terms, not seasonally adjusted, so every change here compares a month with the same month a year earlier.

4 Who works here: employment by occupation

Estimated employment by occupation in the Sunshine Coast, from Jobs and Skills Australia's monthly nowcast, to September 2026.

Figure 4.1: Largest occupations by estimated employment, Sunshine Coast, September 2026The 10 occupations with the most people employed in September 2026, of an estimated 227,244 people employed in the Sunshine Coast across all occupations. The table adds September 2025 and the change. 5 of the Sunshine Coast's 10 largest occupations are in national shortage.
Sales Assistants (General): 9,585Sales Assistants (General)9,585Registered Nurses: 8,577Registered Nurses8,577Aged and Disabled Carers: 7,170Aged and Disabled Carers7,170Retail Managers: 4,730Retail Managers4,730General Clerks: 4,321General Clerks4,321Electricians: 3,777Electricians3,777Receptionists: 3,633Receptionists3,633Nursing Support and Personal Care Workers: 3,386Nursing Support and Personal Care Workers3,386Carpenters and Joiners: 3,313Carpenters and Joiners3,313Secondary School Teachers: 3,259Secondary School Teachers3,259

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

Show the numbers
Largest occupations by estimated employment, Sunshine Coast, September 2026
OccupationPeople employed, September 2026September 2025ChangeNational shortage, 2026
Sales Assistants (General)9,58510,031−4.4%
Registered Nurses8,5778,006+7.1%Shortage
Aged and Disabled Carers7,1707,151+0.3%Shortage
Retail Managers4,7304,726+0.1%
General Clerks4,3213,867+11.7%
Electricians3,7773,572+5.7%Shortage
Receptionists3,6333,492+4.0%
Nursing Support and Personal Care Workers3,3863,309+2.3%
Carpenters and Joiners3,3133,108+6.6%Shortage
Secondary School Teachers3,2593,409−4.4%Shortage
Figure 4.2: Fastest growing and shrinking occupations by estimated employment, Sunshine Coast, 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.
Music Professionals: +28.8%Music Professionals+28.8%Special Education Teachers: +26.7%Special Education Teachers+26.7%Medical Imaging Professionals: +25.0%Medical Imaging Professionals+25.0%Other Information and Organisation Professionals: +24.5%Other Information and Organisation Professionals+24.5%Multimedia Specialists and Web Developers: +23.0%Multimedia Specialists and Web Developers+23.0%Automobile Drivers: −18.8%Automobile Drivers−18.8%Counsellors: −20.5%Counsellors−20.5%Other Education Managers: −21.6%Other Education Managers−21.6%Manufacturers: −23.4%Manufacturers−23.4%Other Accommodation and Hospitality Managers: −35.3%Other Accommodation and Hospitality Managers−35.3%

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[6].

Show the numbers
Fastest growing and shrinking occupations by estimated employment, Sunshine Coast, September 2025 to September 2026
OccupationPeople employed, September 2026September 2025Change
Music Professionals505392+28.8%
Special Education Teachers1,2721,004+26.7%
Medical Imaging Professionals729583+25.0%
Other Information and Organisation Professionals767616+24.5%
Multimedia Specialists and Web Developers562457+23.0%
Automobile Drivers627772−18.8%
Counsellors464584−20.5%
Other Education Managers294375−21.6%
Manufacturers469612−23.4%
Other Accommodation and Hospitality Managers475734−35.3%
Figure 4.3: People employed in the largest occupations, Sunshine Coast, September 2021 to September 2026Estimated people employed each September from 2021 to 2026, one point a year, in the 5 occupations with the most people employed in September 2026.
  • Sales Assistants (General)
  • Registered Nurses
  • Aged and Disabled Carers
  • Retail Managers
  • General Clerks
2k4k6k8k10k12kSep 2022Sep 2024Sep 2026Sales Assistants (General)Sales Assistants (General), Sep 2021: 8,950Sales Assistants (General), Sep 2026: 9,5859,585Registered NursesRegistered Nurses, Sep 2021: 6,137Registered Nurses, Sep 2026: 8,5778,577Aged and Disabled CarersAged and Disabled Carers, Sep 2021: 5,861Aged and Disabled Carers, Sep 2026: 7,1707,170Retail ManagersRetail Managers, Sep 2021: 4,248Retail Managers, Sep 2026: 4,7304,730General ClerksGeneral Clerks, Sep 2021: 4,184General Clerks, Sep 2026: 4,3214,321

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[6].

Show the numbers
People employed in the largest occupations, Sunshine Coast, September 2021 to September 2026
MonthSales Assistants (General)Registered NursesAged and Disabled CarersRetail ManagersGeneral Clerks
September 20218,9506,1375,8614,2484,184
September 20229,6976,8596,1883,9054,017
September 202310,9556,4906,0534,4053,960
September 202411,1096,9536,8894,7553,841
September 202510,0318,0067,1514,7263,867
September 20269,5858,5777,1704,7304,321

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 Sunshine Coast, 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, Sunshine CoastPeople in employment services at each snapshot, November 2024 to June 2026.
7.5k8k8.5k9kMar 2025Aug 2025Jan 2026Jun 2026Sunshine CoastSunshine Coast, Jun 2026: 8,6058,605

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, Sunshine Coast, against Queensland and AustraliaShare of people in employment services who had been in services for 12 months or more, and in the Sunshine Coast for 24 months or more, November 2024 to June 2026.
  • Sunshine Coast, 12 months or more
  • Sunshine Coast, 24 months or more
  • Queensland, 12 months or more
  • Australia, 12 months or more
30%40%50%60%70%Mar 2025Aug 2025Jan 2026Jun 2026Sunshine Coast, 12 months or moreSunshine Coast, 12 months or more, Jun 2026: 59.4%59.4%Sunshine Coast, 24 months or moreSunshine Coast, 24 months or more, Jun 2026: 36.2%36.2%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, Sunshine Coast, 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, Sunshine CoastIn services 12 months or more, Sunshine CoastIn services 24 months or more, Sunshine CoastIn services 12 months or more, QueenslandIn services 12 months or more, Australia
November 20247,53554.1%32.8%61.1%60.8%
December 20247,64554.3%32.8%61.0%60.7%
January 20257,93054.4%32.5%60.9%60.5%
February 20258,16054.4%32.2%60.8%60.3%
March 20258,28054.7%32.5%61.0%60.3%
April 20258,46554.0%31.6%60.7%60.5%
May 20258,66053.6%31.5%60.8%60.7%
June 20258,65054.2%32.1%61.5%61.3%
July 20258,59554.7%32.2%61.8%61.7%
August 20258,49055.1%32.7%62.3%62.2%
September 20258,45555.4%33.1%62.6%62.4%
October 20258,43556.1%33.3%62.8%62.7%
November 20258,36056.3%33.0%62.6%62.5%
December 20258,41056.1%33.1%62.7%62.6%
January 20268,60055.8%33.6%62.6%62.7%
February 20268,70556.6%34.1%62.9%63.1%
March 20268,66056.8%34.3%63.2%63.4%
April 20268,55558.2%35.3%63.6%63.8%
May 20268,59059.1%35.7%64.0%64.2%
June 20268,60559.4%36.2%64.2%64.4%
Figure 5.3: People in employment services by age group, Sunshine Coast, June 2026The 5 age groups at the latest snapshot; the table adds each group's share of all people in employment services.
Under 25: 1,930Under 251,93025–34: 1,93525–341,93535–44: 1,71535–441,71545–54: 1,54545–541,54555 and over: 1,46055 and over1,460

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

Show the numbers
People in employment services by age group, Sunshine Coast, June 2026
Age groupPeopleShare
Under 251,93022%
25–341,93522%
35–441,71520%
45–541,54518%
55 and over1,46017%
Figure 5.4: People in employment services by allowance group, Sunshine Coast, June 2026The 3 allowance groups at the latest snapshot; the table adds each group's share of all people in employment services.
JobSeeker Payment: 6,435JobSeeker Payment6,435Youth Allowance (other): 955Youth Allowance (other)955Other: 1,215Other1,215

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

Show the numbers
People in employment services by allowance group, Sunshine Coast, June 2026
Allowance groupPeopleShare
JobSeeker Payment6,43575%
Youth Allowance (other)95511%
Other1,21514%

6 Jobs on ViewJobs now

Live job ads on ViewJobs in the Sunshine Coast, a ViewJobs region that reaches beyond this ABS area: 56% of its towns are in the area.

Live jobs on ViewJobs in the Sunshine Coast
1,407
ViewJobs, 30 Oct 2026[9]
Figure 6.1: Live jobs on ViewJobs by classification, Sunshine CoastThe 8 classifications with the most live ads, as of 30 Oct 2026.
Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics: 329Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics329Healthcare & Medical: 226Healthcare & Medical226Hospitality & Tourism: 219Hospitality & Tourism219Retail & Consumer Products: 129Retail & Consumer Products129Community Services & Development: 87Community Services & Development87Self Employment: 61Self Employment61Trades & Services: 47Trades & Services47Education & Training: 44Education & Training44

Source: ViewJobs live ads[9].

Show the numbers
Live jobs on ViewJobs by classification, Sunshine Coast
ClassificationLive jobs
Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics329
Healthcare & Medical226
Hospitality & Tourism219
Retail & Consumer Products129
Community Services & Development87
Self Employment61
Trades & Services47
Education & Training44

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, Sunshine Coast, 2021–22 to 2023–24 (ATO)Average salary and wages per earner, 2021–22 to 2023–24 income years (ATO), against Queensland and Australia.
  • Sunshine Coast
  • Queensland
  • Australia
$60k$65k$70k$75k$80k2021–222022–232023–24Sunshine CoastSunshine Coast, 2021–22: $62,947Sunshine Coast, 2022–23: $66,936Sunshine Coast, 2023–24: $70,567$70,567QueenslandQueensland, 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, Sunshine Coast, 2021–22 to 2023–24 (ATO)
Income yearSunshine CoastQueenslandAustralia
2021–22$62,947$66,874$69,980
2022–23$66,936$70,435$73,647
2023–24$70,567$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 Sunshine Coast's job market, each with its period and source.

How many jobs are advertised in the Sunshine Coast?

3,218 online job ads a month were placed in the Sunshine Coast, on average, in the three months to September 2026.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Is the Sunshine Coast's job market growing or shrinking?

Shrinking: online job ads in the Sunshine Coast were down 3.4% on a year earlier, from 3,331 to 3,218 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 Sunshine Coast?

Sales assistants and salespersons had the most online ads, 260 a month in the three months to September 2026, followed by carers and aides (254) and general-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists (214). Among occupation groups with at least 5 ads a month a year earlier and now, ads for chief executives, managing directors & legislators rose fastest, up 71.4%.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

What is the unemployment rate in the Sunshine Coast?

The unemployment rate in the Sunshine Coast was 3.2% in September 2026, against 4.4% across Queensland. A year earlier it was 2.7%. 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 Sunshine Coast?

Yes. Unemployment in the Sunshine Coast was up 0.5 points on a year earlier in September 2026, at 3.2% against 2.7% (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 Sunshine Coast?

An estimated 9,585 of the 227,244 people employed in the Sunshine Coast in September 2026 worked as Sales Assistants (General), the largest occupation there. Next were Registered Nurses (8,577 people) and Aged and Disabled Carers (7,170 people). These are Jobs and Skills Australia's experimental nowcast estimates.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[6].

Which occupations are growing fastest in the Sunshine Coast?

Among occupations with at least 200 people employed in both September 2025 and September 2026, Music Professionals grew fastest in the Sunshine Coast, up 28.8% to an estimated 505 people employed, followed by Special Education Teachers (up 26.7%) and Medical Imaging Professionals (up 25.0%). 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 Sunshine Coast?

8,605 people in the Sunshine Coast were in Workforce Australia employment services at 30 June 2026, down 0.5% on a year earlier. 59.4% 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 Sunshine Coast been in Workforce Australia employment services?

At 30 June 2026, 59.4% had been in employment services for 12 months or more, and 36.2% 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 Sunshine Coast?

1,407 jobs are live on ViewJobs in the Sunshine Coast, a ViewJobs region that reaches beyond the ABS area of the same name, as of 30 Oct 2026. 56% of its towns are in the area. The most advertised are Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics (329), Healthcare & Medical (226) and Hospitality & Tourism (219).

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 Sunshine Coast here is ABS SA4 316 Sunshine Coast. 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). Sunshine Coast job market report, data to September 2026. https://www.viewjobs.com.au/job-market/qld/sunshine-coast

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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