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Job market report

West and North West 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 West and North West, 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 604 West and North West
Sources
JSA, ABS, DEWR, ATO and ViewJobs

Key findings

  1. Growing: online job ads in the West and North West were up 7.3% on a year earlier, from 605 to 649 a month in the three months to September 2026.

    Over the same year, ads were down 4.3% across Tasmania and up 0.6% across Australia.[1][2]

    Section 1: Job ads and demand →

  2. Medical practitioners and nurses had the most online ads, 67 a month in the three months to September 2026, followed by carers and aides (46) and general-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists (41).

    Among occupation groups with at least 5 ads a month a year earlier and now, ads for construction trades rose fastest, up 116.7%.[1]

    Section 2: Which jobs are in demand →

  3. The unemployment rate in the West and North West was 5.2% in September 2026, against 5.1% across Tasmania.

    A year earlier it was 4.6%. These are the ABS's modelled estimates for the month, not seasonally adjusted.[3][4]

    Section 3: Unemployment and participation, monthly →

  4. 4,140 people in the West and North West were in Workforce Australia employment services at 30 June 2026, up 2.3% on a year earlier.

    69.4% of them had been in employment services for 12 months or more.[5]

    Section 5: Job seekers in employment services →
Unemployment rate
5.2%
ABS, September 2026 · up 0.6 points on September 2025[3]
Employed people
54,398
ABS, September 2026 · down 3.8% since September 2025[3]
Online job ads a month
649
JSA, September 2026 · up 7.3% since September 2025[1]
People in Workforce Australia employment services
4,140
DEWR, June 2026 · up 2.3% 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.

West and North West
+7.3%
649 ads a month[1]
Tasmania
−4.3%
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, West and North WestThree-month average, October 2023 to September 2026.
500600700800Jan 2024Sep 2024May 2025Jan 2026Sep 2026West and North WestWest and North West, Sep 2026: 649649

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Show the numbers
Online job ads a month, West and North West
MonthOnline job ads a month
October 2023729
November 2023713
December 2023662
January 2024686
February 2024709
March 2024766
April 2024738
May 2024701
June 2024639
July 2024588
August 2024574
September 2024594
October 2024629
November 2024621
December 2024579
January 2025566
February 2025559
March 2025580
April 2025563
May 2025564
June 2025562
July 2025590
August 2025566
September 2025605
October 2025563
November 2025574
December 2025524
January 2026562
February 2026586
March 2026667
April 2026668
May 2026677
June 2026615
July 2026613
August 2026604
September 2026649

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, West and North WestThe 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.
Machine and stationary plant operators: +61.5%Machine and stationary plant operators+61.5%Engineering, ICT and science technicians: +46.2%Engineering, ICT and science technicians+46.2%Electrotechnology and telecommunications trades: +26.7%Electrotechnology and telecommunications trades+26.7%Carers and aides: +15.0%Carers and aides+15.0%Sales assistants and salespersons: +13.8%Sales assistants and salespersons+13.8%Drivers and storepersons: +8.3%Drivers and storepersons+8.3%Automotive and engineering trades: −2.7%Automotive and engineering trades−2.7%Other labourers: −4.3%Other labourers−4.3%General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists: −6.8%General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists−6.8%Medical practitioners and nurses: −6.9%Medical practitioners and nurses−6.9%Health diagnostic and therapy professionals: −11.1%Health diagnostic and therapy professionals−11.1%Legal, social and welfare professionals: −24.4%Legal, social and welfare professionals−24.4%

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Show the numbers
Change in online job ads by occupation, West and North West
Occupation groupAds a month, September 2026A year earlierChange
Medical practitioners and nurses6772−6.9%
Carers and aides4640+15.0%
General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists4144−6.8%
Automotive and engineering trades3637−2.7%
Sales assistants and salespersons3329+13.8%
Legal, social and welfare professionals3141−24.4%
Drivers and storepersons2624+8.3%
Other labourers2223−4.3%
Machine and stationary plant operators2113+61.5%
Engineering, ICT and science technicians1913+46.2%
Electrotechnology and telecommunications trades1915+26.7%
Health diagnostic and therapy professionals1618−11.1%
Food trades1617−5.9%
Construction, production and distribution managers157+114.3%
Business, finance and human resource professionals1410+40.0%
Construction trades136+116.7%
Health and welfare support workers13130.0%
Engineers1213−7.7%
Other clerical and administrative workers1213−7.7%
Farm, forestry and garden workers1210+20.0%
Hospitality, retail and service managers11110.0%
Corporate managers106+66.7%
Health, education, ICT and other managers107+42.9%
Hospitality workers109+11.1%
Sales representatives and agents108+25.0%
Cleaners and laundry workers1012−16.7%
Education professionals96+50.0%
Office managers, administrators and secretaries97+28.6%
Factory process workers911−18.2%
Numerical clerks880.0%
Science professionals and veterinarians7fewer than 5n/a
Food preparation assistants710−30.0%
Mobile plant operators67−14.3%
Construction and mining labourers68−25.0%
Sports, travel and personal service workers550.0%
Sales support workers5fewer than 5n/a
Chief executives, managing directors & legislatorsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Arts and media professionalsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Information professionalsfewer than 55n/a
Transport and design professionals, and architectsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Jewellers, arts and other trades workersfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Farmers and farm managersfewer 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
ICT professionalsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Skilled animal and horticultural workersfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Protective service workersfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Clerical and office support workers, couriersfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a

3 Unemployment and participation, monthly

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

Figure 3.1: Unemployment rate, West and North West, from January 2019Share of the labour force unemployed each month, January 2019 to September 2026, against Tasmania and Australia.
  • West and North West
  • Tasmania
  • Australia
2%4%6%8%10%Jan 2020Sep 2021May 2023Jan 2025Sep 2026West and North WestWest and North West, Sep 2026: 5.2%5.2%TasmaniaTasmania, Sep 2026: 5.1%5.1%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, West and North West, from January 2019Share of people aged 15 and over in the labour force each month, January 2019 to September 2026, against Tasmania and Australia.
  • West and North West
  • Tasmania
  • Australia
55%60%65%70%Jan 2020Sep 2021May 2023Jan 2025Sep 2026West and North WestWest and North West, Sep 2026: 56.3%56.3%TasmaniaTasmania, Sep 2026: 59.6%59.6%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, West and North West, indexed to January 2019 = 100Employed people each month as an index, January 2019 = 100, against Tasmania and Australia, so places of different size share one scale.
  • West and North West
  • Tasmania
  • Australia

Index (Jan 2019 = 100)

90100110120Jan 2020Sep 2021May 2023Jan 2025Sep 2026West and North WestWest and North West, Sep 2026: 108.1108.1TasmaniaTasmania, Sep 2026: 110.4110.4AustraliaAustralia, 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, West and North WestThe unemployment rate each month among people aged 15 to 24, against all ages, January 2019 to September 2026.
  • Aged 15–24
  • All ages
0%5%10%15%20%Jan 2020Sep 2021May 2023Jan 2025Sep 2026Aged 15–24Aged 15–24, Sep 2026: 11.3%11.3%All agesAll ages, Sep 2026: 5.2%5.2%

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Show the numbers below
Numbers for Figures 3.1 to 3.4: Labour force each month, West and North West, 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, West and North WestUnemployment rate, TasmaniaUnemployment rate, AustraliaParticipation rate, West and North WestParticipation rate, TasmaniaParticipation rate, Australia
January 20197.5%7.3%5.4%57.5%60.4%65.1%
February 20197.3%7.1%5.4%58.3%61.3%66.1%
March 20197.1%6.9%5.4%57.7%60.7%65.8%
April 20196.5%6.9%5.3%57.9%61.3%65.9%
May 20196.2%6.3%5.1%57.4%60.6%66.1%
June 20196.9%6.7%5.1%57.6%60.6%65.9%
July 20196.7%6.4%5.2%57.3%60.3%65.8%
August 20196.7%6.7%5.3%57.2%60.4%65.7%
September 20196.3%6.1%5.1%57.5%60.5%65.8%
October 20195.8%5.7%5.1%57.3%60.4%65.5%
November 20196.2%5.8%4.8%58.1%61.2%65.7%
December 20195.9%5.6%4.8%58.5%61.8%66.2%
January 20206.6%6.2%5.7%57.6%61.3%65.2%
February 20205.5%5.2%5.5%58.2%62.1%66.2%
March 20205.5%5.1%5.5%57.6%61.1%65.8%
April 20206.3%6.1%6.4%56.6%60.0%63.4%
May 20206.9%6.3%6.9%55.0%57.6%62.5%
June 20207.1%6.9%7.2%56.2%59.1%63.8%
July 20207.1%6.4%7.3%57.2%60.1%64.3%
August 20207.3%6.5%6.8%57.8%60.8%64.4%
September 20208.5%7.5%6.7%58.0%60.6%64.4%
October 20208.3%7.6%6.7%57.8%60.7%65.1%
November 20208.0%7.5%6.3%58.4%61.4%65.6%
December 20207.7%6.9%6.2%58.5%61.6%66.1%
January 20217.4%6.4%6.8%58.0%60.8%65.1%
February 20216.7%6.0%6.3%58.8%62.2%66.3%
March 20216.4%6.0%6.0%58.7%62.2%66.2%
April 20216.5%6.1%5.6%58.6%61.8%65.7%
May 20215.8%5.6%5.0%58.5%61.8%66.2%
June 20215.1%4.7%4.9%58.1%61.5%66.0%
July 20215.4%4.9%4.7%58.1%61.6%65.7%
August 20215.9%5.5%4.6%58.2%61.6%64.7%
September 20215.3%4.7%4.6%58.1%61.4%64.2%
October 20215.2%4.8%5.0%58.0%61.4%64.3%
November 20215.3%4.9%4.3%58.4%62.0%65.9%
December 20214.3%3.9%4.0%58.0%61.7%66.4%
January 20224.5%4.0%4.5%56.9%60.3%65.2%
February 20224.2%4.0%4.4%58.7%62.5%66.8%
March 20224.7%4.4%4.2%58.3%61.9%66.4%
April 20224.2%4.0%3.9%57.8%61.3%66.2%
May 20224.6%4.4%3.9%58.5%62.1%66.7%
June 20224.5%4.4%3.5%57.8%61.4%66.6%
July 20224.4%3.9%3.4%58.3%60.9%66.2%
August 20225.1%5.0%3.5%58.5%61.3%66.2%
September 20224.5%4.3%3.5%59.0%61.9%66.2%
October 20224.4%3.9%3.3%59.0%62.0%66.2%
November 20223.9%3.5%3.3%59.8%62.9%66.8%
December 20223.5%3.5%3.3%59.5%62.9%67.0%
January 20234.8%4.4%4.0%58.7%61.4%65.6%
February 20234.0%3.7%3.9%59.3%62.0%67.0%
March 20234.4%4.2%3.8%60.9%63.9%66.9%
April 20234.2%3.9%3.8%59.9%62.7%66.6%
May 20234.1%4.2%3.5%59.8%62.9%67.1%
June 20233.8%3.6%3.4%59.0%61.9%66.8%
July 20234.8%5.0%3.6%58.9%61.6%66.5%
August 20234.9%4.9%3.7%59.1%62.0%66.4%
September 20234.5%4.3%3.5%59.7%62.3%66.2%
October 20234.0%4.0%3.6%58.6%61.2%66.6%
November 20233.7%3.5%3.6%58.8%61.6%67.1%
December 20233.6%3.3%3.8%59.7%62.6%67.1%
January 20244.8%4.9%4.5%58.0%60.7%65.7%
February 20244.6%4.4%4.0%58.8%61.4%67.3%
March 20243.9%3.7%4.1%58.8%61.4%66.9%
April 20244.1%3.9%4.2%58.6%61.2%66.8%
May 20244.1%4.0%3.9%58.9%61.7%67.1%
June 20243.7%3.6%3.9%58.1%60.8%66.9%
July 20244.7%4.7%4.1%57.3%60.0%67.0%
August 20245.2%5.0%4.1%57.6%60.5%66.7%
September 20244.2%4.1%3.9%57.7%60.4%66.8%
October 20244.2%4.0%3.9%57.2%59.7%66.9%
November 20243.8%3.6%3.6%57.4%60.2%67.0%
December 20243.9%4.0%3.8%57.9%60.9%67.5%
January 20254.0%3.8%4.5%58.1%61.0%66.6%
February 20254.5%4.1%4.4%57.6%60.2%67.2%
March 20253.8%3.9%4.3%58.2%61.0%67.0%
April 20253.8%3.5%4.1%57.7%60.3%67.1%
May 20254.0%4.0%4.0%58.6%61.5%67.4%
June 20254.0%3.6%4.2%58.2%60.9%67.1%
July 20254.4%4.2%4.2%58.2%61.0%66.9%
August 20253.8%3.7%4.3%58.1%61.1%66.4%
September 20254.6%4.6%4.3%58.6%61.6%66.7%
October 20254.0%3.8%4.2%58.3%61.2%66.7%
November 20254.0%3.8%4.0%58.2%61.1%66.8%
December 20254.4%4.2%3.9%58.2%61.3%67.1%
January 20265.0%5.3%4.5%57.2%60.1%66.1%
February 20264.8%4.7%4.6%58.3%61.1%67.4%
March 20264.6%4.6%4.5%58.2%60.9%67.1%
April 20265.0%4.8%4.6%57.6%60.1%66.7%
May 20265.2%5.5%4.3%57.8%60.8%67.0%
June 20264.4%4.7%4.3%57.6%60.6%67.1%
July 20265.3%5.5%4.4%57.3%61.0%66.7%
August 20265.5%5.3%4.6%56.7%60.1%66.6%
September 20265.2%5.1%4.6%56.3%59.6%66.5%
Employed people as an index, January 2019 = 100, and youth unemployment
MonthEmployed people, index, West and North WestEmployed people, index, TasmaniaEmployed people, index, AustraliaYouth unemployment rate (15–24), West and North West
January 2019100.0100.0100.017.1%
February 2019101.7101.8101.716.6%
March 2019101.0101.2101.516.3%
April 2019102.1102.3101.914.7%
May 2019101.7102.1102.513.8%
June 2019101.3101.7102.315.0%
July 2019101.1101.6102.214.7%
August 2019101.1101.7102.114.7%
September 2019102.1102.6102.613.8%
October 2019102.5103.1102.312.8%
November 2019103.7104.6103.013.4%
December 2019105.1106.2103.812.9%
January 2020102.8104.9101.614.5%
February 2020105.2107.5103.412.3%
March 2020104.4106.2103.012.1%
April 2020101.7103.298.313.8%
May 202098.398.996.614.9%
June 2020100.4101.098.115.2%
July 2020102.1103.398.815.3%
August 2020103.3104.699.515.4%
September 2020102.4103.499.517.9%
October 2020102.5103.6100.717.9%
November 2020104.1105.2101.917.7%
December 2020104.8106.3102.817.0%
January 2021104.4105.8100.716.7%
February 2021106.8108.7103.114.9%
March 2021107.2109.0103.314.1%
April 2021107.0108.4103.113.9%
May 2021107.9109.2104.512.5%
June 2021108.0109.8104.311.1%
July 2021107.7109.9104.111.8%
August 2021107.4109.3102.713.2%
September 2021108.0109.9101.912.2%
October 2021108.1109.8101.712.2%
November 2021108.9110.9105.112.2%
December 2021109.3111.8106.39.9%
January 2022107.3109.4104.210.1%
February 2022111.0113.5107.09.5%
March 2022109.8112.1106.810.3%
April 2022109.4111.5107.09.0%
May 2022110.4112.5108.19.7%
June 2022109.2111.4108.59.4%
July 2022110.5111.2108.29.2%
August 2022109.9110.6108.311.1%
September 2022111.7112.5108.69.7%
October 2022111.9113.2109.19.6%
November 2022113.8115.4110.28.6%
December 2022114.0115.4110.77.8%
January 2023110.9111.7108.110.6%
February 2023112.9113.8110.89.0%
March 2023115.5116.7111.29.8%
April 2023114.0115.0110.89.4%
May 2023113.8114.8112.39.1%
June 2023112.6113.8112.08.7%
July 2023111.3111.7111.711.1%
August 2023111.6112.4111.711.3%
September 2023113.2113.8112.010.5%
October 2023111.7112.2112.69.7%
November 2023112.5113.6113.69.3%
December 2023114.4115.6113.79.1%
January 2024109.9110.5110.711.9%
February 2024111.8112.5114.111.4%
March 2024112.5113.2113.69.8%
April 2024112.0112.6113.59.8%
May 2024112.6113.5114.59.6%
June 2024111.6112.4114.48.5%
July 2024108.9109.6114.410.4%
August 2024108.9110.2114.111.3%
September 2024110.1111.3114.89.0%
October 2024109.3110.2114.98.8%
November 2024110.3111.6115.78.1%
December 2024111.2112.5116.68.3%
January 2025111.6112.9114.38.7%
February 2025110.3111.4115.89.5%
March 2025112.2113.2115.88.2%
April 2025111.3112.3116.28.0%
May 2025112.9114.2116.98.3%
June 2025112.1113.5116.48.4%
July 2025111.7113.0116.39.0%
August 2025112.3113.8115.67.7%
September 2025112.4113.8116.19.1%
October 2025112.6114.0116.57.8%
November 2025112.4113.9116.97.7%
December 2025112.1113.8117.88.3%
January 2026109.4110.5115.49.7%
February 2026111.9113.2117.89.6%
March 2026112.0113.0117.79.3%
April 2026110.6111.4117.010.1%
May 2026110.9111.9118.010.4%
June 2026111.4112.6118.49.1%
July 2026109.9112.4117.711.1%
August 2026108.4111.1117.511.7%
September 2026108.1110.4117.411.3%

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 West and North West, from Jobs and Skills Australia's monthly nowcast, to September 2026.

Figure 4.1: Largest occupations by estimated employment, West and North West, September 2026The 10 occupations with the most people employed in September 2026, of an estimated 55,710 people employed in the West and North West across all occupations. The table adds September 2025 and the change. 4 of the West and North West's 10 largest occupations are in national shortage.
Aged and Disabled Carers: 2,999Aged and Disabled Carers2,999Sales Assistants (General): 2,615Sales Assistants (General)2,615Metal Fitters and Machinists: 1,262Metal Fitters and Machinists1,262Registered Nurses: 1,209Registered Nurses1,209Commercial Cleaners: 1,178Commercial Cleaners1,178Livestock Farmers: 1,164Livestock Farmers1,164Truck Drivers: 1,133Truck Drivers1,133General Clerks: 879General Clerks879Kitchenhands: 834Kitchenhands834Education Aides: 726Education Aides726

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

Show the numbers
Largest occupations by estimated employment, West and North West, September 2026
OccupationPeople employed, September 2026September 2025ChangeNational shortage, 2026
Aged and Disabled Carers2,9992,876+4.3%Shortage
Sales Assistants (General)2,6152,803−6.7%
Metal Fitters and Machinists1,2621,184+6.6%Shortage
Registered Nurses1,2091,142+5.9%Shortage
Commercial Cleaners1,1781,093+7.8%
Livestock Farmers1,1641,136+2.5%
Truck Drivers1,1331,188−4.6%Shortage
General Clerks879921−4.6%
Kitchenhands834773+7.9%
Education Aides726728−0.3%
Figure 4.2: Fastest growing and shrinking occupations by estimated employment, West and North West, 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.
Cafe and Restaurant Managers: +21.2%Cafe and Restaurant Managers+21.2%Gardeners: +19.3%Gardeners+19.3%Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teachers: +19.0%Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teachers+19.0%Fitness Instructors: +17.4%Fitness Instructors+17.4%Delivery Drivers: +16.4%Delivery Drivers+16.4%Meat, Poultry and Seafood Process Workers: −18.7%Meat, Poultry and Seafood Process Workers−18.7%Earthmoving Plant Operators: −21.5%Earthmoving Plant Operators−21.5%Shelf Fillers: −21.9%Shelf Fillers−21.9%Forklift Drivers: −23.8%Forklift Drivers−23.8%Police: −24.8%Police−24.8%

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[6].

Show the numbers
Fastest growing and shrinking occupations by estimated employment, West and North West, September 2025 to September 2026
OccupationPeople employed, September 2026September 2025Change
Cafe and Restaurant Managers252208+21.2%
Gardeners607509+19.3%
Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teachers238200+19.0%
Fitness Instructors277236+17.4%
Delivery Drivers320275+16.4%
Meat, Poultry and Seafood Process Workers235289−18.7%
Earthmoving Plant Operators365465−21.5%
Shelf Fillers253324−21.9%
Forklift Drivers288378−23.8%
Police200266−24.8%
Figure 4.3: People employed in the largest occupations, West and North West, 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.
  • Aged and Disabled Carers
  • Sales Assistants (General)
  • Metal Fitters and Machinists
  • Registered Nurses
  • Commercial Cleaners
01k2k3kSep 2022Sep 2024Sep 2026Aged and Disabled CarersAged and Disabled Carers, Sep 2021: 2,128Aged and Disabled Carers, Sep 2026: 2,9992,999Sales Assistants (General)Sales Assistants (General), Sep 2021: 2,743Sales Assistants (General), Sep 2026: 2,6152,615Metal Fitters and MachinistsMetal Fitters and Machinists, Sep 2021: 969Metal Fitters and Machinists, Sep 2026: 1,2621,262Registered NursesRegistered Nurses, Sep 2021: 1,037Registered Nurses, Sep 2026: 1,2091,209Commercial CleanersCommercial Cleaners, Sep 2021: 787Commercial Cleaners, Sep 2026: 1,1781,178

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[6].

Show the numbers
People employed in the largest occupations, West and North West, September 2021 to September 2026
MonthAged and Disabled CarersSales Assistants (General)Metal Fitters and MachinistsRegistered NursesCommercial Cleaners
September 20212,1282,7439691,037787
September 20222,3182,894880947821
September 20232,2602,8911,0361,053853
September 20242,5372,8201,0331,105933
September 20252,8762,8031,1841,1421,093
September 20262,9992,6151,2621,2091,178

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 West and North West, 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, West and North WestPeople in employment services at each snapshot, November 2024 to June 2026.
3.6k3.8k4k4.2kMar 2025Aug 2025Jan 2026Jun 2026West and North WestWest and North West, Jun 2026: 4,1404,140

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, West and North West, against Tasmania and AustraliaShare of people in employment services who had been in services for 12 months or more, and in the West and North West for 24 months or more, November 2024 to June 2026.
  • West and North West, 12 months or more
  • West and North West, 24 months or more
  • Tasmania, 12 months or more
  • Australia, 12 months or more
40%50%60%70%Mar 2025Aug 2025Jan 2026Jun 2026West and North West, 12 months or moreWest and North West, 12 months or more, Jun 2026: 69.4%69.4%West and North West, 24 months or moreWest and North West, 24 months or more, Jun 2026: 48.6%48.6%Tasmania, 12 months or moreTasmania, 12 months or more, Jun 2026: 69.0%69.0%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, West and North West, 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, West and North WestIn services 12 months or more, West and North WestIn services 24 months or more, West and North WestIn services 12 months or more, TasmaniaIn services 12 months or more, Australia
November 20243,77063.9%45.9%65.0%60.8%
December 20243,82563.5%45.4%64.5%60.7%
January 20253,89564.1%45.4%64.5%60.5%
February 20253,95063.8%44.9%64.2%60.3%
March 20254,01563.9%44.2%64.5%60.3%
April 20254,00065.0%44.1%65.0%60.5%
May 20254,07064.9%43.7%65.6%60.7%
June 20254,04565.5%44.0%66.3%61.3%
July 20254,09066.6%44.1%66.6%61.7%
August 20254,11067.3%44.5%67.2%62.2%
September 20254,14067.2%45.0%67.5%62.4%
October 20254,12567.6%45.8%67.8%62.7%
November 20254,12067.4%45.6%67.5%62.5%
December 20254,13567.5%45.7%67.7%62.6%
January 20264,19067.4%45.8%67.9%62.7%
February 20264,17068.6%46.9%68.5%63.1%
March 20264,14569.0%47.8%68.9%63.4%
April 20264,13069.1%48.2%68.8%63.8%
May 20264,09069.3%48.4%68.8%64.2%
June 20264,14069.4%48.6%69.0%64.4%
Figure 5.3: People in employment services by age group, West and North West, June 2026The 5 age groups at the latest snapshot; the table adds each group's share of all people in employment services.
Under 25: 1,050Under 251,05025–34: 93525–3493535–44: 74535–4474545–54: 69045–5469055 and over: 71055 and over710

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

Show the numbers
People in employment services by age group, West and North West, June 2026
Age groupPeopleShare
Under 251,05025%
25–3493523%
35–4474518%
45–5469017%
55 and over71017%
Figure 5.4: People in employment services by allowance group, West and North West, June 2026The 3 allowance groups at the latest snapshot; the table adds each group's share of all people in employment services.
JobSeeker Payment: 3,045JobSeeker Payment3,045Youth Allowance (other): 650Youth Allowance (other)650Other: 445Other445

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

Show the numbers
People in employment services by allowance group, West and North West, June 2026
Allowance groupPeopleShare
JobSeeker Payment3,04574%
Youth Allowance (other)65016%
Other44511%

6 Jobs on ViewJobs now

Live job ads on ViewJobs in the North West and the West Coast, ViewJobs regions whose towns all sit in this ABS area.

Live jobs on ViewJobs in these regions
202
ViewJobs, 29 Oct 2026[9]
Figure 6.1: Live jobs on ViewJobs by classification, North West and West CoastThe 8 classifications with the most live ads, as of 29 Oct 2026.
Healthcare & Medical: 61Healthcare & Medical61Community Services & Development: 27Community Services & Development27Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics: 25Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics25Retail & Consumer Products: 21Retail & Consumer Products21Trades & Services: 10Trades & Services10Hospitality & Tourism: 9Hospitality & Tourism9Engineering: 8Engineering8Farming, Animals & Conservation: 6Farming, Animals & Conservation6

Source: ViewJobs live ads[9].

Show the numbers
Live jobs on ViewJobs by classification, North West and West Coast
ClassificationLive jobs
Healthcare & Medical61
Community Services & Development27
Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics25
Retail & Consumer Products21
Trades & Services10
Hospitality & Tourism9
Engineering8
Farming, Animals & Conservation6

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, West and North West, 2021–22 to 2023–24 (ATO)Average salary and wages per earner, 2021–22 to 2023–24 income years (ATO), against Tasmania and Australia.
  • West and North West
  • Tasmania
  • Australia
$55k$60k$65k$70k$75k$80k2021–222022–232023–24West and North WestWest and North West, 2021–22: $57,753West and North West, 2022–23: $60,475West and North West, 2023–24: $63,952$63,952TasmaniaTasmania, 2021–22: $58,688Tasmania, 2022–23: $61,825Tasmania, 2023–24: $65,461$65,461AustraliaAustralia, 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, West and North West, 2021–22 to 2023–24 (ATO)
Income yearWest and North WestTasmaniaAustralia
2021–22$57,753$58,688$69,980
2022–23$60,475$61,825$73,647
2023–24$63,952$65,461$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 West and North West's job market, each with its period and source.

How many jobs are advertised in the West and North West?

649 online job ads a month were placed in the West and North West, on average, in the three months to September 2026.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Is the West and North West's job market growing or shrinking?

Growing: online job ads in the West and North West were up 7.3% on a year earlier, from 605 to 649 a month in the three months to September 2026. Over the same year, ads were down 4.3% across Tasmania and up 0.6% across Australia.

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

Which jobs are most in demand in the West and North West?

Medical practitioners and nurses had the most online ads, 67 a month in the three months to September 2026, followed by carers and aides (46) and general-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists (41). Among occupation groups with at least 5 ads a month a year earlier and now, ads for construction trades rose fastest, up 116.7%.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

What is the unemployment rate in the West and North West?

The unemployment rate in the West and North West was 5.2% in September 2026, against 5.1% across Tasmania. A year earlier it was 4.6%. 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 West and North West?

Yes. Unemployment in the West and North West was up 0.6 points on a year earlier in September 2026, at 5.2% against 4.6% (ABS modelled estimates). Across Tasmania it was up 0.5 points.

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

What are the biggest occupations in the West and North West?

An estimated 2,999 of the 55,710 people employed in the West and North West in September 2026 worked as Aged and Disabled Carers, the largest occupation there. Next were Sales Assistants (General), with 2,615 people, and Metal Fitters and Machinists, with 1,262 people. These are Jobs and Skills Australia's experimental nowcast estimates.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[6].

Which occupations are growing fastest in the West and North West?

Among occupations with at least 200 people employed in both September 2025 and September 2026, Cafe and Restaurant Managers grew fastest in the West and North West, up 21.2% to an estimated 252 people employed, followed by Gardeners (up 19.3%) and Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teachers (up 19.0%). 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 West and North West?

4,140 people in the West and North West were in Workforce Australia employment services at 30 June 2026, up 2.3% on a year earlier. 69.4% 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 West and North West been in Workforce Australia employment services?

At 30 June 2026, 69.4% had been in employment services for 12 months or more, and 48.6% for two years or more, against 69.0% and 48.8% across Tasmania.

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

How many jobs are on ViewJobs in the West and North West?

At least 202 jobs are live on ViewJobs in the West and North West, as of 29 Oct 2026. They are the ads in the North West and the West Coast, ViewJobs regions whose towns all sit in the area. The most advertised are Healthcare & Medical (61), Community Services & Development (27) and Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics (25).

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 West and North West here is ABS SA4 604 West and North West. 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). West and North West job market report, data to September 2026. https://www.viewjobs.com.au/job-market/tas/west-and-north-west

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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