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Job market report

South East South Australia 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 South East South Australia, 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 407 South Australia - South East
Sources
JSA, ABS, DEWR, ATO and ViewJobs

Key findings

  1. Growing: online job ads in South East South Australia were up 6.4% on a year earlier, from 915 to 974 a month in the three months to September 2026.

    Over the same year, ads were up 2.6% across South Australia and up 0.6% across Australia.[1][2]

    Section 1: Job ads and demand →

  2. Medical practitioners and nurses had the most online ads, 109 a month in the three months to September 2026, followed by carers and aides (79) and general-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists (69).

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

    Section 2: Which jobs are in demand →

  3. The unemployment rate in South East South Australia was 3.6% in September 2026, against 4.0% across South Australia.

    A year earlier it was 3.8%. These are the ABS's modelled estimates for the month, not seasonally adjusted.[3][4]

    Section 3: Unemployment and participation, monthly →

  4. 6,085 people in South East South Australia were in Workforce Australia employment services at 30 June 2026, up 1.2% on a year earlier.

    66.5% of them had been in employment services for 12 months or more.[5]

    Section 5: Job seekers in employment services →
Unemployment rate
3.6%
ABS, September 2026 · down 0.2 points on September 2025[3]
Employed people
98,279
ABS, September 2026 · up 0.5% since September 2025[3]
Online job ads a month
974
JSA, September 2026 · up 6.4% since September 2025[1]
People in Workforce Australia employment services
6,085
DEWR, June 2026 · up 1.2% since June 2025[5]

1 Job ads and demand

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

South East South Australia
+6.4%
974 ads a month[1]
South Australia
+2.6%
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, South East South AustraliaThree-month average, October 2023 to September 2026.
7008009001k1.1kJan 2024Sep 2024May 2025Jan 2026Sep 2026South East South AustraliaSouth East South Australia, Sep 2026: 974974

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Show the numbers
Online job ads a month, South East South Australia
MonthOnline job ads a month
October 2023993
November 2023970
December 2023914
January 2024935
February 2024963
March 2024979
April 2024964
May 2024993
June 2024972
July 2024922
August 2024883
September 2024934
October 2024969
November 2024969
December 2024891
January 2025900
February 2025866
March 2025914
April 2025828
May 2025803
June 2025763
July 2025810
August 2025824
September 2025915
October 2025949
November 2025977
December 2025866
January 2026871
February 2026895
March 20261,019
April 2026982
May 2026936
June 2026878
July 2026899
August 2026922
September 2026974

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, South East South AustraliaThe 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.
General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists: +43.8%General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists+43.8%Drivers and storepersons: +27.3%Drivers and storepersons+27.3%Other labourers: +18.8%Other labourers+18.8%Legal, social and welfare professionals: +11.5%Legal, social and welfare professionals+11.5%Sales assistants and salespersons: +11.1%Sales assistants and salespersons+11.1%Automotive and engineering trades: +8.1%Automotive and engineering trades+8.1%Medical practitioners and nurses: +4.8%Medical practitioners and nurses+4.8%Health and welfare support workers: +3.8%Health and welfare support workers+3.8%Carers and aides: +1.3%Carers and aides+1.3%Food trades: 0.0%Food trades0.0%Health diagnostic and therapy professionals: 0.0%Health diagnostic and therapy professionals0.0%Hospitality, retail and service managers: −21.2%Hospitality, retail and service managers−21.2%

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Show the numbers
Change in online job ads by occupation, South East South Australia
Occupation groupAds a month, September 2026A year earlierChange
Medical practitioners and nurses109104+4.8%
Carers and aides7978+1.3%
General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists6948+43.8%
Sales assistants and salespersons6054+11.1%
Legal, social and welfare professionals5852+11.5%
Health diagnostic and therapy professionals44440.0%
Automotive and engineering trades4037+8.1%
Other labourers3832+18.8%
Drivers and storepersons2822+27.3%
Health and welfare support workers2726+3.8%
Hospitality, retail and service managers2633−21.2%
Food trades26260.0%
Hospitality workers2414+71.4%
Cleaners and laundry workers2126−19.2%
Farm, forestry and garden workers2122−4.5%
Factory process workers1915+26.7%
Sales support workers1817+5.9%
Business, finance and human resource professionals1713+30.8%
Engineering, ICT and science technicians1613+23.1%
Electrotechnology and telecommunications trades1613+23.1%
Construction, production and distribution managers1512+25.0%
Mobile plant operators1419−26.3%
Machine and stationary plant operators1319−31.6%
Sports, travel and personal service workers1213−7.7%
Corporate managers1120−45.0%
Other clerical and administrative workers1115−26.7%
Farmers and farm managers10100.0%
Education professionals106+66.7%
Science professionals and veterinarians109+11.1%
Skilled animal and horticultural workers107+42.9%
Numerical clerks1012−16.7%
Food preparation assistants10100.0%
Construction and mining labourers95+80.0%
Sales representatives and agents810−20.0%
Construction trades770.0%
Office managers, administrators and secretaries79−22.2%
Health, education, ICT and other managers660.0%
Engineers6fewer than 5n/a
Clerical and office support workers, couriers67−14.3%
Hairdressers, printing, clothing and wood trades5fewer than 5n/a
Chief executives, managing directors & legislatorsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
ICT professionalsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Jewellers, arts and other trades workersfewer than 56n/a
Information professionalsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Transport and design professionals, and architectsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Protective service workersfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Arts and media professionalsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Sales, marketing & public relations professionalsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a

3 Unemployment and participation, monthly

Monthly unemployment and participation in South East South Australia, from the ABS's Regional Labour Force, to September 2026.

Figure 3.1: Unemployment rate, South East South Australia, from January 2019Share of the labour force unemployed each month, January 2019 to September 2026, against South Australia and Australia.
  • South East South Australia
  • South Australia
  • Australia
2%4%6%8%10%Jan 2020Sep 2021May 2023Jan 2025Sep 2026South East South AustraliaSouth East South Australia, Sep 2026: 3.6%3.6%South AustraliaSouth Australia, Sep 2026: 4.0%4.0%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, South East South Australia, from January 2019Share of people aged 15 and over in the labour force each month, January 2019 to September 2026, against South Australia and Australia.
  • South East South Australia
  • South Australia
  • Australia
50%55%60%65%70%Jan 2020Sep 2021May 2023Jan 2025Sep 2026South East South AustraliaSouth East South Australia, Sep 2026: 57.8%57.8%South AustraliaSouth Australia, Sep 2026: 64.1%64.1%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, South East South Australia, indexed to January 2019 = 100Employed people each month as an index, January 2019 = 100, against South Australia and Australia, so places of different size share one scale.
  • South East South Australia
  • South Australia
  • Australia

Index (Jan 2019 = 100)

90100110120130Jan 2020Sep 2021May 2023Jan 2025Sep 2026South East South AustraliaSouth East South Australia, Sep 2026: 111.6111.6South AustraliaSouth Australia, Sep 2026: 119.1119.1AustraliaAustralia, 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, South East South AustraliaThe 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: 7.6%7.6%All agesAll ages, Sep 2026: 3.6%3.6%

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Show the numbers below
Numbers for Figures 3.1 to 3.4: Labour force each month, South East South Australia, 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, South East South AustraliaUnemployment rate, South AustraliaUnemployment rate, AustraliaParticipation rate, South East South AustraliaParticipation rate, South AustraliaParticipation rate, Australia
January 20195.8%6.8%5.4%58.2%61.9%65.1%
February 20195.6%6.1%5.4%59.2%62.9%66.1%
March 20195.5%6.1%5.4%59.6%63.4%65.8%
April 20195.6%6.2%5.3%59.8%63.6%65.9%
May 20195.0%5.6%5.1%59.4%63.3%66.1%
June 20195.3%5.8%5.1%59.3%63.2%65.9%
July 20196.0%6.9%5.2%58.6%63.3%65.8%
August 20195.9%7.1%5.3%58.4%63.2%65.7%
September 20195.2%6.0%5.1%58.1%62.5%65.8%
October 20195.3%6.0%5.1%57.6%61.8%65.5%
November 20195.3%6.2%4.8%58.0%62.5%65.7%
December 20195.1%6.0%4.8%58.2%62.6%66.2%
January 20205.4%6.0%5.7%55.9%61.4%65.2%
February 20205.7%6.2%5.5%57.0%62.8%66.2%
March 20206.0%6.5%5.5%57.2%63.1%65.8%
April 20206.2%7.1%6.4%55.2%60.9%63.4%
May 20206.4%7.7%6.9%54.6%60.3%62.5%
June 20207.1%8.4%7.2%55.8%61.6%63.8%
July 20206.5%7.9%7.3%55.8%61.5%64.3%
August 20206.4%7.6%6.8%56.2%62.0%64.4%
September 20205.7%6.6%6.7%56.1%61.8%64.4%
October 20205.9%6.7%6.7%56.5%62.1%65.1%
November 20205.2%6.1%6.3%56.6%62.1%65.6%
December 20205.2%6.2%6.2%56.8%62.5%66.1%
January 20216.3%7.5%6.8%55.8%61.3%65.1%
February 20215.8%7.2%6.3%56.8%62.8%66.3%
March 20215.3%6.6%6.0%56.3%62.2%66.2%
April 20215.0%5.9%5.6%57.0%62.7%65.7%
May 20215.0%5.8%5.0%57.2%63.0%66.2%
June 20214.4%5.2%4.9%56.8%62.7%66.0%
July 20214.1%4.7%4.7%56.9%62.8%65.7%
August 20214.1%4.7%4.6%56.7%62.5%64.7%
September 20213.7%4.8%4.6%56.5%62.7%64.2%
October 20213.7%5.0%5.0%56.4%62.8%64.3%
November 20213.5%4.4%4.3%57.1%63.4%65.9%
December 20213.1%3.9%4.0%57.0%63.2%66.4%
January 20224.4%5.3%4.5%56.0%62.0%65.2%
February 20224.4%5.4%4.4%57.5%63.9%66.8%
March 20224.2%5.1%4.2%57.4%63.8%66.4%
April 20223.8%4.6%3.9%57.0%63.3%66.2%
May 20224.0%4.6%3.9%57.1%63.3%66.7%
June 20223.7%4.3%3.5%57.0%63.2%66.6%
July 20223.6%4.1%3.4%56.3%62.7%66.2%
August 20223.4%3.9%3.5%56.5%62.9%66.2%
September 20223.7%4.1%3.5%56.6%62.7%66.2%
October 20223.5%3.9%3.3%57.0%63.2%66.2%
November 20223.3%3.9%3.3%56.9%63.2%66.8%
December 20223.4%3.9%3.3%57.4%63.9%67.0%
January 20234.1%4.6%4.0%56.6%62.8%65.6%
February 20233.9%4.2%3.9%57.6%64.2%67.0%
March 20233.6%3.9%3.8%58.1%64.7%66.9%
April 20233.7%4.4%3.8%57.7%64.3%66.6%
May 20233.5%3.9%3.5%58.1%64.7%67.1%
June 20233.7%4.1%3.4%57.6%64.0%66.8%
July 20233.5%4.0%3.6%57.4%64.0%66.5%
August 20233.1%3.5%3.7%57.2%63.8%66.4%
September 20233.2%3.4%3.5%57.4%63.8%66.2%
October 20233.1%3.4%3.6%57.3%63.6%66.6%
November 20233.4%3.7%3.6%57.6%64.0%67.1%
December 20233.3%3.9%3.8%57.2%63.6%67.1%
January 20244.0%4.6%4.5%56.1%62.1%65.7%
February 20243.0%3.6%4.0%57.2%63.6%67.3%
March 20243.5%4.0%4.1%56.8%63.1%66.9%
April 20243.7%4.3%4.2%56.9%63.1%66.8%
May 20243.5%3.9%3.9%56.4%62.5%67.1%
June 20243.4%3.8%3.9%56.3%62.6%66.9%
July 20243.8%4.4%4.1%56.7%63.0%67.0%
August 20243.2%3.6%4.1%56.2%62.4%66.7%
September 20243.5%4.0%3.9%56.7%63.0%66.8%
October 20243.5%3.9%3.9%57.0%63.3%66.9%
November 20243.3%3.7%3.6%56.6%62.7%67.0%
December 20243.6%4.1%3.8%57.2%63.5%67.5%
January 20254.1%4.7%4.5%57.3%63.7%66.6%
February 20253.7%4.1%4.4%57.4%63.7%67.2%
March 20253.6%4.1%4.3%57.5%64.0%67.0%
April 20253.7%4.1%4.1%57.3%63.5%67.1%
May 20253.8%4.2%4.0%57.8%64.4%67.4%
June 20253.8%4.3%4.2%57.7%64.4%67.1%
July 20253.7%4.3%4.2%57.8%64.4%66.9%
August 20254.1%4.7%4.3%57.9%64.5%66.4%
September 20253.8%4.3%4.3%58.2%64.7%66.7%
October 20253.6%4.0%4.2%58.0%64.5%66.7%
November 20253.3%3.7%4.0%58.2%64.6%66.8%
December 20253.2%3.7%3.9%58.9%65.6%67.1%
January 20263.5%4.1%4.5%57.9%64.2%66.1%
February 20263.7%4.3%4.6%58.4%65.0%67.4%
March 20263.5%4.1%4.5%58.1%64.6%67.1%
April 20263.9%4.4%4.6%57.8%64.1%66.7%
May 20263.7%4.2%4.3%57.8%64.3%67.0%
June 20263.8%4.2%4.3%57.8%64.3%67.1%
July 20263.6%4.2%4.4%57.7%64.1%66.7%
August 20263.9%4.5%4.6%57.7%64.2%66.6%
September 20263.6%4.0%4.6%57.8%64.1%66.5%
Employed people as an index, January 2019 = 100, and youth unemployment
MonthEmployed people, index, South East South AustraliaEmployed people, index, South AustraliaEmployed people, index, AustraliaYouth unemployment rate (15–24), South East South Australia
January 2019100.0100.0100.013.8%
February 2019102.1102.4101.713.3%
March 2019103.0103.5101.513.2%
April 2019103.4103.9101.913.0%
May 2019103.4104.1102.511.5%
June 2019103.0103.7102.312.0%
July 2019101.2102.9102.213.4%
August 2019101.0102.6102.113.1%
September 2019101.3102.9102.611.6%
October 2019100.4101.9102.311.8%
November 2019101.4102.9103.011.5%
December 2019101.9103.4103.811.4%
January 202097.9101.4101.612.0%
February 202099.6103.8103.412.8%
March 202099.9104.2103.013.0%
April 202096.299.898.313.4%
May 202094.998.396.613.8%
June 202096.499.898.115.0%
July 202096.9100.398.813.9%
August 202097.9101.599.513.4%
September 202098.7102.299.512.3%
October 202099.3102.7100.713.0%
November 2020100.2103.4101.911.8%
December 2020100.7104.0102.811.9%
January 202197.9100.6100.714.3%
February 2021100.3103.5103.113.2%
March 2021100.1103.3103.311.9%
April 2021101.7105.1103.110.9%
May 2021102.2105.8104.510.9%
June 2021102.4106.1104.39.6%
July 2021102.9106.8104.19.1%
August 2021102.4106.4102.79.5%
September 2021102.6106.6101.98.9%
October 2021102.4106.5101.79.0%
November 2021104.0108.4105.18.3%
December 2021104.3108.8106.37.3%
January 2022101.4105.3104.210.2%
February 2022104.3108.7107.09.9%
March 2022104.5109.0106.89.2%
April 2022104.4108.9107.08.1%
May 2022104.5109.3108.18.3%
June 2022104.8109.5108.57.8%
July 2022103.7109.0108.27.5%
August 2022104.5109.8108.37.4%
September 2022104.3109.4108.68.0%
October 2022105.3110.6109.17.6%
November 2022105.5110.9110.27.4%
December 2022106.4112.2110.77.6%
January 2023104.2109.8108.19.1%
February 2023106.5112.9110.88.7%
March 2023107.9114.4111.28.0%
April 2023107.1113.4110.88.3%
May 2023108.2114.8112.37.7%
June 2023107.1113.6112.08.3%
July 2023107.2113.8111.78.0%
August 2023107.4114.2111.77.3%
September 2023107.7114.5112.07.5%
October 2023107.8114.3112.67.4%
November 2023108.1114.7113.68.3%
December 2023107.6114.1113.78.2%
January 2024104.9110.7110.710.0%
February 2024108.3114.7114.17.6%
March 2024107.0113.4113.68.6%
April 2024107.0113.3113.58.9%
May 2024106.4112.7114.58.1%
June 2024106.5113.1114.47.6%
July 2024106.9113.2114.48.3%
August 2024106.8113.2114.16.9%
September 2024107.5114.0114.87.2%
October 2024108.2114.7114.97.1%
November 2024107.6114.0115.76.8%
December 2024108.5115.2116.67.5%
January 2025108.3114.8114.38.6%
February 2025109.1115.9115.87.7%
March 2025109.5116.6115.87.4%
April 2025109.0115.8116.27.5%
May 2025110.0117.4116.97.7%
June 2025109.9117.3116.47.6%
July 2025110.2117.4116.37.5%
August 2025110.1117.4115.68.0%
September 2025111.1118.5116.17.3%
October 2025111.1118.3116.56.8%
November 2025111.8119.1116.96.2%
December 2025113.3121.0117.86.0%
January 2026111.1118.2115.46.7%
February 2026112.0119.5117.87.4%
March 2026111.8119.2117.77.0%
April 2026110.8117.9117.07.7%
May 2026111.1118.7118.07.3%
June 2026111.1118.7118.47.5%
July 2026111.1118.5117.77.4%
August 2026111.1118.4117.58.1%
September 2026111.6119.1117.47.6%

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 South East South Australia, from Jobs and Skills Australia's monthly nowcast, to September 2026.

Figure 4.1: Largest occupations by estimated employment, South East South Australia, September 2026The 10 occupations with the most people employed in September 2026, of an estimated 98,029 people employed in South East South Australia across all occupations. The table adds September 2025 and the change. 4 of South East South Australia's 10 largest occupations are in national shortage.
Livestock Farmers: 4,584Livestock Farmers4,584Sales Assistants (General): 4,049Sales Assistants (General)4,049Aged and Disabled Carers: 3,752Aged and Disabled Carers3,752Mixed Crop and Livestock Farmers: 3,647Mixed Crop and Livestock Farmers3,647Truck Drivers: 2,195Truck Drivers2,195Retail Managers: 1,914Retail Managers1,914General Clerks: 1,792General Clerks1,792Registered Nurses: 1,688Registered Nurses1,688Electricians: 1,613Electricians1,613Checkout Operators and Office Cashiers: 1,406Checkout Operators and Office Cashiers1,406

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

Show the numbers
Largest occupations by estimated employment, South East South Australia, September 2026
OccupationPeople employed, September 2026September 2025ChangeNational shortage, 2026
Livestock Farmers4,5844,029+13.8%
Sales Assistants (General)4,0494,034+0.4%
Aged and Disabled Carers3,7523,403+10.3%Shortage
Mixed Crop and Livestock Farmers3,6473,355+8.7%
Truck Drivers2,1952,125+3.3%Shortage
Retail Managers1,9142,074−7.7%
General Clerks1,7921,607+11.5%
Registered Nurses1,6881,661+1.6%Shortage
Electricians1,6131,427+13.0%Shortage
Checkout Operators and Office Cashiers1,4061,407−0.1%
Figure 4.2: Fastest growing and shrinking occupations by estimated employment, South East South Australia, 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.
Timber and Wood Process Workers: +40.5%Timber and Wood Process Workers+40.5%Deck and Fishing Hands: +39.5%Deck and Fishing Hands+39.5%Hotel and Motel Managers: +31.9%Hotel and Motel Managers+31.9%Dental Assistants: +20.7%Dental Assistants+20.7%Shelf Fillers: +18.4%Shelf Fillers+18.4%Manufacturers: −19.5%Manufacturers−19.5%Paper and Wood Processing Machine Operators: −21.5%Paper and Wood Processing Machine Operators−21.5%Human Resource Managers: −23.9%Human Resource Managers−23.9%Other Stationary Plant Operators: −27.7%Other Stationary Plant Operators−27.7%Cabinetmakers: −49.0%Cabinetmakers−49.0%

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[6].

Show the numbers
Fastest growing and shrinking occupations by estimated employment, South East South Australia, September 2025 to September 2026
OccupationPeople employed, September 2026September 2025Change
Timber and Wood Process Workers472336+40.5%
Deck and Fishing Hands420301+39.5%
Hotel and Motel Managers310235+31.9%
Dental Assistants449372+20.7%
Shelf Fillers695587+18.4%
Manufacturers227282−19.5%
Paper and Wood Processing Machine Operators439559−21.5%
Human Resource Managers394518−23.9%
Other Stationary Plant Operators227314−27.7%
Cabinetmakers207406−49.0%
Figure 4.3: People employed in the largest occupations, South East South Australia, 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)
  • Aged and Disabled Carers
  • Mixed Crop and Livestock Farmers
  • Truck Drivers
02k4k6kSep 2022Sep 2024Sep 2026Livestock FarmersLivestock Farmers, Sep 2021: 4,402Livestock Farmers, Sep 2026: 4,5844,584Sales Assistants (General)Sales Assistants (General), Sep 2021: 3,804Sales Assistants (General), Sep 2026: 4,0494,049Aged and Disabled CarersAged and Disabled Carers, Sep 2021: 2,849Aged and Disabled Carers, Sep 2026: 3,7523,752Mixed Crop and Livestock FarmersMixed Crop and Livestock Farmers, Sep 2021: 1,384Mixed Crop and Livestock Farmers, Sep 2026: 3,6473,647Truck DriversTruck Drivers, Sep 2021: 2,428Truck Drivers, Sep 2026: 2,1952,195

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[6].

Show the numbers
People employed in the largest occupations, South East South Australia, September 2021 to September 2026
MonthLivestock FarmersSales Assistants (General)Aged and Disabled CarersMixed Crop and Livestock FarmersTruck Drivers
September 20214,4023,8042,8491,3842,428
September 20225,6033,5162,9181,8282,300
September 20235,1543,5443,1022,3122,180
September 20244,0063,9223,0672,8771,995
September 20254,0294,0343,4033,3552,125
September 20264,5844,0493,7523,6472,195

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 South East South Australia, 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, South East South AustraliaPeople in employment services at each snapshot, November 2024 to June 2026.
5.7k5.8k5.9k6k6.1k6.2kMar 2025Aug 2025Jan 2026Jun 2026South East South AustraliaSouth East South Australia, Jun 2026: 6,0856,085

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, South East South Australia, against South Australia and AustraliaShare of people in employment services who had been in services for 12 months or more, and in South East South Australia for 24 months or more, November 2024 to June 2026.
  • South East South Australia, 12 months or more
  • South East South Australia, 24 months or more
  • South Australia, 12 months or more
  • Australia, 12 months or more
40%50%60%70%Mar 2025Aug 2025Jan 2026Jun 2026South East South Australia, 12 months or moreSouth East South Australia, 12 months or more, Jun 2026: 66.5%66.5%South East South Australia, 24 months or moreSouth East South Australia, 24 months or more, Jun 2026: 46.2%46.2%South Australia, 12 months or moreSouth Australia, 12 months or more, Jun 2026: 66.8%66.8%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, South East South Australia, 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, South East South AustraliaIn services 12 months or more, South East South AustraliaIn services 24 months or more, South East South AustraliaIn services 12 months or more, South AustraliaIn services 12 months or more, Australia
November 20245,79065.2%46.3%63.4%60.8%
December 20245,85564.5%45.9%63.2%60.7%
January 20255,94064.7%45.5%62.9%60.5%
February 20256,01564.3%45.1%62.6%60.3%
March 20256,04563.9%45.0%62.5%60.3%
April 20256,03564.4%45.2%63.1%60.5%
May 20256,08064.4%44.9%63.6%60.7%
June 20256,01564.8%44.9%64.4%61.3%
July 20256,01564.7%45.0%64.7%61.7%
August 20255,96565.1%45.1%65.1%62.2%
September 20256,05565.0%45.2%65.2%62.4%
October 20256,00565.4%45.2%65.4%62.7%
November 20255,95065.0%45.0%65.1%62.5%
December 20255,96565.4%45.3%65.1%62.6%
January 20266,08565.6%45.4%65.1%62.7%
February 20266,14066.0%45.4%65.4%63.1%
March 20266,09066.2%45.5%66.0%63.4%
April 20266,05566.3%45.9%66.5%63.8%
May 20266,11566.3%45.9%66.7%64.2%
June 20266,08566.5%46.2%66.8%64.4%
Figure 5.3: People in employment services by age group, South East South Australia, June 2026The 5 age groups at the latest snapshot; the table adds each group's share of all people in employment services.
Under 25: 1,310Under 251,31025–34: 1,32525–341,32535–44: 1,25035–441,25045–54: 1,07545–541,07555 and over: 1,11555 and over1,115

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

Show the numbers
People in employment services by age group, South East South Australia, June 2026
Age groupPeopleShare
Under 251,31022%
25–341,32522%
35–441,25021%
45–541,07518%
55 and over1,11518%
Figure 5.4: People in employment services by allowance group, South East South Australia, June 2026The 3 allowance groups at the latest snapshot; the table adds each group's share of all people in employment services.
JobSeeker Payment: 4,640JobSeeker Payment4,640Youth Allowance (other): 775Youth Allowance (other)775Other: 670Other670

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

Show the numbers
People in employment services by allowance group, South East South Australia, June 2026
Allowance groupPeopleShare
JobSeeker Payment4,64076%
Youth Allowance (other)77513%
Other67011%

6 Jobs on ViewJobs now

Live job ads on ViewJobs in the Limestone Coast, the Riverland, the Fleurieu Peninsula and Kangaroo Island, ViewJobs regions whose towns all sit in this ABS area.

Live jobs on ViewJobs in these regions
228
ViewJobs, 29 Oct 2026[9]
Figure 6.1: Live jobs on ViewJobs by classification, Limestone Coast, Riverland, Fleurieu Peninsula and Kangaroo IslandThe 8 classifications with the most live ads, as of 29 Oct 2026.
Retail & Consumer Products: 37Retail & Consumer Products37Healthcare & Medical: 35Healthcare & Medical35Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics: 29Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics29Hospitality & Tourism: 28Hospitality & Tourism28Community Services & Development: 22Community Services & Development22Farming, Animals & Conservation: 18Farming, Animals & Conservation18Trades & Services: 18Trades & Services18Construction: 6Construction6

Source: ViewJobs live ads[9].

Show the numbers
Live jobs on ViewJobs by classification, Limestone Coast, Riverland, Fleurieu Peninsula and Kangaroo Island
ClassificationLive jobs
Retail & Consumer Products37
Healthcare & Medical35
Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics29
Hospitality & Tourism28
Community Services & Development22
Farming, Animals & Conservation18
Trades & Services18
Construction6

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, South East South Australia, 2021–22 to 2023–24 (ATO)Average salary and wages per earner, 2021–22 to 2023–24 income years (ATO), against South Australia and Australia.
  • South East South Australia
  • South Australia
  • Australia
$50k$60k$70k$80k2021–222022–232023–24South East South AustraliaSouth East South Australia, 2021–22: $52,510South East South Australia, 2022–23: $55,434South East South Australia, 2023–24: $58,502$58,502South AustraliaSouth Australia, 2021–22: $62,008South Australia, 2022–23: $65,014South Australia, 2023–24: $68,345$68,345AustraliaAustralia, 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, South East South Australia, 2021–22 to 2023–24 (ATO)
Income yearSouth East South AustraliaSouth AustraliaAustralia
2021–22$52,510$62,008$69,980
2022–23$55,434$65,014$73,647
2023–24$58,502$68,345$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 South East South Australia's job market, each with its period and source.

How many jobs are advertised in South East South Australia?

974 online job ads a month were placed in South East South Australia, on average, in the three months to September 2026.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Is South East South Australia's job market growing or shrinking?

Growing: online job ads in South East South Australia were up 6.4% on a year earlier, from 915 to 974 a month in the three months to September 2026. Over the same year, ads were up 2.6% across South Australia and up 0.6% across Australia.

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

Which jobs are most in demand in South East South Australia?

Medical practitioners and nurses had the most online ads, 109 a month in the three months to September 2026, followed by carers and aides (79) and general-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists (69). Among occupation groups with at least 5 ads a month a year earlier and now, ads for construction and mining labourers rose fastest, up 80.0%.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

What is the unemployment rate in South East South Australia?

The unemployment rate in South East South Australia was 3.6% in September 2026, against 4.0% across South Australia. A year earlier it was 3.8%. 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 South East South Australia?

No, it is falling. Unemployment in South East South Australia was down 0.2 points on a year earlier in September 2026, at 3.6% against 3.8% (ABS modelled estimates). Across South Australia it was down 0.3 points.

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

What are the biggest occupations in South East South Australia?

An estimated 4,584 of the 98,029 people employed in South East South Australia in September 2026 worked as Livestock Farmers, the largest occupation there. Next were Sales Assistants (General), with 4,049 people, and Aged and Disabled Carers, with 3,752 people. These are Jobs and Skills Australia's experimental nowcast estimates.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[6].

Which occupations are growing fastest in South East South Australia?

Among occupations with at least 200 people employed in both September 2025 and September 2026, Timber and Wood Process Workers grew fastest in South East South Australia, up 40.5% to an estimated 472 people employed, followed by Deck and Fishing Hands (up 39.5%) and Hotel and Motel Managers (up 31.9%). 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 South East South Australia?

6,085 people in South East South Australia were in Workforce Australia employment services at 30 June 2026, up 1.2% on a year earlier. 66.5% 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 South East South Australia been in Workforce Australia employment services?

At 30 June 2026, 66.5% had been in employment services for 12 months or more, and 46.2% for two years or more, against 66.8% and 46.2% across South Australia.

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

How many jobs are on ViewJobs in South East South Australia?

At least 228 jobs are live on ViewJobs in South East South Australia, as of 29 Oct 2026. They are the ads in the Limestone Coast, the Riverland, the Fleurieu Peninsula and Kangaroo Island, ViewJobs regions whose towns all sit in the area. The most advertised are Retail & Consumer Products (37), Healthcare & Medical (35) and Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics (29).

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
South East South Australia here is ABS SA4 407 South Australia - South East. 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). South East South Australia job market report, data to September 2026. https://www.viewjobs.com.au/job-market/sa/south-east

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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