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Job market reports

Australia's job markets

Online job ads and unemployment for Australia's 50 job market areas, 42 regional areas and 8 capital cities, from Jobs and Skills Australia and the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Each area has its own full report.

Latest data
JSA September 2026; ABS 2023 to 2025 and the 2021 Census
Updated
24 October 2026
Areas
50 job market areas
Sources
JSA and ABS

Key findings

  1. Steady: online job ads across Australia were up 0.6% on a year earlier, from 214,332 to 215,533 a month in the three months to September 2026.[1][2]

    Section 1: Job ads across Australia →

  2. Online job ads grew fastest in the Capital Region (up 26.7%), Coffs Harbour - Grafton (up 13.7%) and Outback South Australia (up 13.1%), comparing the three months to September 2026 with a year earlier.[1]

    Section 2: Where job ads are growing and falling →

  3. Online job ads fell most in Greater Darwin (down 11.7%), Greater Hobart (down 9.9%) and the Gold Coast (down 8.4%), comparing the three months to September 2026 with a year earlier.[1]

    Section 2: Where job ads are growing and falling →

  4. Unemployment was highest in Outback Northern Territory (8.9%), the Wide Bay (7.0%) and Greater Hobart (6.2%) at the 2021 Census.[3]

    Section 3: Unemployment at the 2021 Census →

1 Job ads across Australia

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. This page adds up the 50 areas' figures.

Australia
+0.6%
215,533 ads a month[1][2]
Areas with more ads
30
of 50[1]
Areas with fewer ads
19
of 50[1]

Online job ads, the three months to September 2026 against a year earlier. An area counts as more or fewer when its change shows as more than 0.0%.

Figure 1.1: Online job ads a month, AustraliaThree-month average, the sum of its 50 areas, October 2023 to September 2026.
175k200k225k250k275k300kJun 2024Mar 2025Dec 2025Sep 2026AustraliaAustralia, Sep 2026: 215,533215,533

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

Show the numbers
Online job ads a month, Australia
MonthOnline job ads a month
October 2023279,641
November 2023263,685
December 2023230,766
January 2024224,531
February 2024224,831
March 2024247,060
April 2024239,755
May 2024238,782
June 2024229,580
July 2024225,960
August 2024223,357
September 2024229,703
October 2024236,254
November 2024227,089
December 2024199,341
January 2025194,347
February 2025192,841
March 2025215,338
April 2025204,042
May 2025206,099
June 2025201,701
July 2025210,416
August 2025208,051
September 2025214,332
October 2025215,499
November 2025209,716
December 2025185,848
January 2026185,193
February 2026190,950
March 2026216,184
April 2026206,911
May 2026204,960
June 2026198,258
July 2026205,954
August 2026209,250
September 2026215,533

2 Where job ads are growing and falling

Each area's online job ads in the three months to September 2026, against the same three months a year earlier.

Figure 2.1: Online job ads, change on a year ago, by areaThe three months to September 2026 against a year earlier. Select an area for its report.
Capital Region: +26.7% on a year agoGreater Sydney: −2.6% on a year agoCentral West: +12.2% on a year agoCoffs Harbour - Grafton: +13.7% on a year agoFar West and Orana: +2.1% on a year agoHunter Valley: −3.3% on a year agoIllawarra: −0.7% on a year agoMid North Coast: +11.1% on a year agoMurray: +7.1% on a year agoNew England and North West: +2.9% on a year agoNewcastle and Lake Macquarie: −5.2% on a year agoRichmond - Tweed: −6.4% on a year agoRiverina: +6.9% on a year agoSouthern Highlands and Shoalhaven: +10.0% on a year agoBallarat: +9.0% on a year agoBendigo: +6.8% on a year agoGeelong: +6.4% on a year agoHume: −0.3% on a year agoLatrobe - Gippsland: −0.6% on a year agoGreater Melbourne: −0.6% on a year agoNorth West Victoria: +0.4% on a year agoShepparton: +0.1% on a year agoWarrnambool and South West: +3.4% on a year agoGreater Brisbane: +1.5% on a year agoCairns: +2.7% on a year agoDarling Downs - Maranoa: −5.8% on a year agoCentral Queensland: +0.7% on a year agoGold Coast: −8.4% on a year agoMackay - Isaac - Whitsunday: +3.4% on a year agoOutback Queensland: +2.4% on a year agoSunshine Coast: −3.4% on a year agoToowoomba: +1.5% on a year agoTownsville: +3.8% on a year agoWide Bay: +2.6% on a year agoGreater Adelaide: +1.9% on a year agoBarossa - Yorke - Mid North: 0.0% on a year agoOutback South Australia: +13.1% on a year agoSouth East South Australia: +6.4% on a year agoBunbury: +3.0% on a year agoGreater Perth: +8.6% on a year agoWheatbelt: −1.4% on a year agoOutback WA (north): −0.2% on a year agoOutback WA (south): +10.0% on a year agoGreater Hobart: −9.9% on a year agoLaunceston and North East: −1.2% on a year agoSouth East Tasmania: −5.2% on a year agoWest and North West: +7.3% on a year agoGreater Darwin: −11.7% on a year agoOutback Northern Territory: −1.7% on a year agoAustralian Capital Territory: −6.9% on a year ago
  • Down more than 10%
  • Down 5–10%
  • Down 2–5%
  • About the same (±2%)
  • Up 2–5%
  • Up 5–10%
  • Up more than 10%

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Show the numbers
Online job ads, change on a year ago, by area
AreaStateAds a month, September 2026Change on a year ago
Capital RegionNSW1,453+26.7%
Coffs Harbour - GraftonNSW912+13.7%
Outback South AustraliaSA709+13.1%
Central WestNSW1,478+12.2%
Mid North CoastNSW1,561+11.1%
Outback WA (south)WA1,565+10.0%
Southern Highlands and ShoalhavenNSW773+10.0%
BallaratVIC937+9.0%
Greater PerthWA23,190+8.6%
West and North WestTAS649+7.3%
MurrayNSW1,029+7.1%
RiverinaNSW1,238+6.9%
BendigoVIC908+6.8%
South East South AustraliaSA974+6.4%
GeelongVIC1,690+6.4%
TownsvilleQLD2,354+3.8%
Warrnambool and South WestVIC761+3.4%
Mackay - Isaac - WhitsundayQLD2,471+3.4%
BunburyWA1,284+3.0%
New England and North WestNSW1,405+2.9%
CairnsQLD2,209+2.7%
Wide BayQLD1,804+2.6%
Outback QueenslandQLD779+2.4%
Far West and OranaNSW983+2.1%
Greater AdelaideSA12,437+1.9%
ToowoombaQLD1,148+1.5%
Greater BrisbaneQLD29,449+1.5%
Central QueenslandQLD2,223+0.7%
North West VictoriaVIC923+0.4%
SheppartonVIC850+0.1%
Barossa - Yorke - Mid NorthSA5480.0%
Outback WA (north)WA1,730−0.2%
HumeVIC937−0.3%
Greater MelbourneVIC38,170−0.6%
Latrobe - GippslandVIC1,262−0.6%
IllawarraNSW1,427−0.7%
Launceston and North EastTAS857−1.2%
WheatbeltWA701−1.4%
Outback Northern TerritoryNT961−1.7%
Greater SydneyNSW44,625−2.6%
Hunter ValleyNSW2,051−3.3%
Sunshine CoastQLD3,218−3.4%
South East TasmaniaTAS92−5.2%
Newcastle and Lake MacquarieNSW2,803−5.2%
Darling Downs - MaranoaQLD1,006−5.8%
Richmond - TweedNSW1,448−6.4%
Australian Capital TerritoryACT4,643−6.9%
Gold CoastQLD5,473−8.4%
Greater HobartTAS1,566−9.9%
Greater DarwinNT1,869−11.7%
Table 2.1: Where job ads grew fastestChange on a year earlier, the three months to September 2026. Areas tied at the figure shown share a rank.
RankAreaChange
1Capital Region, NSW+26.7%
2Coffs Harbour - Grafton, NSW+13.7%
3Outback South Australia, SA+13.1%
4Central West, NSW+12.2%
5Mid North Coast, NSW+11.1%
6Outback WA (south), WA+10.0%
6Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven, NSW+10.0%
8Ballarat, VIC+9.0%
9Greater Perth, WA+8.6%
10West and North West, TAS+7.3%

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Table 2.2: Where job ads fell mostChange on a year earlier, the three months to September 2026. Fewer ads, not fewer jobs.
RankAreaChange
1Greater Darwin, NT−11.7%
2Greater Hobart, TAS−9.9%
3Gold Coast, QLD−8.4%
4Australian Capital Territory−6.9%
5Richmond - Tweed, NSW−6.4%
6Darling Downs - Maranoa, QLD−5.8%
7Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, NSW−5.2%
7South East Tasmania, TAS−5.2%
9Sunshine Coast, QLD−3.4%
10Hunter Valley, NSW−3.3%

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

3 Unemployment at the 2021 Census

Share of the labour force unemployed in each area at the 2021 Census, from the ABS.

Table 3.1: Highest unemployment at the 2021 CensusAreas tied at the figure shown share a rank.
RankAreaUnemployment
1Outback Northern Territory, NT8.9%
2Wide Bay, QLD7.0%
3Greater Hobart, TAS6.2%
4Launceston and North East, TAS5.8%
4Mid North Coast, NSW5.8%
6Cairns, QLD5.7%
6Outback South Australia, SA5.7%
8Coffs Harbour - Grafton, NSW5.6%
8Outback Queensland, QLD5.6%
10Central Queensland, QLD5.5%
10Greater Adelaide, SA5.5%
10Greater Brisbane, QLD5.5%
10West and North West, TAS5.5%

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Table 3.2: Lowest unemployment at the 2021 CensusAreas tied at the figure shown share a rank.
RankAreaUnemployment
1Warrnambool and South West, VIC3.1%
2Hume, VIC3.4%
3Capital Region, NSW3.5%
4Australian Capital Territory3.8%
4Riverina, NSW3.8%
6Mackay - Isaac - Whitsunday, QLD3.9%
7Greater Darwin, NT4.0%
7Murray, NSW4.0%
7North West Victoria, VIC4.0%
7Shepparton, VIC4.0%

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Note: These are Census rates, not current ones. The ABS's monthly Labour Force estimates by region are not included yet.

4 States and territories

Each state and territory's page maps its areas and lists them side by side.

5 Quick answers

Short answers to the questions people ask about Australia's job markets, each with its period and source.

How many jobs are advertised in Australia?

215,533 online job ads a month were placed across Australia, on average, in the three months to September 2026.

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

Is Australia's job market growing or shrinking?

Steady: online job ads across Australia were up 0.6% on a year earlier, from 214,332 to 215,533 a month in the three months to September 2026.

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

Where are job ads growing fastest in Australia?

Online job ads grew fastest in the Capital Region (up 26.7%), Coffs Harbour - Grafton (up 13.7%) and Outback South Australia (up 13.1%), comparing the three months to September 2026 with a year earlier.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Where are job ads falling in Australia?

Online job ads fell most in Greater Darwin (down 11.7%), Greater Hobart (down 9.9%) and the Gold Coast (down 8.4%), comparing the three months to September 2026 with a year earlier.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Where is unemployment highest in Australia?

Unemployment was highest in Outback Northern Territory (8.9%), the Wide Bay (7.0%) and Greater Hobart (6.2%) at the 2021 Census.

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Where is unemployment lowest in Australia?

Unemployment was lowest in Warrnambool and South West (3.1%), Hume (3.4%) and the Capital Region (3.5%) at the 2021 Census.

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

6 Notes and method

What the figures count, where they come from, and the rules these pages apply to them.

The areas
The reports cover 50 job market areas, 42 regional ABS regions and the eight capital cities: the areas Jobs and Skills Australia publishes online job ads for. Each has its own report.
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
These pages read the index's series by area, so a state or national figure here is the sum of its areas, read at the same month for every area and marked as ViewJobs analysis. It can differ from the state and national totals Jobs and Skills Australia publishes separately.[2]
The map
Areas are shaded by their change in online job ads on a year earlier. The shades are set from the spread of changes among the areas shown, so one change can take a different shade on a state page and on the national map.
Small numbers and ties
An area with fewer than 5 ads a month, now or a year earlier, is shown as "fewer than 5" and is not shaded or ranked. Areas tied at the figure shown share a rank.
ABS figures
Every ABS figure shows its year. These pages take unemployment from the Census: each figure is the rate at the Census named, not a current rate. The ABS's monthly Labour Force estimates by region are not included yet.

7 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 24 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, Data by Region, v1.6.0. dbr.abs.gov.au. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Accessed 24 October 2026.

Cite this report

ViewJobs (2026). Australia's job markets, data to September 2026. https://preview.viewjobs.com.au/job-market

Licence

Contains data from Jobs and Skills Australia, and the Australian Bureau of Statistics, used under CC BY 4.0. ViewJobs has charted the data and, where marked as ViewJobs analysis, added areas together.

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