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Job market report

Greater Perth 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 Greater Perth, 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 Greater Capital City Statistical Area 5GPER
Sources
JSA, ABS, DEWR, ATO and ViewJobs

Key findings

  1. Growing: online job ads in Greater Perth were up 8.6% on a year earlier, from 21,363 to 23,190 a month in the three months to September 2026.

    Over the same year, ads were up 7.5% across Western Australia and up 0.6% across Australia.[1][2]

    Section 1: Job ads and demand →

  2. Automotive and engineering trades had the most online ads, 1,756 a month in the three months to September 2026, followed by general-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists (1,443) and sales assistants and salespersons (1,127).

    Among occupation groups with at least 5 ads a month a year earlier and now, ads for clerical and office support workers, couriers rose fastest, up 59.2%.[1]

    Section 2: Which jobs are in demand →

  3. The unemployment rate in Greater Perth was 4.3% in September 2026, against 4.2% across Western Australia.

    A year earlier it was 4.4%. These are the ABS's modelled estimates for the month, not seasonally adjusted.[3][4]

    Section 3: Unemployment and participation, monthly →

  4. At 30 June 2026, 67.9% had been in employment services for 12 months or more, and 47.7% for two years or more, against 68.3% and 48.3% across Western Australia.[5][6]

    Section 5: Job seekers in employment services →
Unemployment rate
4.3%
ViewJobs analysis of ABS, September 2026 · down 0.1 points on September 2025[3][4]
Employed people
1,385,451
ViewJobs analysis of ABS, September 2026 · up 4.0% since September 2025[3][4]
Online job ads a month
23,190
JSA, September 2026 · up 8.6% since September 2025[1]
People in Workforce Australia employment services
65,940
ViewJobs analysis of DEWR, June 2026 · up 4.3% since June 2025[5][6]

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.

Greater Perth
+8.6%
23,190 ads a month[1]
Western Australia
+7.5%
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, Greater PerthThree-month average, October 2023 to September 2026.
18k20k22k24k26k28kJan 2024Sep 2024May 2025Jan 2026Sep 2026Greater PerthGreater Perth, Sep 2026: 23,19023,190

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Show the numbers
Online job ads a month, Greater Perth
MonthOnline job ads a month
October 202326,861
November 202325,729
December 202323,062
January 202422,738
February 202422,823
March 202424,847
April 202423,851
May 202423,984
June 202423,103
July 202422,979
August 202422,399
September 202422,780
October 202423,363
November 202422,208
December 202419,615
January 202518,946
February 202519,131
March 202521,461
April 202520,461
May 202520,735
June 202520,190
July 202521,002
August 202520,769
September 202521,363
October 202521,724
November 202521,205
December 202519,086
January 202618,998
February 202619,613
March 202622,181
April 202621,090
May 202621,102
June 202620,562
July 202621,801
August 202622,343
September 202623,190

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, Greater PerthThe 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: +25.6%Machine and stationary plant operators+25.6%Drivers and storepersons: +25.2%Drivers and storepersons+25.2%Engineers: +19.0%Engineers+19.0%Hospitality, retail and service managers: +16.0%Hospitality, retail and service managers+16.0%Engineering, ICT and science technicians: +14.4%Engineering, ICT and science technicians+14.4%Automotive and engineering trades: +12.3%Automotive and engineering trades+12.3%Sales assistants and salespersons: +10.0%Sales assistants and salespersons+10.0%Electrotechnology and telecommunications trades: +9.5%Electrotechnology and telecommunications trades+9.5%Health diagnostic and therapy professionals: +5.8%Health diagnostic and therapy professionals+5.8%Business, finance and human resource professionals: +3.4%Business, finance and human resource professionals+3.4%Corporate managers: +1.0%Corporate managers+1.0%General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists: −0.9%General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists−0.9%

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Show the numbers
Change in online job ads by occupation, Greater Perth
Occupation groupAds a month, September 2026A year earlierChange
Automotive and engineering trades1,7561,563+12.3%
General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists1,4431,456−0.9%
Sales assistants and salespersons1,1271,025+10.0%
Engineers1,110933+19.0%
Business, finance and human resource professionals918888+3.4%
Drivers and storepersons893713+25.2%
Hospitality, retail and service managers819706+16.0%
Engineering, ICT and science technicians793693+14.4%
Corporate managers770762+1.0%
Health diagnostic and therapy professionals729689+5.8%
Electrotechnology and telecommunications trades727664+9.5%
Machine and stationary plant operators717571+25.6%
Medical practitioners and nurses707663+6.6%
Construction, production and distribution managers682624+9.3%
Other clerical and administrative workers628546+15.0%
Carers and aides617735−16.1%
Other labourers570547+4.2%
Office managers, administrators and secretaries563528+6.6%
Legal, social and welfare professionals562559+0.5%
Numerical clerks561484+15.9%
Mobile plant operators550439+25.3%
Construction trades519492+5.5%
Sales representatives and agents480469+2.3%
Food trades471372+26.6%
ICT professionals420462−9.1%
Construction and mining labourers408317+28.7%
Hospitality workers335244+37.3%
Science professionals and veterinarians271251+8.0%
Cleaners and laundry workers244179+36.3%
Sports, travel and personal service workers2332330.0%
Education professionals221315−29.8%
Sales, marketing & public relations professionals219238−8.0%
Transport and design professionals, and architects212224−5.4%
Information professionals200192+4.2%
Health, education, ICT and other managers194225−13.8%
Health and welfare support workers180223−19.3%
Factory process workers173156+10.9%
Skilled animal and horticultural workers171155+10.3%
Jewellers, arts and other trades workers156142+9.9%
Arts and media professionals137103+33.0%
Hairdressers, printing, clothing and wood trades134126+6.3%
Clerical and office support workers, couriers11371+59.2%
Sales support workers10587+20.7%
Chief executives, managing directors & legislators10378+32.1%
Protective service workers9681+18.5%
Food preparation assistants8469+21.7%
Farm, forestry and garden workers6169−11.6%
Farmers and farm managers13fewer than 5n/a

3 Unemployment and participation, monthly

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

Figure 3.1: Unemployment rate, Greater Perth, from January 2019Share of the labour force unemployed each month, January 2019 to September 2026, against Western Australia and Australia.
  • Greater Perth
  • Western Australia
  • Australia
2%4%6%8%10%Jan 2020Sep 2021May 2023Jan 2025Sep 2026Greater PerthGreater Perth, Sep 2026: 4.3%4.3%Western AustraliaWestern Australia, Sep 2026: 4.2%4.2%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, Greater Perth, from January 2019Share of people aged 15 and over in the labour force each month, January 2019 to September 2026, against Western Australia and Australia.
  • Greater Perth
  • Western Australia
  • Australia
62%64%66%68%70%72%Jan 2020Sep 2021May 2023Jan 2025Sep 2026Greater PerthGreater Perth, Sep 2026: 69.4%69.4%Western AustraliaWestern Australia, Sep 2026: 68.8%68.8%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, Greater Perth, indexed to January 2019 = 100Employed people each month as an index, January 2019 = 100, against Western Australia and Australia, so places of different size share one scale.
  • Greater Perth
  • Western Australia
  • Australia

Index (Jan 2019 = 100)

90100110120130140Jan 2020Sep 2021May 2023Jan 2025Sep 2026Greater PerthGreater Perth, Sep 2026: 130.2130.2Western AustraliaWestern Australia, Sep 2026: 126.9126.9AustraliaAustralia, Sep 2026: 117.4117.4

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

Show the numbers below
Figure 3.4: Youth unemployment (15–24) and all ages, Greater PerthThe 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: 10.2%10.2%All agesAll ages, Sep 2026: 4.3%4.3%

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

Show the numbers below
Numbers for Figures 3.1 to 3.4: Labour force each month, Greater Perth, 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, Greater PerthUnemployment rate, Western AustraliaUnemployment rate, AustraliaParticipation rate, Greater PerthParticipation rate, Western AustraliaParticipation rate, Australia
January 20197.6%7.3%5.4%68.2%68.1%65.1%
February 20196.5%6.3%5.4%68.3%68.2%66.1%
March 20196.7%6.5%5.4%68.2%68.1%65.8%
April 20196.3%6.0%5.3%68.3%68.2%65.9%
May 20196.1%5.9%5.1%68.3%68.3%66.1%
June 20195.5%5.3%5.1%68.3%68.3%65.9%
July 20196.0%5.7%5.2%68.2%68.1%65.8%
August 20195.8%5.7%5.3%68.0%67.9%65.7%
September 20195.8%5.7%5.1%67.7%67.6%65.8%
October 20195.5%5.3%5.1%67.9%67.9%65.5%
November 20195.5%5.4%4.8%68.1%68.1%65.7%
December 20195.3%5.2%4.8%67.8%67.9%66.2%
January 20206.4%6.3%5.7%67.9%67.5%65.2%
February 20205.6%5.5%5.5%68.8%68.4%66.2%
March 20206.0%5.9%5.5%68.6%68.1%65.8%
April 20206.4%6.1%6.4%65.7%65.2%63.4%
May 20208.1%7.7%6.9%65.5%65.0%62.5%
June 20208.5%7.9%7.2%66.6%66.0%63.8%
July 20208.5%8.0%7.3%67.4%66.8%64.3%
August 20207.2%6.8%6.8%67.9%67.3%64.4%
September 20207.0%6.6%6.7%67.7%67.1%64.4%
October 20206.8%6.4%6.7%68.2%67.6%65.1%
November 20206.5%6.1%6.3%68.9%68.3%65.6%
December 20206.4%6.1%6.2%69.0%68.3%66.1%
January 20217.3%6.9%6.8%67.6%67.0%65.1%
February 20216.7%6.4%6.3%68.1%67.6%66.3%
March 20215.5%5.2%6.0%68.7%68.1%66.2%
April 20215.2%5.0%5.6%68.0%67.6%65.7%
May 20214.7%4.6%5.0%68.4%67.8%66.2%
June 20215.0%4.9%4.9%68.6%68.0%66.0%
July 20214.7%4.6%4.7%68.6%68.0%65.7%
August 20214.7%4.5%4.6%69.2%68.6%64.7%
September 20214.2%4.1%4.6%68.8%68.3%64.2%
October 20214.0%3.8%5.0%68.7%68.2%64.3%
November 20213.8%3.7%4.3%69.8%69.2%65.9%
December 20213.4%3.3%4.0%69.9%69.3%66.4%
January 20224.2%4.2%4.5%69.5%68.8%65.2%
February 20224.3%4.2%4.4%70.4%69.7%66.8%
March 20223.7%3.6%4.2%69.9%69.2%66.4%
April 20223.0%3.0%3.9%69.6%68.9%66.2%
May 20223.2%3.1%3.9%69.8%69.2%66.7%
June 20223.3%3.3%3.5%69.5%69.0%66.6%
July 20223.3%3.3%3.4%69.7%68.9%66.2%
August 20223.3%3.3%3.5%69.6%68.9%66.2%
September 20223.5%3.5%3.5%69.2%68.6%66.2%
October 20223.5%3.5%3.3%69.0%68.5%66.2%
November 20223.5%3.4%3.3%69.8%69.2%66.8%
December 20223.4%3.4%3.3%70.1%69.5%67.0%
January 20234.0%3.9%4.0%68.5%67.9%65.6%
February 20234.2%4.2%3.9%69.9%69.2%67.0%
March 20233.6%3.6%3.8%69.6%69.0%66.9%
April 20233.7%3.7%3.8%69.6%69.0%66.6%
May 20233.5%3.5%3.5%69.4%68.8%67.1%
June 20233.6%3.5%3.4%68.3%67.8%66.8%
July 20233.3%3.3%3.6%68.9%68.3%66.5%
August 20233.8%3.8%3.7%69.8%69.1%66.4%
September 20233.3%3.3%3.5%68.9%68.4%66.2%
October 20233.7%3.7%3.6%69.6%69.0%66.6%
November 20233.5%3.5%3.6%70.2%69.6%67.1%
December 20234.0%3.9%3.8%70.1%69.4%67.1%
January 20244.9%4.8%4.5%68.9%68.3%65.7%
February 20243.8%3.8%4.0%70.4%69.8%67.3%
March 20243.6%3.5%4.1%69.9%69.3%66.9%
April 20244.0%4.0%4.2%69.2%68.6%66.8%
May 20243.5%3.5%3.9%70.2%69.5%67.1%
June 20243.8%3.7%3.9%69.3%68.7%66.9%
July 20243.6%3.5%4.1%69.7%69.0%67.0%
August 20244.1%4.1%4.1%69.8%69.1%66.7%
September 20243.6%3.6%3.9%69.2%68.6%66.8%
October 20244.0%3.9%3.9%69.4%68.8%66.9%
November 20243.0%3.0%3.6%69.9%69.3%67.0%
December 20243.1%3.1%3.8%70.4%69.7%67.5%
January 20254.1%4.1%4.5%69.2%68.6%66.6%
February 20253.6%3.6%4.4%70.3%69.7%67.2%
March 20253.8%3.8%4.3%70.0%69.3%67.0%
April 20254.3%4.2%4.1%69.6%69.0%67.1%
May 20253.8%3.8%4.0%70.4%69.7%67.4%
June 20254.1%4.1%4.2%69.4%68.7%67.1%
July 20254.1%4.0%4.2%69.4%68.8%66.9%
August 20254.0%4.0%4.3%68.6%68.0%66.4%
September 20254.4%4.3%4.3%68.7%68.1%66.7%
October 20254.1%4.1%4.2%68.8%68.2%66.7%
November 20254.4%4.3%4.0%69.3%68.7%66.8%
December 20253.7%3.7%3.9%70.2%69.5%67.1%
January 20263.7%3.7%4.5%68.3%67.7%66.1%
February 20264.4%4.4%4.6%69.7%69.1%67.4%
March 20264.3%4.3%4.5%69.9%69.3%67.1%
April 20264.4%4.3%4.6%70.0%69.4%66.7%
May 20264.6%4.5%4.3%69.8%69.1%67.0%
June 20264.2%4.2%4.3%69.5%68.9%67.1%
July 20264.2%4.2%4.4%68.3%67.8%66.7%
August 20264.7%4.6%4.6%68.9%68.3%66.6%
September 20264.3%4.2%4.6%69.4%68.8%66.5%
Employed people as an index, January 2019 = 100, and youth unemployment
MonthEmployed people, index, Greater PerthEmployed people, index, Western AustraliaEmployed people, index, AustraliaYouth unemployment rate (15–24), Greater Perth
January 2019100.0100.0100.017.7%
February 2019101.5101.5101.715.2%
March 2019101.4101.3101.515.6%
April 2019102.1102.1101.914.4%
May 2019102.5102.5102.513.8%
June 2019103.3103.3102.312.3%
July 2019102.9102.7102.213.2%
August 2019102.8102.6102.113.0%
September 2019102.6102.4102.613.0%
October 2019103.5103.3102.312.4%
November 2019104.0103.9103.012.1%
December 2019104.1104.0103.812.0%
January 2020103.3102.4101.614.8%
February 2020105.8104.9103.412.8%
March 2020105.2104.3103.013.3%
April 2020100.599.798.314.0%
May 202098.497.896.617.4%
June 202099.899.198.117.6%
July 2020101.1100.398.817.7%
August 2020103.4102.499.514.5%
September 2020103.4102.599.514.3%
October 2020104.6103.7100.714.3%
November 2020106.0105.1101.913.8%
December 2020106.4105.4102.814.0%
January 2021103.4102.5100.716.1%
February 2021105.0104.1103.114.6%
March 2021107.4106.4103.311.8%
April 2021106.9105.9103.110.8%
May 2021108.0106.9104.59.7%
June 2021108.2107.1104.310.3%
July 2021108.7107.5104.19.7%
August 2021109.7108.5102.710.0%
September 2021109.9108.6101.99.3%
October 2021110.1108.9101.79.1%
November 2021112.3110.8105.18.5%
December 2021113.1111.5106.37.7%
January 2022111.6110.0104.29.7%
February 2022113.2111.6107.09.7%
March 2022113.4111.8106.88.2%
April 2022113.8112.2107.06.6%
May 2022114.3112.8108.16.9%
June 2022113.9112.4108.57.5%
July 2022114.6112.8108.27.4%
August 2022114.9113.2108.37.6%
September 2022114.4112.7108.68.1%
October 2022114.5112.8109.18.1%
November 2022116.2114.4110.28.0%
December 2022117.3115.4110.78.0%
January 2023114.5112.6108.19.5%
February 2023116.9114.9110.810.1%
March 2023117.7115.7111.28.6%
April 2023118.0115.9110.89.0%
May 2023118.3116.2112.38.3%
June 2023116.8114.8112.08.5%
July 2023118.6116.4111.78.0%
August 2023119.8117.5111.79.2%
September 2023119.4117.2112.08.0%
October 2023120.5118.2112.69.0%
November 2023122.1119.7113.68.8%
December 2023121.7119.3113.710.0%
January 2024118.9116.6110.712.3%
February 2024123.4120.8114.19.5%
March 2024123.2120.7113.69.1%
April 2024121.6119.1113.510.1%
May 2024124.3121.7114.58.8%
June 2024122.7120.1114.49.4%
July 2024123.9121.2114.49.0%
August 2024123.8121.1114.110.3%
September 2024123.7121.0114.88.7%
October 2024123.8121.1114.99.3%
November 2024126.2123.4115.77.0%
December 2024127.3124.3116.67.4%
January 2025124.2121.4114.39.7%
February 2025127.2124.3115.88.6%
March 2025126.7123.8115.88.9%
April 2025125.6122.8116.210.0%
May 2025127.9125.0116.99.0%
June 2025125.9123.0116.49.8%
July 2025126.4123.5116.39.7%
August 2025125.3122.4115.69.6%
September 2025125.2122.4116.110.4%
October 2025126.1123.2116.59.6%
November 2025126.9123.9116.910.1%
December 2025129.7126.5117.88.6%
January 2026126.5123.5115.49.0%
February 2026128.6125.4117.810.9%
March 2026129.4126.3117.710.8%
April 2026129.8126.7117.010.9%
May 2026129.3126.1118.010.9%
June 2026129.6126.4118.49.9%
July 2026127.6124.5117.710.0%
August 2026128.4125.3117.510.9%
September 2026130.2126.9117.410.2%

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 Greater Perth, from Jobs and Skills Australia's monthly nowcast, to September 2026.

Figure 4.1: Largest occupations by estimated employment, Greater Perth, September 2026The 10 occupations with the most people employed in September 2026, of an estimated 1,364,797 people employed in Greater Perth across all occupations. The table adds September 2025 and the change. 5 of Greater Perth's 10 largest occupations are in national shortage, and 1 is in shortage in regional Australia.
Sales Assistants (General): 50,537Sales Assistants (General)50,537Registered Nurses: 35,815Registered Nurses35,815Aged and Disabled Carers: 28,648Aged and Disabled Carers28,648General Clerks: 26,040General Clerks26,040Accountants: 22,833Accountants22,833Metal Fitters and Machinists: 22,818Metal Fitters and Machinists22,818Retail Managers: 22,015Retail Managers22,015Drillers, Miners and Shot Firers: 20,768Drillers, Miners and Shot Firers20,768Electricians: 20,697Electricians20,697Truck Drivers: 18,900Truck Drivers18,900

Sources: Jobs and Skills Australia[7]; ViewJobs[8]; Jobs and Skills Australia[9].

Show the numbers
Largest occupations by estimated employment, Greater Perth, September 2026
OccupationPeople employed, September 2026September 2025ChangeNational shortage, 2026
Sales Assistants (General)50,53749,547+2.0%
Registered Nurses35,81535,370+1.3%Shortage
Aged and Disabled Carers28,64830,601−6.4%Shortage
General Clerks26,04025,662+1.5%
Accountants22,83322,857−0.1%
Metal Fitters and Machinists22,81822,875−0.2%Shortage
Retail Managers22,01521,798+1.0%
Drillers, Miners and Shot Firers20,76819,337+7.4%Regional shortage
Electricians20,69721,744−4.8%Shortage
Truck Drivers18,90020,075−5.9%Shortage
Figure 4.2: Fastest growing and shrinking occupations by estimated employment, Greater Perth, 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.
Food Trades Assistants: +48.1%Food Trades Assistants+48.1%Archivists, Curators and Records Managers: +46.4%Archivists, Curators and Records Managers+46.4%Paving and Surfacing Labourers: +42.0%Paving and Surfacing Labourers+42.0%Funeral Workers: +39.8%Funeral Workers+39.8%Electronic Engineering Draftspersons and Technicians: +36.0%Electronic Engineering Draftspersons and Technicians+36.0%Crop Farm Workers: −26.3%Crop Farm Workers−26.3%Railway Track Workers: −28.0%Railway Track Workers−28.0%Electrical Distribution Trades Workers: −28.5%Electrical Distribution Trades Workers−28.5%Signwriters: −34.0%Signwriters−34.0%Optometrists and Orthoptists: −36.5%Optometrists and Orthoptists−36.5%

Sources: Jobs and Skills Australia[7]; ViewJobs[8].

Show the numbers
Fastest growing and shrinking occupations by estimated employment, Greater Perth, September 2025 to September 2026
OccupationPeople employed, September 2026September 2025Change
Food Trades Assistants342231+48.1%
Archivists, Curators and Records Managers1,098750+46.4%
Paving and Surfacing Labourers389274+42.0%
Funeral Workers622445+39.8%
Electronic Engineering Draftspersons and Technicians1,3951,026+36.0%
Crop Farm Workers640868−26.3%
Railway Track Workers565785−28.0%
Electrical Distribution Trades Workers1,1191,564−28.5%
Signwriters324491−34.0%
Optometrists and Orthoptists558879−36.5%
Figure 4.3: People employed in the largest occupations, Greater Perth, September 2021 to September 2026Estimated people employed each September from 2021 to 2026, one point a year, in the 5 occupations with the most people employed in September 2026.
  • Sales Assistants (General)
  • Registered Nurses
  • Aged and Disabled Carers
  • General Clerks
  • Accountants
10k20k30k40k50k60kSep 2022Sep 2024Sep 2026Sales Assistants (General)Sales Assistants (General), Sep 2021: 47,716Sales Assistants (General), Sep 2026: 50,53750,537Registered NursesRegistered Nurses, Sep 2021: 24,667Registered Nurses, Sep 2026: 35,81535,815Aged and Disabled CarersAged and Disabled Carers, Sep 2021: 25,027Aged and Disabled Carers, Sep 2026: 28,64828,648General ClerksGeneral Clerks, Sep 2021: 26,109General Clerks, Sep 2026: 26,04026,040AccountantsAccountants, Sep 2021: 18,171Accountants, Sep 2026: 22,83322,833

Sources: Jobs and Skills Australia[7]; ViewJobs[8].

Show the numbers
People employed in the largest occupations, Greater Perth, September 2021 to September 2026
MonthSales Assistants (General)Registered NursesAged and Disabled CarersGeneral ClerksAccountants
September 202147,71624,66725,02726,10918,171
September 202249,92126,27124,68625,86418,718
September 202348,87829,52927,39624,37918,424
September 202449,23832,14131,40424,51120,515
September 202549,54735,37030,60125,66222,857
September 202650,53735,81528,64826,04022,833

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 Greater Perth, 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, Greater PerthPeople in employment services at each snapshot, November 2024 to June 2026.
57.5k60k62.5k65k67.5kMar 2025Aug 2025Jan 2026Jun 2026Greater PerthGreater Perth, Jun 2026: 65,94065,940

Sources: Department of Employment and Workplace Relations[5]; ViewJobs[6].

Show the numbers below
Figure 5.2: In employment services for 12 months or more and 24 months or more, Greater Perth, against Western Australia and AustraliaShare of people in employment services who had been in services for 12 months or more, and in Greater Perth for 24 months or more, November 2024 to June 2026.
  • Greater Perth, 12 months or more
  • Greater Perth, 24 months or more
  • Western Australia, 12 months or more
  • Australia, 12 months or more
40%50%60%70%Mar 2025Aug 2025Jan 2026Jun 2026Greater Perth, 12 months or moreGreater Perth, 12 months or more, Jun 2026: 67.9%67.9%Greater Perth, 24 months or moreGreater Perth, 24 months or more, Jun 2026: 47.7%47.7%Western Australia, 12 months or moreWestern Australia, 12 months or more, Jun 2026: 68.3%68.3%Australia, 12 months or moreAustralia, 12 months or more, Jun 2026: 64.4%64.4%

Sources: Department of Employment and Workplace Relations[5]; ViewJobs[6].

Show the numbers below
Numbers for Figures 5.1 and 5.2: People in employment services at each snapshot, Greater Perth, November 2024 to June 2026Every snapshot loaded, one row each.[5]

Sources: Department of Employment and Workplace Relations[5]; ViewJobs[6].

Show the numbers
People in employment services and the shares in services for 12 and 24 months or more
SnapshotPeople in employment services, Greater PerthIn services 12 months or more, Greater PerthIn services 24 months or more, Greater PerthIn services 12 months or more, Western AustraliaIn services 12 months or more, Australia
November 202457,94064.7%45.7%65.5%60.8%
December 202458,44064.4%45.5%65.4%60.7%
January 202560,01564.3%44.9%65.2%60.5%
February 202561,13064.1%44.7%65.0%60.3%
March 202561,91564.1%44.7%64.9%60.3%
April 202562,21564.5%44.6%65.1%60.5%
May 202563,14564.4%44.5%65.0%60.7%
June 202563,22064.8%44.8%65.5%61.3%
July 202563,49065.0%44.7%65.6%61.7%
August 202563,19065.4%45.2%65.9%62.2%
September 202563,60065.4%45.2%65.8%62.4%
October 202563,88565.8%45.5%66.2%62.7%
November 202563,97565.7%45.4%66.0%62.5%
December 202564,14066.0%45.6%66.4%62.6%
January 202665,38066.1%45.8%66.6%62.7%
February 202665,90066.7%46.2%67.2%63.1%
March 202666,14567.1%46.4%67.6%63.4%
April 202666,06067.3%46.8%67.8%63.8%
May 202666,04067.8%47.3%68.2%64.2%
June 202665,94067.9%47.7%68.3%64.4%
Figure 5.3: People in employment services by age group, Greater Perth, June 2026The 5 age groups at the latest snapshot; the table adds each group's share of all people in employment services.
Under 25: 13,965Under 2513,96525–34: 15,43525–3415,43535–44: 14,19035–4414,19045–54: 12,00545–5412,00555 and over: 10,24555 and over10,245

Sources: Department of Employment and Workplace Relations[5]; ViewJobs[6].

Show the numbers
People in employment services by age group, Greater Perth, June 2026
Age groupPeopleShare
Under 2513,96521%
25–3415,43523%
35–4414,19022%
45–5412,00518%
55 and over10,24516%
Figure 5.4: People in employment services by allowance group, Greater Perth, June 2026The 3 allowance groups at the latest snapshot; the table adds each group's share of all people in employment services.
JobSeeker Payment: 50,135JobSeeker Payment50,135Youth Allowance (other): 7,430Youth Allowance (other)7,430Other: 8,370Other8,370

Sources: Department of Employment and Workplace Relations[5]; ViewJobs[6].

Show the numbers
People in employment services by allowance group, Greater Perth, June 2026
Allowance groupPeopleShare
JobSeeker Payment50,13576%
Youth Allowance (other)7,43011%
Other8,37013%

6 Jobs on ViewJobs now

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

Live jobs on ViewJobs in Destination Perth
7,685
ViewJobs, 30 Oct 2026[10]
Figure 6.1: Live jobs on ViewJobs by classification, Destination PerthThe 8 classifications with the most live ads, as of 30 Oct 2026.
Healthcare & Medical: 825Healthcare & Medical825Mining, Resources & Energy: 664Mining, Resources & Energy664Retail & Consumer Products: 622Retail & Consumer Products622Hospitality & Tourism: 603Hospitality & Tourism603Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics: 583Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics583Trades & Services: 553Trades & Services553Engineering: 512Engineering512Construction: 410Construction410

Source: ViewJobs live ads[10].

Show the numbers
Live jobs on ViewJobs by classification, Destination Perth
ClassificationLive jobs
Healthcare & Medical825
Mining, Resources & Energy664
Retail & Consumer Products622
Hospitality & Tourism603
Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics583
Trades & Services553
Engineering512
Construction410

Browse jobs by region

7 Pay

Average salary and wages per earner from the ATO's taxation statistics, by income year. The newest regional figures are for the 2023–24 income year.

Figure 7.1: Average salary and wages per earner, Greater Perth, 2021–22 to 2023–24 (ATO)Average salary and wages per earner, 2021–22 to 2023–24 income years (ATO), against Western Australia and Australia.
  • Greater Perth
  • Western Australia
  • Australia
$65k$70k$75k$80k$85k2021–222022–232023–24Greater PerthGreater Perth, 2021–22: $75,721Greater Perth, 2022–23: $78,845Greater Perth, 2023–24: $82,049$82,049Western AustraliaWestern Australia, 2021–22: $74,612Western Australia, 2022–23: $77,633Western Australia, 2023–24: $80,788$80,788AustraliaAustralia, 2021–22: $69,980Australia, 2022–23: $73,647Australia, 2023–24: $76,760$76,760

Sources: Australian Taxation Office[11]; ViewJobs[12].

Show the numbers
Average salary and wages per earner, Greater Perth, 2021–22 to 2023–24 (ATO)
Income yearGreater PerthWestern AustraliaAustralia
2021–22$75,721$74,612$69,980
2022–23$78,845$77,633$73,647
2023–24$82,049$80,788$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 Greater Perth's job market, each with its period and source.

How many jobs are advertised in Greater Perth?

23,190 online job ads a month were placed in Greater Perth, on average, in the three months to September 2026.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Is Greater Perth's job market growing or shrinking?

Growing: online job ads in Greater Perth were up 8.6% on a year earlier, from 21,363 to 23,190 a month in the three months to September 2026. Over the same year, ads were up 7.5% across Western Australia and up 0.6% across Australia.

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

Which jobs are most in demand in Greater Perth?

Automotive and engineering trades had the most online ads, 1,756 a month in the three months to September 2026, followed by general-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists (1,443) and sales assistants and salespersons (1,127). Among occupation groups with at least 5 ads a month a year earlier and now, ads for clerical and office support workers, couriers rose fastest, up 59.2%.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

What is the unemployment rate in Greater Perth?

The unemployment rate in Greater Perth was 4.3% in September 2026, against 4.2% across Western Australia. A year earlier it was 4.4%. 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 Greater Perth?

No, it is falling. Unemployment in Greater Perth was down 0.1 points on a year earlier in September 2026, at 4.3% against 4.4% (ABS modelled estimates). Across Western Australia it was down 0.1 points.

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

What are the biggest occupations in Greater Perth?

An estimated 50,537 of the 1,364,797 people employed in Greater Perth in September 2026 worked as Sales Assistants (General), the largest occupation there. Next were Registered Nurses (35,815 people) and Aged and Disabled Carers (28,648 people). These are Jobs and Skills Australia's experimental nowcast estimates.

Sources: Jobs and Skills Australia[7]; ViewJobs[8].

Which occupations are growing fastest in Greater Perth?

Among occupations with at least 200 people employed in both September 2025 and September 2026, Food Trades Assistants grew fastest in Greater Perth, up 48.1% to an estimated 342 people employed, followed by Archivists, Curators and Records Managers (up 46.4%) and Paving and Surfacing Labourers (up 42.0%). These are Jobs and Skills Australia's experimental nowcast estimates.

Sources: Jobs and Skills Australia[7]; ViewJobs[8].

How many people are in Workforce Australia employment services in Greater Perth?

65,940 people in Greater Perth were in Workforce Australia employment services at 30 June 2026, up 4.3% on a year earlier. 67.9% of them had been in employment services for 12 months or more.

Sources: Department of Employment and Workplace Relations[5]; ViewJobs[6].

How long have people in Greater Perth been in Workforce Australia employment services?

At 30 June 2026, 67.9% had been in employment services for 12 months or more, and 47.7% for two years or more, against 68.3% and 48.3% across Western Australia.

Sources: Department of Employment and Workplace Relations[5]; ViewJobs[6].

How many jobs are on ViewJobs in Greater Perth?

At least 7,685 jobs are live on ViewJobs in Greater Perth, as of 30 Oct 2026. They are the ads in Destination Perth, a ViewJobs region whose towns all sit in the area. The most advertised are Healthcare & Medical (825), Mining, Resources & Energy (664) and Retail & Consumer Products (622).

Source: ViewJobs live ads[10].

10 Notes and method

What the figures count, where they come from, and the rules this report applies to them.

The area
Greater Perth here is ABS Greater Capital City Statistical Area 5GPER. It takes in 6 ABS SA4 regions: Mandurah, Perth - Inner, Perth - North East, Perth - North West, Perth - South East and Perth - 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. Capital city, state and national figures are sums of SA4 regions.[7][8]
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.[11]
ABS figures
The latest ABS income and jobs figures here are for the year to 30 June 2023; population and business counts are more recent. Every figure shows its year. Change is measured from 2019: the ABS figures for 2018 and 2019 differ sharply for some industries in some areas. Industries with fewer than 1,000 employee jobs are listed but not ranked.
Jobs on ViewJobs
ViewJobs regions do not follow ABS boundaries. Section 6 counts the ads open on ViewJobs on 30 Oct 2026 in each ViewJobs region with at least 20% of its towns in this area, and counts each region whole: a region that reaches beyond the area can include ads from outside it, and a region with fewer of its towns here is left out. A classification links to its own page once it has enough ads for one.

11 References

Every figure on this page points at one of these entries.

  1. Jobs and Skills Australia, Internet Vacancy Index, September 2026. jobsandskills.gov.au/sites/default/files/2026-10/internet_vacancies_anzsco2_occupations_gccsa_and_sa4_regions_-_september_2026.xlsx. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Accessed 25 October 2026.
  2. ViewJobs, ViewJobs analysis of the Jobs and Skills Australia Internet Vacancy Index, September 2026. jobsandskills.gov.au/data/internet-vacancy-index. State and national figures are the sum of the ABS areas in Jobs and Skills Australia's regional series.
  3. Australian Bureau of Statistics, Regional Labour Force, September 2026. abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/employment-and-unemployment/regional-labour-force/sep-2026/MLF1.xlsx. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Accessed 25 October 2026.
  4. ViewJobs, ViewJobs analysis of the Australian Bureau of Statistics Regional Labour Force, September 2026. abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/employment-and-unemployment/regional-labour-force/latest-release. Capital city, state and national figures are sums of the ABS's modelled labour market regions, with rates worked out from the sums.
  5. Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, Workforce Australia Caseload by Selected Cohorts, June 2026. dewr.gov.au/employment-services-data/resources/workforce-australia-caseload-selected-cohorts-30-june-2026. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Accessed 26 October 2026. The views expressed in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (or DEWR).
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. ViewJobs, ViewJobs analysis of the Jobs and Skills Australia Nowcast of Employment by Region and Occupation, September 2026. jobsandskills.gov.au/data/nero. Capital city, state and national figures are sums of SA4 regions.
  9. 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.
  10. ViewJobs, Live job ads on ViewJobs, 30 Oct 2026. viewjobs.com.au.
  11. 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.
  12. 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.
  13. 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). Greater Perth job market report, data to September 2026. https://www.viewjobs.com.au/job-market/wa/greater-perth

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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