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Job market report

Wheatbelt 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 Wheatbelt, 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 509 Western Australia - Wheat Belt
Sources
JSA, ABS, DEWR, ATO and ViewJobs

Key findings

  1. Steady: online job ads in the Wheatbelt were down 1.4% on a year earlier, from 711 to 701 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, 59 a month in the three months to September 2026, followed by general-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists (49) and sales assistants and salespersons (44).

    Among occupation groups with at least 5 ads a month a year earlier and now, ads for health and welfare support workers rose fastest, up 69.2%.[1]

    Section 2: Which jobs are in demand →

  3. The unemployment rate in the Wheatbelt was 3.1% in September 2026, against 4.2% across Western Australia.

    A year earlier it was 3.3%. 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, 74.4% had been in employment services for 12 months or more, and 55.9% 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
3.1%
ABS, September 2026 · down 0.2 points on September 2025[3]
Employed people
77,646
ABS, September 2026 · up 2.4% since September 2025[3]
Online job ads a month
701
JSA, September 2026 · down 1.4% since September 2025[1]
People in Workforce Australia employment services
6,355
DEWR, June 2026 · up 3.1% 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.

Wheatbelt
−1.4%
701 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, WheatbeltThree-month average, October 2023 to September 2026.
600700800900Jan 2024Sep 2024May 2025Jan 2026Sep 2026WheatbeltWheatbelt, Sep 2026: 701701

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Show the numbers
Online job ads a month, Wheatbelt
MonthOnline job ads a month
October 2023856
November 2023862
December 2023812
January 2024798
February 2024764
March 2024794
April 2024724
May 2024713
June 2024683
July 2024661
August 2024647
September 2024674
October 2024716
November 2024694
December 2024628
January 2025648
February 2025667
March 2025752
April 2025702
May 2025691
June 2025665
July 2025663
August 2025673
September 2025711
October 2025716
November 2025712
December 2025612
January 2026624
February 2026640
March 2026722
April 2026674
May 2026650
June 2026608
July 2026648
August 2026673
September 2026701

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, WheatbeltThe 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.
Mobile plant operators: +63.2%Mobile plant operators+63.2%Numerical clerks: +35.3%Numerical clerks+35.3%Automotive and engineering trades: +28.3%Automotive and engineering trades+28.3%Medical practitioners and nurses: +11.1%Medical practitioners and nurses+11.1%Other labourers: +3.6%Other labourers+3.6%Legal, social and welfare professionals: +3.0%Legal, social and welfare professionals+3.0%Drivers and storepersons: 0.0%Drivers and storepersons0.0%General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists: −2.0%General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists−2.0%Sales assistants and salespersons: −6.4%Sales assistants and salespersons−6.4%Carers and aides: −7.1%Carers and aides−7.1%Food trades: −7.7%Food trades−7.7%Hospitality, retail and service managers: −38.5%Hospitality, retail and service managers−38.5%

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Show the numbers
Change in online job ads by occupation, Wheatbelt
Occupation groupAds a month, September 2026A year earlierChange
Automotive and engineering trades5946+28.3%
General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists4950−2.0%
Sales assistants and salespersons4447−6.4%
Medical practitioners and nurses4036+11.1%
Carers and aides3942−7.1%
Legal, social and welfare professionals3433+3.0%
Mobile plant operators3119+63.2%
Other labourers2928+3.6%
Drivers and storepersons27270.0%
Hospitality, retail and service managers2439−38.5%
Food trades2426−7.7%
Numerical clerks2317+35.3%
Health and welfare support workers2213+69.2%
Farm, forestry and garden workers19190.0%
Health diagnostic and therapy professionals18180.0%
Electrotechnology and telecommunications trades1511+36.4%
Business, finance and human resource professionals13130.0%
Construction, production and distribution managers1213−7.7%
Cleaners and laundry workers1218−33.3%
Corporate managers1113−15.4%
Engineering, ICT and science technicians11110.0%
Construction trades117+57.1%
Sales support workers1011−9.1%
Machine and stationary plant operators108+25.0%
Education professionals923−60.9%
Office managers, administrators and secretaries97+28.6%
Engineers85+60.0%
Construction and mining labourers86+33.3%
Farmers and farm managers770.0%
Other clerical and administrative workers78−12.5%
Sales representatives and agents712−41.7%
Skilled animal and horticultural workers65+20.0%
Hospitality workers68−25.0%
Food preparation assistants67−14.3%
Health, education, ICT and other managers58−37.5%
Science professionals and veterinarians58−37.5%
Arts and media professionalsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Sports, travel and personal service workersfewer than 59n/a
Factory process workersfewer than 56n/a
Chief executives, managing directors & legislatorsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Information professionalsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Hairdressers, printing, clothing and wood tradesfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Jewellers, arts and other trades workersfewer than 56n/a
Clerical and office support workers, couriersfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Protective service workersfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
ICT professionalsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Sales, marketing & public relations professionalsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Transport and design professionals, and architectsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a

3 Unemployment and participation, monthly

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

Figure 3.1: Unemployment rate, Wheatbelt, from January 2019Share of the labour force unemployed each month, January 2019 to September 2026, against Western Australia and Australia.
  • Wheatbelt
  • Western Australia
  • Australia
0%2%4%6%8%May 2020Dec 2021Jul 2023Feb 2025Sep 2026WheatbeltWheatbelt, Sep 2026: 3.1%3.1%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, Wheatbelt, 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.
  • Wheatbelt
  • Western Australia
  • Australia
60%62.5%65%67.5%70%Sep 2019Jun 2021Mar 2023Dec 2024Sep 2026WheatbeltWheatbelt, Sep 2026: 63.1%63.1%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, Wheatbelt, 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.
  • Wheatbelt
  • Western Australia
  • Australia

Index (Jan 2019 = 100)

90100110120130Jan 2020Sep 2021May 2023Jan 2025Sep 2026WheatbeltWheatbelt, Sep 2026: 117.6117.6Western 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, WheatbeltThe 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: 3.1%3.1%

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Show the numbers below
Numbers for Figures 3.1 to 3.4: Labour force each month, Wheatbelt, 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, WheatbeltUnemployment rate, Western AustraliaUnemployment rate, AustraliaParticipation rate, WheatbeltParticipation rate, Western AustraliaParticipation rate, Australia
January 20195.0%7.3%5.4%61.4%68.1%65.1%
February 20194.4%6.3%5.4%61.8%68.2%66.1%
March 20194.4%6.5%5.4%61.6%68.1%65.8%
April 20194.1%6.0%5.3%61.9%68.2%65.9%
May 20193.9%5.9%5.1%62.0%68.3%66.1%
June 20193.6%5.3%5.1%62.2%68.3%65.9%
July 20193.9%5.7%5.2%61.6%68.1%65.8%
August 20194.0%5.7%5.3%61.7%67.9%65.7%
September 20194.1%5.7%5.1%61.6%67.6%65.8%
October 20193.3%5.3%5.1%61.8%67.9%65.5%
November 20194.1%5.4%4.8%62.6%68.1%65.7%
December 20193.8%5.2%4.8%62.5%67.9%66.2%
January 20204.3%6.3%5.7%62.7%67.5%65.2%
February 20203.9%5.5%5.5%63.7%68.4%66.2%
March 20204.2%5.9%5.5%63.4%68.1%65.8%
April 20204.0%6.1%6.4%60.8%65.2%63.4%
May 20204.4%7.7%6.9%60.2%65.0%62.5%
June 20204.4%7.9%7.2%61.0%66.0%63.8%
July 20204.3%8.0%7.3%61.3%66.8%64.3%
August 20204.0%6.8%6.8%62.0%67.3%64.4%
September 20203.8%6.6%6.7%62.0%67.1%64.4%
October 20203.6%6.4%6.7%62.7%67.6%65.1%
November 20203.4%6.1%6.3%63.2%68.3%65.6%
December 20203.4%6.1%6.2%63.1%68.3%66.1%
January 20214.1%6.9%6.8%61.9%67.0%65.1%
February 20214.0%6.4%6.3%62.6%67.6%66.3%
March 20213.5%5.2%6.0%63.4%68.1%66.2%
April 20213.6%5.0%5.6%63.2%67.6%65.7%
May 20213.1%4.6%5.0%63.1%67.8%66.2%
June 20213.3%4.9%4.9%63.1%68.0%66.0%
July 20213.2%4.6%4.7%63.2%68.0%65.7%
August 20213.2%4.5%4.6%63.5%68.6%64.7%
September 20212.8%4.1%4.6%63.4%68.3%64.2%
October 20212.5%3.8%5.0%63.4%68.2%64.3%
November 20212.8%3.7%4.3%64.5%69.2%65.9%
December 20212.7%3.3%4.0%64.5%69.3%66.4%
January 20222.7%4.2%4.5%63.6%68.8%65.2%
February 20223.0%4.2%4.4%64.3%69.7%66.8%
March 20222.5%3.6%4.2%64.0%69.2%66.4%
April 20222.5%3.0%3.9%63.9%68.9%66.2%
May 20222.3%3.1%3.9%64.6%69.2%66.7%
June 20222.7%3.3%3.5%64.6%69.0%66.6%
July 20222.6%3.3%3.4%63.1%68.9%66.2%
August 20222.5%3.3%3.5%63.3%68.9%66.2%
September 20222.8%3.5%3.5%63.3%68.6%66.2%
October 20222.6%3.5%3.3%63.3%68.5%66.2%
November 20222.5%3.4%3.3%63.9%69.2%66.8%
December 20222.5%3.4%3.3%64.0%69.5%67.0%
January 20233.0%3.9%4.0%63.0%67.9%65.6%
February 20233.3%4.2%3.9%63.8%69.2%67.0%
March 20232.6%3.6%3.8%63.6%69.0%66.9%
April 20232.7%3.7%3.8%63.5%69.0%66.6%
May 20232.5%3.5%3.5%63.4%68.8%67.1%
June 20232.7%3.5%3.4%62.7%67.8%66.8%
July 20232.4%3.3%3.6%62.9%68.3%66.5%
August 20233.0%3.8%3.7%63.7%69.1%66.4%
September 20232.6%3.3%3.5%63.2%68.4%66.2%
October 20232.8%3.7%3.6%63.9%69.0%66.6%
November 20232.6%3.5%3.6%64.1%69.6%67.1%
December 20232.8%3.9%3.8%63.8%69.4%67.1%
January 20243.3%4.8%4.5%62.7%68.3%65.7%
February 20243.1%3.8%4.0%64.1%69.8%67.3%
March 20242.8%3.5%4.1%63.7%69.3%66.9%
April 20242.9%4.0%4.2%63.1%68.6%66.8%
May 20242.8%3.5%3.9%63.9%69.5%67.1%
June 20242.7%3.7%3.9%63.0%68.7%66.9%
July 20242.7%3.5%4.1%63.2%69.0%67.0%
August 20243.1%4.1%4.1%63.4%69.1%66.7%
September 20242.7%3.6%3.9%63.2%68.6%66.8%
October 20242.9%3.9%3.9%63.4%68.8%66.9%
November 20242.5%3.0%3.6%64.0%69.3%67.0%
December 20242.6%3.1%3.8%64.2%69.7%67.5%
January 20253.2%4.1%4.5%63.1%68.6%66.6%
February 20253.0%3.6%4.4%64.0%69.7%67.2%
March 20253.0%3.8%4.3%63.8%69.3%67.0%
April 20253.2%4.2%4.1%63.6%69.0%67.1%
May 20252.9%3.8%4.0%64.1%69.7%67.4%
June 20253.2%4.1%4.2%63.2%68.7%67.1%
July 20253.0%4.0%4.2%63.1%68.8%66.9%
August 20253.2%4.0%4.3%62.8%68.0%66.4%
September 20253.3%4.3%4.3%62.8%68.1%66.7%
October 20253.0%4.1%4.2%63.0%68.2%66.7%
November 20253.2%4.3%4.0%63.3%68.7%66.8%
December 20252.8%3.7%3.9%63.9%69.5%67.1%
January 20263.1%3.7%4.5%62.8%67.7%66.1%
February 20263.4%4.4%4.6%63.6%69.1%67.4%
March 20263.2%4.3%4.5%63.7%69.3%67.1%
April 20263.2%4.3%4.6%63.9%69.4%66.7%
May 20263.0%4.5%4.3%63.3%69.1%67.0%
June 20263.2%4.2%4.3%63.4%68.9%67.1%
July 20263.2%4.2%4.4%62.5%67.8%66.7%
August 20263.5%4.6%4.6%62.9%68.3%66.6%
September 20263.1%4.2%4.6%63.1%68.8%66.5%
Employed people as an index, January 2019 = 100, and youth unemployment
MonthEmployed people, index, WheatbeltEmployed people, index, Western AustraliaEmployed people, index, AustraliaYouth unemployment rate (15–24), Wheatbelt
January 2019100.0100.0100.014.3%
February 2019101.4101.5101.712.7%
March 2019101.1101.3101.512.9%
April 2019101.9102.1101.911.7%
May 2019102.3102.5102.511.1%
June 2019103.1103.3102.310.3%
July 2019101.9102.7102.211.0%
August 2019101.9102.6102.111.3%
September 2019101.9102.4102.611.5%
October 2019103.2103.3102.39.3%
November 2019103.9103.9103.011.2%
December 2019104.1104.0103.810.6%
January 2020104.0102.4101.612.0%
February 2020106.4104.9103.411.0%
March 2020105.6104.3103.011.5%
April 2020101.699.798.311.0%
May 2020100.197.896.612.1%
June 2020101.499.198.112.0%
July 2020102.1100.398.811.8%
August 2020103.8102.499.510.7%
September 2020104.0102.599.510.4%
October 2020105.6103.7100.710.1%
November 2020106.7105.1101.99.9%
December 2020106.7105.4102.89.9%
January 2021104.1102.5100.711.8%
February 2021105.5104.1103.111.4%
March 2021107.4106.4103.39.8%
April 2021107.2105.9103.19.8%
May 2021107.6106.9104.58.4%
June 2021107.7107.1104.38.9%
July 2021107.9107.5104.18.6%
August 2021108.5108.5102.78.9%
September 2021108.8108.6101.98.2%
October 2021109.2108.9101.77.4%
November 2021110.7110.8105.18.0%
December 2021110.9111.5106.37.6%
January 2022109.4110.0104.27.7%
February 2022110.5111.6107.08.2%
March 2022110.6111.8106.86.7%
April 2022110.7112.2107.06.4%
May 2022112.3112.8108.16.0%
June 2022112.0112.4108.56.8%
July 2022109.6112.8108.26.7%
August 2022110.2113.2108.36.6%
September 2022110.0112.7108.67.3%
October 2022110.4112.8109.16.9%
November 2022111.7114.4110.26.6%
December 2022112.0115.4110.76.8%
January 2023109.9112.6108.18.1%
February 2023111.4114.9110.88.8%
March 2023112.0115.7111.27.1%
April 2023111.9115.9110.87.3%
May 2023112.0116.2112.36.9%
June 2023110.8114.8112.07.4%
July 2023111.6116.4111.76.8%
August 2023112.5117.5111.78.5%
September 2023112.6117.2112.07.2%
October 2023113.6118.2112.68.0%
November 2023114.5119.7113.67.7%
December 2023113.8119.3113.78.5%
January 2024111.5116.6110.79.9%
February 2024114.5120.8114.19.3%
March 2024114.4120.7113.68.5%
April 2024113.1119.1113.58.4%
May 2024114.8121.7114.58.0%
June 2024113.5120.1114.47.3%
July 2024114.0121.2114.47.2%
August 2024114.0121.1114.18.2%
September 2024114.2121.0114.87.0%
October 2024114.5121.1114.97.3%
November 2024116.2123.4115.76.3%
December 2024116.6124.3116.66.7%
January 2025114.2121.4114.38.2%
February 2025116.3124.3115.87.5%
March 2025116.1123.8115.87.6%
April 2025115.7122.8116.27.8%
May 2025117.1125.0116.97.1%
June 2025115.3123.0116.47.8%
July 2025115.4123.5116.37.2%
August 2025114.7122.4115.67.6%
September 2025114.9122.4116.17.7%
October 2025115.8123.2116.56.9%
November 2025116.3123.9116.97.2%
December 2025117.9126.5117.86.2%
January 2026115.7123.5115.47.2%
February 2026117.1125.4117.88.0%
March 2026117.8126.3117.77.6%
April 2026118.2126.7117.07.9%
May 2026117.4126.1118.07.2%
June 2026117.5126.4118.47.9%
July 2026115.9124.5117.78.1%
August 2026116.4125.3117.59.0%
September 2026117.6126.9117.48.0%

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 the Wheatbelt, from Jobs and Skills Australia's monthly nowcast, to September 2026.

Figure 4.1: Largest occupations by estimated employment, Wheatbelt, September 2026The 10 occupations with the most people employed in September 2026, of an estimated 77,025 people employed in the Wheatbelt across all occupations. The table adds September 2025 and the change. 3 of the Wheatbelt's 10 largest occupations are in national shortage.
Mixed Crop and Livestock Farmers: 4,924Mixed Crop and Livestock Farmers4,924Truck Drivers: 2,600Truck Drivers2,600Sales Assistants (General): 2,374Sales Assistants (General)2,374Registered Nurses: 1,967Registered Nurses1,967Livestock Farmers: 1,879Livestock Farmers1,879General Clerks: 1,770General Clerks1,770Aged and Disabled Carers: 1,553Aged and Disabled Carers1,553Commercial Cleaners: 1,280Commercial Cleaners1,280Office Managers: 1,240Office Managers1,240Welfare Support Workers: 1,235Welfare Support Workers1,235

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

Show the numbers
Largest occupations by estimated employment, Wheatbelt, September 2026
OccupationPeople employed, September 2026September 2025ChangeNational shortage, 2026
Mixed Crop and Livestock Farmers4,9245,071−2.9%
Truck Drivers2,6002,749−5.4%Shortage
Sales Assistants (General)2,3742,199+8.0%
Registered Nurses1,9671,842+6.8%Shortage
Livestock Farmers1,8791,790+5.0%
General Clerks1,7701,557+13.7%
Aged and Disabled Carers1,5531,589−2.3%Shortage
Commercial Cleaners1,2801,588−19.4%
Office Managers1,240932+33.0%
Welfare Support Workers1,2351,098+12.5%
Figure 4.2: Fastest growing and shrinking occupations by estimated employment, Wheatbelt, 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.
Office Managers: +33.0%Office Managers+33.0%Handypersons: +22.1%Handypersons+22.1%Agricultural and Forestry Scientists: +18.6%Agricultural and Forestry Scientists+18.6%Livestock Farm Workers: +17.5%Livestock Farm Workers+17.5%Other Specialist Managers: +17.0%Other Specialist Managers+17.0%Retail Supervisors: −17.3%Retail Supervisors−17.3%Bar Attendants and Baristas: −17.5%Bar Attendants and Baristas−17.5%Health and Welfare Services Managers: −18.4%Health and Welfare Services Managers−18.4%Commercial Cleaners: −19.4%Commercial Cleaners−19.4%Crop Farm Workers: −25.4%Crop Farm Workers−25.4%

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[7].

Show the numbers
Fastest growing and shrinking occupations by estimated employment, Wheatbelt, September 2025 to September 2026
OccupationPeople employed, September 2026September 2025Change
Office Managers1,240932+33.0%
Handypersons491402+22.1%
Agricultural and Forestry Scientists325274+18.6%
Livestock Farm Workers570485+17.5%
Other Specialist Managers607519+17.0%
Retail Supervisors551666−17.3%
Bar Attendants and Baristas600727−17.5%
Health and Welfare Services Managers346424−18.4%
Commercial Cleaners1,2801,588−19.4%
Crop Farm Workers500670−25.4%
Figure 4.3: People employed in the largest occupations, Wheatbelt, 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.
  • Mixed Crop and Livestock Farmers
  • Truck Drivers
  • Sales Assistants (General)
  • Registered Nurses
  • Livestock Farmers
02k4k6kSep 2022Sep 2024Sep 2026Mixed Crop and Livestock FarmersMixed Crop and Livestock Farmers, Sep 2021: 2,022Mixed Crop and Livestock Farmers, Sep 2026: 4,9244,924Truck DriversTruck Drivers, Sep 2021: 1,654Truck Drivers, Sep 2026: 2,6002,600Sales Assistants (General)Sales Assistants (General), Sep 2021: 2,559Sales Assistants (General), Sep 2026: 2,3742,374Registered NursesRegistered Nurses, Sep 2021: 1,055Registered Nurses, Sep 2026: 1,9671,967Livestock FarmersLivestock Farmers, Sep 2021: 2,945Livestock Farmers, Sep 2026: 1,8791,879

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[7].

Show the numbers
People employed in the largest occupations, Wheatbelt, September 2021 to September 2026
MonthMixed Crop and Livestock FarmersTruck DriversSales Assistants (General)Registered NursesLivestock Farmers
September 20212,0221,6542,5591,0552,945
September 20221,5331,9373,0081,0692,612
September 20232,1402,1642,6611,4161,864
September 20244,0802,5392,3701,6621,595
September 20255,0712,7492,1991,8421,790
September 20264,9242,6002,3741,9671,879

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 Wheatbelt, 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, WheatbeltPeople in employment services at each snapshot, November 2024 to June 2026.
5.8k6k6.2k6.4kMar 2025Aug 2025Jan 2026Jun 2026WheatbeltWheatbelt, Jun 2026: 6,3556,355

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, Wheatbelt, against Western Australia and AustraliaShare of people in employment services who had been in services for 12 months or more, and in the Wheatbelt for 24 months or more, November 2024 to June 2026.
  • Wheatbelt, 12 months or more
  • Wheatbelt, 24 months or more
  • Western Australia, 12 months or more
  • Australia, 12 months or more
50%60%70%80%Mar 2025Aug 2025Jan 2026Jun 2026Wheatbelt, 12 months or moreWheatbelt, 12 months or more, Jun 2026: 74.4%74.4%Wheatbelt, 24 months or moreWheatbelt, 24 months or more, Jun 2026: 55.9%55.9%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, Wheatbelt, 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, WheatbeltIn services 12 months or more, WheatbeltIn services 24 months or more, WheatbeltIn services 12 months or more, Western AustraliaIn services 12 months or more, Australia
November 20245,81072.7%55.0%65.5%60.8%
December 20245,85572.8%54.6%65.4%60.7%
January 20255,97572.4%54.3%65.2%60.5%
February 20256,04072.4%54.1%65.0%60.3%
March 20256,05572.0%54.1%64.9%60.3%
April 20256,10572.1%53.9%65.1%60.5%
May 20256,17072.1%53.6%65.0%60.7%
June 20256,16572.8%53.9%65.5%61.3%
July 20256,23072.2%53.6%65.6%61.7%
August 20256,20572.4%54.0%65.9%62.2%
September 20256,20072.4%54.1%65.8%62.4%
October 20256,24572.5%54.3%66.2%62.7%
November 20256,21072.3%54.3%66.0%62.5%
December 20256,18572.4%54.5%66.4%62.6%
January 20266,25572.7%54.2%66.6%62.7%
February 20266,27073.5%54.8%67.2%63.1%
March 20266,30073.8%54.8%67.6%63.4%
April 20266,32073.7%55.2%67.8%63.8%
May 20266,34574.2%55.6%68.2%64.2%
June 20266,35574.4%55.9%68.3%64.4%
Figure 5.3: People in employment services by age group, Wheatbelt, June 2026The 5 age groups at the latest snapshot; the table adds each group's share of all people in employment services.
Under 25: 1,220Under 251,22025–34: 1,22025–341,22035–44: 1,28035–441,28045–54: 1,27545–541,27555 and over: 1,35055 and over1,350

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

Show the numbers
People in employment services by age group, Wheatbelt, June 2026
Age groupPeopleShare
Under 251,22019%
25–341,22019%
35–441,28020%
45–541,27520%
55 and over1,35021%
Figure 5.4: People in employment services by allowance group, Wheatbelt, June 2026The 3 allowance groups at the latest snapshot; the table adds each group's share of all people in employment services.
JobSeeker Payment: 4,810JobSeeker Payment4,810Youth Allowance (other): 710Youth Allowance (other)710Other: 835Other835

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

Show the numbers
People in employment services by allowance group, Wheatbelt, June 2026
Allowance groupPeopleShare
JobSeeker Payment4,81076%
Youth Allowance (other)71011%
Other83513%

6 Jobs on ViewJobs now

Live job ads on ViewJobs in the Golden Outback and the South West. The Golden Outback and the South West reach beyond this ABS area: 80% of the Golden Outback's towns and 40% of the South West's are in the area.

Live jobs on ViewJobs in these regions
849
ViewJobs, 30 Oct 2026[9]
Figure 6.1: Live jobs on ViewJobs by classification, Golden Outback and South WestThe 8 classifications with the most live ads, as of 30 Oct 2026.
Healthcare & Medical: 194Healthcare & Medical194Retail & Consumer Products: 107Retail & Consumer Products107Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics: 96Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics96Hospitality & Tourism: 83Hospitality & Tourism83Community Services & Development: 80Community Services & Development80Trades & Services: 54Trades & Services54Education & Training: 34Education & Training34Mining, Resources & Energy: 23Mining, Resources & Energy23

Source: ViewJobs live ads[9].

Show the numbers
Live jobs on ViewJobs by classification, Golden Outback and South West
ClassificationLive jobs
Healthcare & Medical194
Retail & Consumer Products107
Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics96
Hospitality & Tourism83
Community Services & Development80
Trades & Services54
Education & Training34
Mining, Resources & Energy23

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, Wheatbelt, 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.
  • Wheatbelt
  • Western Australia
  • Australia
$50k$60k$70k$80k$90k2021–222022–232023–24WheatbeltWheatbelt, 2021–22: $59,102Wheatbelt, 2022–23: $63,141Wheatbelt, 2023–24: $65,795$65,795Western 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[10]; ViewJobs[11].

Show the numbers
Average salary and wages per earner, Wheatbelt, 2021–22 to 2023–24 (ATO)
Income yearWheatbeltWestern AustraliaAustralia
2021–22$59,102$74,612$69,980
2022–23$63,141$77,633$73,647
2023–24$65,795$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 the Wheatbelt's job market, each with its period and source.

How many jobs are advertised in the Wheatbelt?

701 online job ads a month were placed in the Wheatbelt, on average, in the three months to September 2026.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Is the Wheatbelt's job market growing or shrinking?

Steady: online job ads in the Wheatbelt were down 1.4% on a year earlier, from 711 to 701 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 the Wheatbelt?

Automotive and engineering trades had the most online ads, 59 a month in the three months to September 2026, followed by general-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists (49) and sales assistants and salespersons (44). Among occupation groups with at least 5 ads a month a year earlier and now, ads for health and welfare support workers rose fastest, up 69.2%.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

What is the unemployment rate in the Wheatbelt?

The unemployment rate in the Wheatbelt was 3.1% in September 2026, against 4.2% across Western Australia. A year earlier it was 3.3%. 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 Wheatbelt?

No, it is falling. Unemployment in the Wheatbelt was down 0.2 points on a year earlier in September 2026, at 3.1% against 3.3% (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 the Wheatbelt?

An estimated 4,924 of the 77,025 people employed in the Wheatbelt in September 2026 worked as Mixed Crop and Livestock Farmers, the largest occupation there. Next were Truck Drivers, with 2,600 people, and Sales Assistants (General), with 2,374 people. These are Jobs and Skills Australia's experimental nowcast estimates.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[7].

Which occupations are growing fastest in the Wheatbelt?

Among occupations with at least 200 people employed in both September 2025 and September 2026, Office Managers grew fastest in the Wheatbelt, up 33.0% to an estimated 1,240 people employed, followed by Handypersons (up 22.1%) and Agricultural and Forestry Scientists (up 18.6%). These are Jobs and Skills Australia's experimental nowcast estimates.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[7].

How many people are in Workforce Australia employment services in the Wheatbelt?

6,355 people in the Wheatbelt were in Workforce Australia employment services at 30 June 2026, up 3.1% on a year earlier. 74.4% 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 Wheatbelt been in Workforce Australia employment services?

At 30 June 2026, 74.4% had been in employment services for 12 months or more, and 55.9% 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 the Wheatbelt?

849 jobs are live on ViewJobs in the Golden Outback and the South West, as of 30 Oct 2026. The Golden Outback and the South West reach beyond the Wheatbelt: 80% of the Golden Outback's towns and 40% of the South West's are in the area. The most advertised are Healthcare & Medical (194), Retail & Consumer Products (107) and Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics (96).

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 Wheatbelt here is ABS SA4 509 Western Australia - Wheat Belt. 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.[7]
People in employment services
The views expressed in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (or DEWR). Counts are of people by home address; the ABS area is the SA4 that address falls in. Capital city, state and national figures are sums of SA4 regions.[5]
Pay
Average salary and wages per earner come from the ATO's Taxation Statistics for individuals. An income year runs from 1 July to 30 June and the figures are published more than a year later, so none leads this report. The ATO assigns a postcode that spans regions wholly to the region holding most of it. Capital city, state and national figures are sums of SA4 regions.[10]
ABS figures
The latest ABS income and jobs figures here are for the year to 30 June 2023; population and business counts are more recent. Every figure shows its year. Change is measured from 2019: the ABS figures for 2018 and 2019 differ sharply for some industries in some areas. Industries with fewer than 1,000 employee jobs are listed but not ranked.
Jobs on ViewJobs
ViewJobs regions do not follow ABS boundaries. Section 6 counts the ads open on ViewJobs on 30 Oct 2026 in each ViewJobs region with at least 20% of its towns in this area, and counts each region whole: a region that reaches beyond the area can include ads from outside it, and a region with fewer of its towns here is left out. A classification links to its own page once it has enough ads for one.

11 References

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

  1. Jobs and Skills Australia, Internet Vacancy Index, September 2026. jobsandskills.gov.au/sites/default/files/2026-10/internet_vacancies_anzsco2_occupations_gccsa_and_sa4_regions_-_september_2026.xlsx. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Accessed 25 October 2026.
  2. ViewJobs, ViewJobs analysis of the Jobs and Skills Australia Internet Vacancy Index, September 2026. jobsandskills.gov.au/data/internet-vacancy-index. State and national figures are the sum of the ABS areas in Jobs and Skills Australia's regional series.
  3. Australian Bureau of Statistics, Regional Labour Force, September 2026. abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/employment-and-unemployment/regional-labour-force/sep-2026/MLF1.xlsx. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Accessed 25 October 2026.
  4. ViewJobs, ViewJobs analysis of the Australian Bureau of Statistics Regional Labour Force, September 2026. abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/employment-and-unemployment/regional-labour-force/latest-release. Capital city, state and national figures are sums of the ABS's modelled labour market regions, with rates worked out from the sums.
  5. Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, Workforce Australia Caseload by Selected Cohorts, June 2026. dewr.gov.au/employment-services-data/resources/workforce-australia-caseload-selected-cohorts-30-june-2026. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Accessed 26 October 2026. The views expressed in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (or DEWR).
  6. 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. 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.
  9. ViewJobs, Live job ads on ViewJobs, 30 Oct 2026. viewjobs.com.au.
  10. Australian Taxation Office, Taxation Statistics, 2023–24. data.gov.au/data/dataset/faea4485-f407-457d-97f8-3f0822ccd654/resource/9d8577b7-a096-4758-9b3b-0649f3b83de7/download/ts24individual06taxablestatusstatesa4postcode.xlsx. Licence: CC BY 2.5 AU. Accessed 26 October 2026.
  11. ViewJobs, ViewJobs analysis of the Australian Taxation Office Taxation Statistics, 2023–24. ato.gov.au/about-ato/research-and-statistics/in-detail/taxation-statistics. Capital city, state and national figures are sums of SA4 regions.
  12. Australian Bureau of Statistics, Data by Region, v1.6.0. dbr.abs.gov.au. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Accessed 25 October 2026.

Cite this report

ViewJobs (2026). Wheatbelt job market report, data to September 2026. https://www.viewjobs.com.au/job-market/wa/wheatbelt

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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