ViewJobs
Sign In

Job market report

Warrnambool and South 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 Warrnambool and South 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 217 Warrnambool and South West
Sources
JSA, ABS, DEWR, ATO and ViewJobs

Key findings

  1. Growing: online job ads in Warrnambool and South West were up 3.4% on a year earlier, from 736 to 761 a month in the three months to September 2026.

    Over the same year, ads were up 0.1% across Victoria and up 0.6% across Australia.[1][2]

    Section 1: Job ads and demand →

  2. Medical practitioners and nurses had the most online ads, 66 a month in the three months to September 2026, followed by carers and aides (62) and sales assistants and salespersons (50).

    Among occupation groups with at least 5 ads a month a year earlier and now, ads for electrotechnology and telecommunications trades rose fastest, up 85.7%.[1]

    Section 2: Which jobs are in demand →

  3. The unemployment rate in Warrnambool and South West was 3.0% in September 2026, against 5.0% across Victoria.

    A year earlier it was 2.8%. These are the ABS's modelled estimates for the month, not seasonally adjusted.[3][4]

    Section 3: Unemployment and participation, monthly →

  4. 3,355 people in Warrnambool and South West were in Workforce Australia employment services at 30 June 2026, up 7.5% on a year earlier.

    67.7% of them had been in employment services for 12 months or more.[5]

    Section 5: Job seekers in employment services →
Unemployment rate
3.0%
ABS, September 2026 · up 0.2 points on September 2025[3]
Employed people
65,059
ABS, September 2026 · down 0.6% since September 2025[3]
Online job ads a month
761
JSA, September 2026 · up 3.4% since September 2025[1]
People in Workforce Australia employment services
3,355
DEWR, June 2026 · up 7.5% 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.

Warrnambool and South West
+3.4%
761 ads a month[1]
Victoria
+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, Warrnambool and South WestThree-month average, October 2023 to September 2026.
6008001k1.2k1.4kJan 2024Sep 2024May 2025Jan 2026Sep 2026Warrnambool and South WestWarrnambool and South West, Sep 2026: 761761

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Show the numbers
Online job ads a month, Warrnambool and South West
MonthOnline job ads a month
October 20231,238
November 20231,210
December 20231,121
January 20241,110
February 20241,085
March 20241,106
April 20241,035
May 2024996
June 2024906
July 2024828
August 2024773
September 2024777
October 2024781
November 2024754
December 2024677
January 2025662
February 2025640
March 2025702
April 2025662
May 2025680
June 2025671
July 2025722
August 2025717
September 2025736
October 2025731
November 2025726
December 2025653
January 2026658
February 2026657
March 2026729
April 2026675
May 2026666
June 2026660
July 2026716
August 2026748
September 2026761

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, Warrnambool and South 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.
Food trades: +23.8%Food trades+23.8%Automotive and engineering trades: +21.7%Automotive and engineering trades+21.7%Other labourers: +17.6%Other labourers+17.6%Hospitality, retail and service managers: +15.4%Hospitality, retail and service managers+15.4%Sales assistants and salespersons: +13.6%Sales assistants and salespersons+13.6%Legal, social and welfare professionals: +12.1%Legal, social and welfare professionals+12.1%Other clerical and administrative workers: +11.5%Other clerical and administrative workers+11.5%Medical practitioners and nurses: +4.8%Medical practitioners and nurses+4.8%Health and welfare support workers: 0.0%Health and welfare support workers0.0%General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists: −9.3%General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists−9.3%Carers and aides: −13.9%Carers and aides−13.9%Health diagnostic and therapy professionals: −23.1%Health diagnostic and therapy professionals−23.1%

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Show the numbers
Change in online job ads by occupation, Warrnambool and South West
Occupation groupAds a month, September 2026A year earlierChange
Medical practitioners and nurses6663+4.8%
Carers and aides6272−13.9%
Sales assistants and salespersons5044+13.6%
General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists4954−9.3%
Legal, social and welfare professionals3733+12.1%
Hospitality, retail and service managers3026+15.4%
Health diagnostic and therapy professionals3039−23.1%
Other clerical and administrative workers2926+11.5%
Automotive and engineering trades2823+21.7%
Food trades2621+23.8%
Health and welfare support workers23230.0%
Other labourers2017+17.6%
Drivers and storepersons1915+26.7%
Farm, forestry and garden workers1914+35.7%
Numerical clerks1611+45.5%
Cleaners and laundry workers1613+23.1%
Corporate managers15150.0%
Engineering, ICT and science technicians15150.0%
Hospitality workers1412+16.7%
Business, finance and human resource professionals1318−27.8%
Electrotechnology and telecommunications trades137+85.7%
Sports, travel and personal service workers129+33.3%
Construction, production and distribution managers1112−8.3%
Construction trades1011−9.1%
Sales representatives and agents1011−9.1%
Machine and stationary plant operators106+66.7%
Mobile plant operators108+25.0%
Engineers95+80.0%
Health, education, ICT and other managers87+14.3%
Education professionals711−36.4%
Office managers, administrators and secretaries711−36.4%
Sales support workers69−33.3%
Factory process workers67−14.3%
Food preparation assistants68−25.0%
ICT professionals57−28.6%
Sales, marketing & public relations professionals550.0%
Science professionals and veterinarians550.0%
Skilled animal and horticultural workers550.0%
Hairdressers, printing, clothing and wood trades5fewer than 5n/a
Jewellers, arts and other trades workers550.0%
Construction and mining labourers550.0%
Farmers and farm managersfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Information professionalsfewer than 56n/a
Transport and design professionals, and architectsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Chief executives, managing directors & legislatorsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Arts and media professionalsfewer 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 Warrnambool and South West, from the ABS's Regional Labour Force, to September 2026.

Figure 3.1: Unemployment rate, Warrnambool and South West, from January 2019Share of the labour force unemployed each month, January 2019 to September 2026, against Victoria and Australia.
  • Warrnambool and South West
  • Victoria
  • Australia
2%4%6%8%May 2020Dec 2021Jul 2023Feb 2025Sep 2026Warrnambool and South WestWarrnambool and South West, Sep 2026: 3.0%3.0%VictoriaVictoria, Sep 2026: 5.0%5.0%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, Warrnambool and South West, from January 2019Share of people aged 15 and over in the labour force each month, January 2019 to September 2026, against Victoria and Australia.
  • Warrnambool and South West
  • Victoria
  • Australia
57.5%60%62.5%65%67.5%70%Sep 2019Jun 2021Mar 2023Dec 2024Sep 2026Warrnambool and South WestWarrnambool and South West, Sep 2026: 62.3%62.3%VictoriaVictoria, Sep 2026: 67.3%67.3%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, Warrnambool and South West, indexed to January 2019 = 100Employed people each month as an index, January 2019 = 100, against Victoria and Australia, so places of different size share one scale.
  • Warrnambool and South West
  • Victoria
  • Australia

Index (Jan 2019 = 100)

90100110120Jan 2020Sep 2021May 2023Jan 2025Sep 2026Warrnambool and South WestWarrnambool and South West, Sep 2026: 101.2101.2VictoriaVictoria, Sep 2026: 115.7115.7AustraliaAustralia, 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, Warrnambool and South 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%Jan 2020Sep 2021May 2023Jan 2025Sep 2026Aged 15–24Aged 15–24, Sep 2026: 8.0%8.0%All agesAll ages, Sep 2026: 3.0%3.0%

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Show the numbers below
Numbers for Figures 3.1 to 3.4: Labour force each month, Warrnambool and South 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, Warrnambool and South WestUnemployment rate, VictoriaUnemployment rate, AustraliaParticipation rate, Warrnambool and South WestParticipation rate, VictoriaParticipation rate, Australia
January 20193.7%5.0%5.4%64.3%65.5%65.1%
February 20193.5%5.1%5.4%65.1%66.8%66.1%
March 20193.4%4.9%5.4%65.0%66.2%65.8%
April 20193.2%5.0%5.3%65.0%66.0%65.9%
May 20192.9%4.5%5.1%65.2%66.2%66.1%
June 20193.0%4.6%5.1%65.2%66.0%65.9%
July 20193.1%4.8%5.2%64.0%65.9%65.8%
August 20193.2%4.9%5.3%64.1%66.0%65.7%
September 20193.1%4.6%5.1%64.2%66.0%65.8%
October 20193.0%4.5%5.1%64.3%65.9%65.5%
November 20193.0%4.3%4.8%64.7%66.2%65.7%
December 20193.1%4.8%4.8%65.5%67.2%66.2%
January 20203.7%5.8%5.7%61.5%66.4%65.2%
February 20203.5%5.7%5.5%62.0%67.0%66.2%
March 20203.7%5.4%5.5%62.0%66.5%65.8%
April 20203.7%6.1%6.4%60.1%64.3%63.4%
May 20204.0%6.6%6.9%59.7%63.6%62.5%
June 20204.1%7.1%7.2%60.2%64.3%63.8%
July 20203.9%6.7%7.3%59.9%64.1%64.3%
August 20204.0%7.1%6.8%59.3%63.2%64.4%
September 20204.0%6.5%6.7%59.0%62.2%64.4%
October 20203.8%6.8%6.7%60.1%64.0%65.1%
November 20203.8%6.7%6.3%61.2%65.6%65.6%
December 20203.7%6.3%6.2%61.6%66.2%66.1%
January 20213.9%6.9%6.8%61.3%65.9%65.1%
February 20213.9%6.1%6.3%62.2%66.9%66.3%
March 20213.7%6.4%6.0%62.0%66.9%66.2%
April 20213.5%5.6%5.6%61.7%66.1%65.7%
May 20213.1%4.7%5.0%62.0%66.4%66.2%
June 20212.7%4.3%4.9%61.5%65.8%66.0%
July 20212.9%4.4%4.7%61.6%66.1%65.7%
August 20212.8%4.0%4.6%61.8%66.1%64.7%
September 20213.0%4.6%4.6%60.8%64.2%64.2%
October 20213.0%5.3%5.0%60.5%63.9%64.3%
November 20212.7%4.4%4.3%62.1%66.5%65.9%
December 20212.7%4.2%4.0%62.7%67.3%66.4%
January 20223.0%4.5%4.5%61.8%66.0%65.2%
February 20223.0%4.5%4.4%62.7%67.6%66.8%
March 20222.9%4.3%4.2%62.4%67.0%66.4%
April 20222.8%4.4%3.9%62.4%67.1%66.2%
May 20222.5%3.7%3.9%62.5%66.9%66.7%
June 20222.3%3.1%3.5%62.5%66.9%66.6%
July 20222.5%3.1%3.4%61.7%66.3%66.2%
August 20222.4%3.8%3.5%61.7%66.5%66.2%
September 20222.5%3.4%3.5%61.7%66.2%66.2%
October 20222.5%3.5%3.3%62.0%66.3%66.2%
November 20222.4%3.4%3.3%62.6%67.1%66.8%
December 20222.4%3.5%3.3%62.7%67.0%67.0%
January 20232.8%4.5%4.0%61.7%65.8%65.6%
February 20232.8%4.1%3.9%63.2%67.8%67.0%
March 20232.6%3.9%3.8%63.2%67.9%66.9%
April 20232.7%4.0%3.8%62.6%67.2%66.6%
May 20232.5%3.7%3.5%63.1%67.8%67.1%
June 20232.3%3.5%3.4%62.9%67.5%66.8%
July 20232.4%3.5%3.6%62.6%67.4%66.5%
August 20232.5%3.5%3.7%62.1%66.8%66.4%
September 20232.4%3.4%3.5%62.1%66.7%66.2%
October 20232.4%3.6%3.6%62.7%67.2%66.6%
November 20232.4%3.8%3.6%62.9%67.4%67.1%
December 20232.5%4.0%3.8%62.9%67.5%67.1%
January 20242.7%4.4%4.5%62.1%66.2%65.7%
February 20242.8%4.2%4.0%63.3%68.1%67.3%
March 20242.7%4.3%4.1%63.0%67.6%66.9%
April 20242.7%4.5%4.2%62.8%67.5%66.8%
May 20242.7%4.3%3.9%63.2%68.0%67.1%
June 20242.6%4.3%3.9%63.0%67.8%66.9%
July 20242.6%4.3%4.1%62.9%68.0%67.0%
August 20242.7%4.4%4.1%62.7%67.7%66.7%
September 20242.7%4.3%3.9%63.0%68.0%66.8%
October 20242.6%4.3%3.9%63.1%67.9%66.9%
November 20242.5%3.9%3.6%63.4%67.9%67.0%
December 20242.6%4.4%3.8%63.5%68.3%67.5%
January 20253.1%5.2%4.5%62.8%67.3%66.6%
February 20252.9%5.0%4.4%63.3%68.2%67.2%
March 20252.8%4.6%4.3%63.1%67.8%67.0%
April 20252.7%4.4%4.1%63.2%67.9%67.1%
May 20252.6%4.3%4.0%63.2%67.9%67.4%
June 20252.6%4.3%4.2%63.2%67.9%67.1%
July 20252.7%4.4%4.2%62.6%67.6%66.9%
August 20252.7%4.2%4.3%62.8%67.6%66.4%
September 20252.8%4.7%4.3%62.8%67.8%66.7%
October 20252.7%4.4%4.2%62.8%67.4%66.7%
November 20252.7%4.5%4.0%63.3%68.0%66.8%
December 20252.7%4.5%3.9%63.2%68.0%67.1%
January 20263.0%4.7%4.5%62.5%66.7%66.1%
February 20263.0%5.0%4.6%63.3%68.3%67.4%
March 20263.0%5.0%4.5%62.6%67.2%67.1%
April 20263.0%5.0%4.6%62.5%66.9%66.7%
May 20262.8%4.8%4.3%62.8%67.5%67.0%
June 20262.9%4.9%4.3%62.7%67.7%67.1%
July 20262.9%4.9%4.4%62.6%67.5%66.7%
August 20262.9%4.9%4.6%62.5%67.4%66.6%
September 20263.0%5.0%4.6%62.3%67.3%66.5%
Employed people as an index, January 2019 = 100, and youth unemployment
MonthEmployed people, index, Warrnambool and South WestEmployed people, index, VictoriaEmployed people, index, AustraliaYouth unemployment rate (15–24), Warrnambool and South West
January 2019100.0100.0100.09.8%
February 2019101.6102.0101.79.0%
March 2019101.7101.6101.58.6%
April 2019101.8101.3101.98.0%
May 2019102.6102.2102.56.9%
June 2019102.4101.9102.37.0%
July 2019100.6101.8102.27.1%
August 2019100.8102.0102.17.3%
September 2019101.2102.4102.67.2%
October 2019101.6102.6102.37.0%
November 2019102.3103.4103.07.0%
December 2019103.5104.6103.87.7%
January 202096.8102.3101.69.5%
February 202097.8103.4103.49.2%
March 202097.7103.2103.09.6%
April 202094.799.098.39.6%
May 202093.697.496.610.5%
June 202094.498.098.110.5%
July 202094.197.998.810.1%
August 202093.296.199.510.0%
September 202092.694.999.510.2%
October 202094.597.4100.710.2%
November 202096.299.7101.910.1%
December 202097.0101.0102.89.7%
January 202196.499.9100.710.5%
February 202197.8102.1103.19.9%
March 202197.7101.7103.39.2%
April 202197.5101.4103.18.1%
May 202198.5102.7104.57.0%
June 202198.2102.1104.36.2%
July 202198.1102.5104.16.8%
August 202198.4102.8102.76.9%
September 202196.499.3101.97.8%
October 202195.998.2101.77.9%
November 202198.7103.2105.16.8%
December 202199.7104.8106.36.7%
January 202298.1102.7104.27.2%
February 202299.7105.4107.07.0%
March 202299.4104.9106.86.7%
April 202299.5105.1107.06.4%
May 2022100.0105.6108.15.4%
June 2022100.3106.4108.54.8%
July 202298.9105.7108.25.1%
August 202299.0105.5108.35.1%
September 202298.8105.7108.65.1%
October 202299.5106.1109.15.0%
November 2022100.5107.7110.24.7%
December 2022100.8107.9110.75.0%
January 202398.7105.1108.16.0%
February 2023101.3109.1110.85.9%
March 2023101.6109.9111.25.4%
April 2023100.6108.8110.85.8%
May 2023101.6110.3112.35.2%
June 2023101.5110.4112.05.0%
July 2023101.0110.5111.75.6%
August 2023100.3109.7111.75.9%
September 2023100.5110.0112.05.6%
October 2023101.5110.9112.65.8%
November 2023101.7111.1113.66.1%
December 2023101.7111.4113.76.4%
January 2024100.2109.1110.77.1%
February 2024102.2112.7114.17.3%
March 2024101.9112.0113.67.1%
April 2024101.5111.8113.56.9%
May 2024102.1112.9114.56.9%
June 2024101.8112.8114.46.4%
July 2024101.6113.3114.46.4%
August 2024101.2113.0114.16.6%
September 2024101.8113.7114.86.5%
October 2024102.0113.6114.96.1%
November 2024102.5114.3115.75.8%
December 2024102.7114.5116.65.9%
January 2025101.1112.2114.37.0%
February 2025102.2114.1115.86.5%
March 2025102.1114.1115.86.1%
April 2025102.4114.6116.25.9%
May 2025102.4114.8116.95.7%
June 2025102.5115.0116.45.6%
July 2025101.4114.6116.35.8%
August 2025101.7115.0115.65.8%
September 2025101.8115.0116.16.1%
October 2025101.9114.8116.55.8%
November 2025102.7115.9116.96.0%
December 2025102.5116.0117.86.1%
January 2026101.2113.8115.47.0%
February 2026102.6116.4117.87.5%
March 2026101.6114.7117.77.7%
April 2026101.3114.3117.08.1%
May 2026102.0115.7118.07.3%
June 2026101.8116.1118.47.6%
July 2026101.6115.9117.77.6%
August 2026101.5115.9117.57.8%
September 2026101.2115.7117.48.0%

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

Figure 4.1: Largest occupations by estimated employment, Warrnambool and South West, September 2026The 10 occupations with the most people employed in September 2026, of an estimated 65,731 people employed in Warrnambool and South West across all occupations. The table adds September 2025 and the change. 3 of Warrnambool and South West's 10 largest occupations are in national shortage.
Sales Assistants (General): 3,353Sales Assistants (General)3,353Livestock Farmers: 2,491Livestock Farmers2,491Aged and Disabled Carers: 2,458Aged and Disabled Carers2,458Registered Nurses: 1,772Registered Nurses1,772Truck Drivers: 1,706Truck Drivers1,706Livestock Farm Workers: 1,481Livestock Farm Workers1,481Retail Managers: 1,304Retail Managers1,304General Clerks: 1,167General Clerks1,167Bookkeepers: 1,161Bookkeepers1,161Purchasing and Supply Logistics Clerks: 1,155Purchasing and Supply Logistics Clerks1,155

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

Show the numbers
Largest occupations by estimated employment, Warrnambool and South West, September 2026
OccupationPeople employed, September 2026September 2025ChangeNational shortage, 2026
Sales Assistants (General)3,3533,334+0.6%
Livestock Farmers2,4912,984−16.5%
Aged and Disabled Carers2,4582,178+12.9%Shortage
Registered Nurses1,7721,891−6.3%Shortage
Truck Drivers1,7061,699+0.4%Shortage
Livestock Farm Workers1,4811,485−0.3%
Retail Managers1,3041,332−2.1%
General Clerks1,1671,101+6.0%
Bookkeepers1,1611,007+15.3%
Purchasing and Supply Logistics Clerks1,155928+24.5%
Figure 4.2: Fastest growing and shrinking occupations by estimated employment, Warrnambool and South 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.
Purchasing and Supply Logistics Clerks: +24.5%Purchasing and Supply Logistics Clerks+24.5%Accounting Clerks: +24.4%Accounting Clerks+24.4%Human Resource Professionals: +20.0%Human Resource Professionals+20.0%Shearers: +17.0%Shearers+17.0%Bookkeepers: +15.3%Bookkeepers+15.3%Engineering Production Workers: −8.8%Engineering Production Workers−8.8%Metal Fitters and Machinists: −9.1%Metal Fitters and Machinists−9.1%Nursing Support and Personal Care Workers: −9.3%Nursing Support and Personal Care Workers−9.3%Livestock Farmers: −16.5%Livestock Farmers−16.5%Hairdressers: −21.2%Hairdressers−21.2%

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[6].

Show the numbers
Fastest growing and shrinking occupations by estimated employment, Warrnambool and South West, September 2025 to September 2026
OccupationPeople employed, September 2026September 2025Change
Purchasing and Supply Logistics Clerks1,155928+24.5%
Accounting Clerks657528+24.4%
Human Resource Professionals601501+20.0%
Shearers234200+17.0%
Bookkeepers1,1611,007+15.3%
Engineering Production Workers281308−8.8%
Metal Fitters and Machinists650715−9.1%
Nursing Support and Personal Care Workers625689−9.3%
Livestock Farmers2,4912,984−16.5%
Hairdressers201255−21.2%
Figure 4.3: People employed in the largest occupations, Warrnambool and South 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.
  • Sales Assistants (General)
  • Livestock Farmers
  • Aged and Disabled Carers
  • Registered Nurses
  • Truck Drivers
02k4k6kSep 2022Sep 2024Sep 2026Sales Assistants (General)Sales Assistants (General), Sep 2021: 2,335Sales Assistants (General), Sep 2026: 3,3533,353Livestock FarmersLivestock Farmers, Sep 2021: 5,868Livestock Farmers, Sep 2026: 2,4912,491Aged and Disabled CarersAged and Disabled Carers, Sep 2021: 1,764Aged and Disabled Carers, Sep 2026: 2,4582,458Registered NursesRegistered Nurses, Sep 2021: 1,278Registered Nurses, Sep 2026: 1,7721,772Truck DriversTruck Drivers, Sep 2021: 1,615Truck Drivers, Sep 2026: 1,7061,706

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[6].

Show the numbers
People employed in the largest occupations, Warrnambool and South West, September 2021 to September 2026
MonthSales Assistants (General)Livestock FarmersAged and Disabled CarersRegistered NursesTruck Drivers
September 20212,3355,8681,7641,2781,615
September 20222,6215,7281,7511,3241,441
September 20232,8555,0601,6321,5481,218
September 20243,1723,7841,8201,7421,410
September 20253,3342,9842,1781,8911,699
September 20263,3532,4912,4581,7721,706

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 Warrnambool and South 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, Warrnambool and South WestPeople in employment services at each snapshot, November 2024 to June 2026.
2.8k3k3.2k3.4kMar 2025Aug 2025Jan 2026Jun 2026Warrnambool and South WestWarrnambool and South West, Jun 2026: 3,3553,355

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, Warrnambool and South West, against Victoria and AustraliaShare of people in employment services who had been in services for 12 months or more, and in Warrnambool and South West for 24 months or more, November 2024 to June 2026.
  • Warrnambool and South West, 12 months or more
  • Warrnambool and South West, 24 months or more
  • Victoria, 12 months or more
  • Australia, 12 months or more
40%50%60%70%Mar 2025Aug 2025Jan 2026Jun 2026Warrnambool and South West, 12 months or moreWarrnambool and South West, 12 months or more, Jun 2026: 67.7%67.7%Warrnambool and South West, 24 months or moreWarrnambool and South West, 24 months or more, Jun 2026: 45.6%45.6%Victoria, 12 months or moreVictoria, 12 months or more, Jun 2026: 61.6%61.6%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, Warrnambool and South 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, Warrnambool and South WestIn services 12 months or more, Warrnambool and South WestIn services 24 months or more, Warrnambool and South WestIn services 12 months or more, VictoriaIn services 12 months or more, Australia
November 20242,89062.8%43.6%56.5%60.8%
December 20242,91062.4%43.3%56.5%60.7%
January 20252,99061.9%42.5%56.3%60.5%
February 20253,05061.6%42.3%56.1%60.3%
March 20253,09061.3%42.4%56.2%60.3%
April 20253,08061.9%41.9%56.6%60.5%
May 20253,11562.1%41.9%56.8%60.7%
June 20253,12062.0%42.0%57.6%61.3%
July 20253,17562.0%41.6%58.0%61.7%
August 20253,17562.4%42.4%58.7%62.2%
September 20253,19062.7%42.3%58.9%62.4%
October 20253,23063.2%42.7%59.2%62.7%
November 20253,23063.3%43.0%59.0%62.5%
December 20253,24063.1%43.1%59.2%62.6%
January 20263,33063.1%42.8%59.4%62.7%
February 20263,34564.4%43.3%59.8%63.1%
March 20263,35065.1%43.7%60.3%63.4%
April 20263,32066.1%44.6%60.7%63.8%
May 20263,34566.7%45.3%61.3%64.2%
June 20263,35567.7%45.6%61.6%64.4%
Figure 5.3: People in employment services by age group, Warrnambool and South 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: 710Under 2571025–34: 76525–3476535–44: 65535–4465545–54: 57045–5457055 and over: 64555 and over645

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

Show the numbers
People in employment services by age group, Warrnambool and South West, June 2026
Age groupPeopleShare
Under 2571021%
25–3476523%
35–4465520%
45–5457017%
55 and over64519%
Figure 5.4: People in employment services by allowance group, Warrnambool and South 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: 2,535JobSeeker Payment2,535Youth Allowance (other): 435Youth Allowance (other)435Other: 385Other385

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

Show the numbers
People in employment services by allowance group, Warrnambool and South West, June 2026
Allowance groupPeopleShare
JobSeeker Payment2,53576%
Youth Allowance (other)43513%
Other38511%

6 Jobs on ViewJobs now

Live job ads on ViewJobs in the Great Ocean Road and the Western Grampians, ViewJobs regions whose towns all sit in this ABS area.

Live jobs on ViewJobs in these regions
428
ViewJobs, 29 Oct 2026[9]
Figure 6.1: Live jobs on ViewJobs by classification, Great Ocean Road and Western GrampiansThe 8 classifications with the most live ads, as of 29 Oct 2026.
Healthcare & Medical: 143Healthcare & Medical143Retail & Consumer Products: 51Retail & Consumer Products51Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics: 45Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics45Community Services & Development: 32Community Services & Development32Education & Training: 27Education & Training27Hospitality & Tourism: 27Hospitality & Tourism27Trades & Services: 19Trades & Services19Sport & Recreation: 12Sport & Recreation12

Source: ViewJobs live ads[9].

Show the numbers
Live jobs on ViewJobs by classification, Great Ocean Road and Western Grampians
ClassificationLive jobs
Healthcare & Medical143
Retail & Consumer Products51
Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics45
Community Services & Development32
Education & Training27
Hospitality & Tourism27
Trades & Services19
Sport & Recreation12

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, Warrnambool and South West, 2021–22 to 2023–24 (ATO)Average salary and wages per earner, 2021–22 to 2023–24 income years (ATO), against Victoria and Australia.
  • Warrnambool and South West
  • Victoria
  • Australia
$50k$60k$70k$80k2021–222022–232023–24Warrnambool and South WestWarrnambool and South West, 2021–22: $56,282Warrnambool and South West, 2022–23: $59,044Warrnambool and South West, 2023–24: $61,133$61,133VictoriaVictoria, 2021–22: $68,898Victoria, 2022–23: $72,396Victoria, 2023–24: $75,049$75,049AustraliaAustralia, 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, Warrnambool and South West, 2021–22 to 2023–24 (ATO)
Income yearWarrnambool and South WestVictoriaAustralia
2021–22$56,282$68,898$69,980
2022–23$59,044$72,396$73,647
2023–24$61,133$75,049$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 Warrnambool and South West's job market, each with its period and source.

How many jobs are advertised in Warrnambool and South West?

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

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Is Warrnambool and South West's job market growing or shrinking?

Growing: online job ads in Warrnambool and South West were up 3.4% on a year earlier, from 736 to 761 a month in the three months to September 2026. Over the same year, ads were up 0.1% across Victoria and up 0.6% across Australia.

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

Which jobs are most in demand in Warrnambool and South West?

Medical practitioners and nurses had the most online ads, 66 a month in the three months to September 2026, followed by carers and aides (62) and sales assistants and salespersons (50). Among occupation groups with at least 5 ads a month a year earlier and now, ads for electrotechnology and telecommunications trades rose fastest, up 85.7%.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

What is the unemployment rate in Warrnambool and South West?

The unemployment rate in Warrnambool and South West was 3.0% in September 2026, against 5.0% across Victoria. A year earlier it was 2.8%. 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 Warrnambool and South West?

Yes. Unemployment in Warrnambool and South West was up 0.2 points on a year earlier in September 2026, at 3.0% against 2.8% (ABS modelled estimates). Across Victoria it was up 0.3 points.

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

What are the biggest occupations in Warrnambool and South West?

An estimated 3,353 of the 65,731 people employed in Warrnambool and South West in September 2026 worked as Sales Assistants (General), the largest occupation there. Next were Livestock Farmers (2,491 people) and Aged and Disabled Carers (2,458 people). These are Jobs and Skills Australia's experimental nowcast estimates.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[6].

Which occupations are growing fastest in Warrnambool and South West?

Among occupations with at least 200 people employed in both September 2025 and September 2026, Purchasing and Supply Logistics Clerks grew fastest in Warrnambool and South West, up 24.5% to an estimated 1,155 people employed, followed by Accounting Clerks (up 24.4%) and Human Resource Professionals (up 20.0%). 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 Warrnambool and South West?

3,355 people in Warrnambool and South West were in Workforce Australia employment services at 30 June 2026, up 7.5% on a year earlier. 67.7% 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 Warrnambool and South West been in Workforce Australia employment services?

At 30 June 2026, 67.7% had been in employment services for 12 months or more, and 45.6% for two years or more, against 61.6% and 38.8% across Victoria.

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

How many jobs are on ViewJobs in Warrnambool and South West?

At least 428 jobs are live on ViewJobs in Warrnambool and South West, as of 29 Oct 2026. They are the ads in the Great Ocean Road and the Western Grampians, ViewJobs regions whose towns all sit in the area. The most advertised are Healthcare & Medical (143), Retail & Consumer Products (51) and Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics (45).

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
Warrnambool and South West here is ABS SA4 217 Warrnambool and South 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). Warrnambool and South West job market report, data to September 2026. https://www.viewjobs.com.au/job-market/vic/warrnambool-and-south-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.

ViewJobs

Across 85+ mastheads