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Job market report

Coffs Harbour - Grafton job market report

Online job ads, unemployment, industries and pay in Coffs Harbour - Grafton, New South Wales, from Jobs and Skills Australia and the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Every figure is numbered and sourced.

Latest data
JSA September 2026; ABS 2023 to 2025 and the 2021 Census
Updated
24 October 2026
Area
ABS SA4 104 Coffs Harbour - Grafton
Sources
JSA, ABS and ViewJobs

Key findings

  1. Growing: online job ads in Coffs Harbour - Grafton were up 13.7% on a year earlier, from 802 to 912 a month in the three months to September 2026.

    Over the same year, ads were down 0.8% across New South Wales and up 0.6% across Australia.[1][2]

    Section 1: Job ads and demand →

  2. Medical practitioners and nurses had the most online ads, 189 a month in the three months to September 2026, followed by legal, social and welfare professionals (106) and carers and aides (79).

    Among occupation groups with at least 5 ads a month a year earlier and now, ads for corporate managers rose fastest, up 100.0%.[1]

    Section 2: Which jobs are in demand →

  3. Among industries with 1,000 or more employee jobs, accommodation and food services grew fastest, with 32% more employee jobs in 2023 than in 2019, followed by financial and insurance services (29% more).

    Agriculture, forestry and fishing had 24% fewer employee jobs than in 2019, and rental, hiring and real estate services 9% fewer.[3]

    Section 4: Industries growing and shrinking →

  4. 5.6% of the labour force in Coffs Harbour - Grafton was unemployed at the 2021 Census, against 4.9% across New South Wales.

    It was 7.9% at the 2016 Census. Labour force participation at the 2021 Census was 51.7%, against 58.7% across New South Wales. The Census runs every five years, so these are not current rates.[3]

    Section 3: Unemployment and participation →

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.

Coffs Harbour - Grafton
+13.7%
912 ads a month[1]
New South Wales
−0.8%
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, Coffs Harbour - GraftonThree-month average, October 2023 to September 2026.
6007008009001kJan 2024Sep 2024May 2025Jan 2026Sep 2026Coffs Harbour - GraftonCoffs Harbour - Grafton, Sep 2026: 912912

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Show the numbers
Online job ads a month, Coffs Harbour - Grafton
MonthOnline job ads a month
October 2023965
November 2023875
December 2023762
January 2024755
February 2024750
March 2024797
April 2024763
May 2024732
June 2024703
July 2024693
August 2024713
September 2024740
October 2024773
November 2024762
December 2024706
January 2025716
February 2025695
March 2025733
April 2025680
May 2025691
June 2025686
July 2025734
August 2025745
September 2025802
October 2025817
November 2025803
December 2025739
January 2026753
February 2026774
March 2026849
April 2026786
May 2026774
June 2026763
July 2026821
August 2026871
September 2026912

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, Coffs Harbour - GraftonThe 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.
Medical practitioners and nurses: +70.3%Medical practitioners and nurses+70.3%Legal, social and welfare professionals: +39.5%Legal, social and welfare professionals+39.5%Drivers and storepersons: +29.2%Drivers and storepersons+29.2%Cleaners and laundry workers: +26.3%Cleaners and laundry workers+26.3%Health and welfare support workers: +16.7%Health and welfare support workers+16.7%Automotive and engineering trades: +13.0%Automotive and engineering trades+13.0%Health diagnostic and therapy professionals: +10.3%Health diagnostic and therapy professionals+10.3%Carers and aides: +3.9%Carers and aides+3.9%Hospitality, retail and service managers: 0.0%Hospitality, retail and service managers0.0%Sales assistants and salespersons: 0.0%Sales assistants and salespersons0.0%General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists: −21.2%General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists−21.2%Other labourers: −26.7%Other labourers−26.7%

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Show the numbers
Change in online job ads by occupation, Coffs Harbour - Grafton
Occupation groupAds a month, September 2026A year earlierChange
Medical practitioners and nurses189111+70.3%
Legal, social and welfare professionals10676+39.5%
Carers and aides7976+3.9%
Sales assistants and salespersons56560.0%
General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists4152−21.2%
Health diagnostic and therapy professionals3229+10.3%
Drivers and storepersons3124+29.2%
Hospitality, retail and service managers28280.0%
Automotive and engineering trades2623+13.0%
Cleaners and laundry workers2419+26.3%
Other labourers2230−26.7%
Health and welfare support workers2118+16.7%
Food trades20200.0%
Corporate managers189+100.0%
Sports, travel and personal service workers1612+33.3%
Engineering, ICT and science technicians14140.0%
Numerical clerks1210+20.0%
Sales representatives and agents1217−29.4%
Business, finance and human resource professionals1110+10.0%
Hospitality workers1112−8.3%
Education professionals1022−54.5%
Other clerical and administrative workers1012−16.7%
Construction, production and distribution managers98+12.5%
Sales support workers96+50.0%
Construction trades810−20.0%
Electrotechnology and telecommunications trades880.0%
Health, education, ICT and other managers78−12.5%
Skilled animal and horticultural workers79−22.2%
Transport and design professionals, and architects6fewer than 5n/a
Engineers660.0%
Office managers, administrators and secretaries69−33.3%
Mobile plant operators67−14.3%
Construction and mining labourers6fewer than 5n/a
Farm, forestry and garden workers6fewer than 5n/a
Food preparation assistants6fewer than 5n/a
Machine and stationary plant operators550.0%
Arts and media professionalsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Science professionals and veterinariansfewer than 55n/a
Jewellers, arts and other trades workersfewer than 56n/a
Factory process workersfewer than 56n/a
Chief executives, managing directors & legislatorsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Sales, marketing & public relations professionalsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Clerical and office support workers, couriersfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Farmers and farm managersfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Information professionalsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
ICT professionalsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Hairdressers, printing, clothing and wood tradesfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Protective service workersfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a

3 Unemployment and participation

Unemployment and labour force participation at each Census, from the ABS. These are the rates at the Census named, not current rates.

Figure 3.1: Unemployment rate, Coffs Harbour - GraftonShare of the labour force unemployed at the 2011, 2016 and 2021 Censuses, against New South Wales.
  • Coffs Harbour - Grafton
  • New South Wales
4%5%6%7%8%9%201120162021Coffs Harbour - GraftonCoffs Harbour - Grafton, 2011: 8.5%Coffs Harbour - Grafton, 2016: 7.9%Coffs Harbour - Grafton, 2021: 5.6%5.6%New South WalesNew South Wales, 2011: 5.9%New South Wales, 2016: 6.3%New South Wales, 2021: 4.9%4.9%

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Show the numbers
Unemployment rate, Coffs Harbour - Grafton
CensusCoffs Harbour - GraftonNew South Wales
2011 Census8.5%5.9%
2016 Census7.9%6.3%
2021 Census5.6%4.9%
Figure 3.2: Labour force participation, Coffs Harbour - GraftonShare of people aged 15 and over in the labour force at the 2011, 2016 and 2021 Censuses, against New South Wales.
  • Coffs Harbour - Grafton
  • New South Wales
50%52.5%55%57.5%60%201120162021Coffs Harbour - GraftonCoffs Harbour - Grafton, 2011: 52.2%Coffs Harbour - Grafton, 2016: 50.3%Coffs Harbour - Grafton, 2021: 51.7%51.7%New South WalesNew South Wales, 2011: 59.7%New South Wales, 2016: 59.2%New South Wales, 2021: 58.7%58.7%

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Show the numbers
Labour force participation, Coffs Harbour - Grafton
CensusCoffs Harbour - GraftonNew South Wales
2011 Census52.2%59.7%
2016 Census50.3%59.2%
2021 Census51.7%58.7%

Note: This report takes unemployment from the Census. The ABS's monthly Labour Force estimates by region are not included yet.

4 Industries growing and shrinking

Employee jobs by industry (ANZSIC division) in the year to 30 June, from the ABS. Change is measured from 2019: the ABS figures for 2018 and 2019 differ sharply for some industries in some areas. Shrinking means fewer employee jobs in the ABS count.

Figure 4.1: Change in employee jobs by industry, Coffs Harbour - Grafton, 2019 to 2023Industries with 1,000 or more employee jobs in 2023, fastest-growing first.
Accommodation and food services: +31.8%Accommodation and food services+31.8%Financial and insurance services: +28.6%Financial and insurance services+28.6%Health care and social assistance: +26.7%Health care and social assistance+26.7%Retail trade: +19.7%Retail trade+19.7%Other services: +19.0%Other services+19.0%Public administration and safety: +18.9%Public administration and safety+18.9%Professional, scientific and technical services: +16.6%Professional, scientific and technical services+16.6%Wholesale trade: +15.5%Wholesale trade+15.5%Arts and recreation services: +15.4%Arts and recreation services+15.4%Manufacturing: +12.3%Manufacturing+12.3%Education and training: +11.1%Education and training+11.1%Transport, postal and warehousing: +10.8%Transport, postal and warehousing+10.8%Construction: +8.4%Construction+8.4%Administrative and support services: −0.9%Administrative and support services−0.9%Rental, hiring and real estate services: −9.0%Rental, hiring and real estate services−9.0%Agriculture, forestry and fishing: −23.9%Agriculture, forestry and fishing−23.9%

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Show the numbers
Change in employee jobs by industry, Coffs Harbour - Grafton, 2019 to 2023
Industry20192023Change
Health care and social assistance13,06516,552+26.7%
Accommodation and food services9,78312,893+31.8%
Retail trade9,31411,152+19.7%
Education and training7,2148,018+11.1%
Public administration and safety6,5437,777+18.9%
Construction6,9537,539+8.4%
Administrative and support services6,8436,782−0.9%
Professional, scientific and technical services3,8624,505+16.6%
Manufacturing3,6704,121+12.3%
Agriculture, forestry and fishing4,9723,784−23.9%
Other services3,0193,594+19.0%
Financial and insurance services2,6933,464+28.6%
Transport, postal and warehousing2,7403,036+10.8%
Wholesale trade2,4272,804+15.5%
Rental, hiring and real estate services1,8401,674−9.0%
Arts and recreation services1,3761,588+15.4%
Electricity, gas, water and waste services555722n/a
Information media and telecommunications521647n/a
Mining538517n/a
Figure 4.2: Largest industries by employee jobs, Coffs Harbour - Grafton, 2023102,259 employee jobs across all industries in the year to 30 June 2023.
Health care and social assistance: 16,552Health care and social assistance16,552Accommodation and food services: 12,893Accommodation and food services12,893Retail trade: 11,152Retail trade11,152Education and training: 8,018Education and training8,018Public administration and safety: 7,777Public administration and safety7,777Construction: 7,539Construction7,539Administrative and support services: 6,782Administrative and support services6,782Professional, scientific and technical services: 4,505Professional, scientific and technical services4,505

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Show the numbers
Largest industries by employee jobs, Coffs Harbour - Grafton, 2023
IndustryEmployee jobsShare of all employee jobs
Health care and social assistance16,55216%
Accommodation and food services12,89313%
Retail trade11,15211%
Education and training8,0188%
Public administration and safety7,7778%
Construction7,5397%
Administrative and support services6,7827%
Professional, scientific and technical services4,5054%
Manufacturing4,1214%
Agriculture, forestry and fishing3,7844%
Other services3,5944%
Financial and insurance services3,4643%
Transport, postal and warehousing3,0363%
Wholesale trade2,8043%
Rental, hiring and real estate services1,6742%
Arts and recreation services1,5882%
Electricity, gas, water and waste services7221%
Information media and telecommunications6471%
Mining5171%
All industries102,259100%

5 Pay

Employee income per person with wage or salary income, before tax, including part-time and part-year workers, from the ABS. The median is the middle earner; the mean (average) is pulled up by high earners.

Figure 5.1: Median employee income, Coffs Harbour - GraftonIn the year to 30 June, 2019 to 2023, against New South Wales and Australia.
  • Coffs Harbour - Grafton
  • New South Wales
  • Australia
$40k$50k$60k$70k20192020202120222023Coffs Harbour - GraftonCoffs Harbour - Grafton, 2019: $43,077Coffs Harbour - Grafton, 2020: $44,178Coffs Harbour - Grafton, 2021: $46,323Coffs Harbour - Grafton, 2022: $47,172Coffs Harbour - Grafton, 2023: $50,693$50,693New South WalesNew South Wales, 2019: $53,104New South Wales, 2020: $54,989New South Wales, 2021: $57,891New South Wales, 2022: $58,972New South Wales, 2023: $63,301$63,301AustraliaAustralia, 2019: $52,256Australia, 2020: $53,878Australia, 2021: $56,485Australia, 2022: $58,260Australia, 2023: $61,966$61,966

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Show the numbers
Median employee income, Coffs Harbour - Grafton
YearCoffs Harbour - GraftonNew South WalesAustralia
2019$43,077$53,104$52,256
2020$44,178$54,989$53,878
2021$46,323$57,891$56,485
2022$47,172$58,972$58,260
2023$50,693$63,301$61,966
Figure 5.2: Mean employee income, Coffs Harbour - GraftonIn the year to 30 June, 2019 to 2023, against New South Wales and Australia.
  • Coffs Harbour - Grafton
  • New South Wales
  • Australia
$40k$50k$60k$70k$80k20192020202120222023Coffs Harbour - GraftonCoffs Harbour - Grafton, 2019: $49,611Coffs Harbour - Grafton, 2020: $51,074Coffs Harbour - Grafton, 2021: $52,926Coffs Harbour - Grafton, 2022: $54,555Coffs Harbour - Grafton, 2023: $57,820$57,820New South WalesNew South Wales, 2019: $66,377New South Wales, 2020: $68,690New South Wales, 2021: $71,848New South Wales, 2022: $74,232New South Wales, 2023: $78,078$78,078AustraliaAustralia, 2019: $63,517Australia, 2020: $65,591Australia, 2021: $68,452Australia, 2022: $70,950Australia, 2023: $74,579$74,579

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Show the numbers
Mean employee income, Coffs Harbour - Grafton
YearCoffs Harbour - GraftonNew South WalesAustralia
2019$49,611$66,377$63,517
2020$51,074$68,690$65,591
2021$52,926$71,848$68,452
2022$54,555$74,232$70,950
2023$57,820$78,078$74,579

6 People

Estimated resident population and the working-age population (15 to 64), from the ABS.

People living in the area
152,331
ABS, 2025 · up 5.5% since 2020[3]
Working-age population, 15 to 64
86,114
ABS, 2024 · up 1.6% since 2020[3]

New South Wales' population was up 5.9% from 2020 to 2025, and Coffs Harbour - Grafton's up 5.5%.[3]

7 Businesses

Counts of businesses by how many people they employ, from the ABS.

Businesses in the area
12,466
ABS, 2025 · up 9.0% since 2021[3]
Figure 7.1: Businesses by number of employees, Coffs Harbour - Grafton, 2025Businesses by how many people they employ. The table adds each size's count in 2021 and the change.
No employees: 7,450No employees7,4501–4 employees: 3,4441–4 employees3,4445–19 employees: 1,2855–19 employees1,28520 or more employees: 28720 or more employees287

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Show the numbers
Businesses by number of employees, Coffs Harbour - Grafton, 2025
Size20212025Change
No employees6,3437,450+17.5%
1–4 employees3,5893,444−4.0%
5–19 employees1,2561,285+2.3%
20 or more employees247287+16.2%

8 Jobs on ViewJobs now

Live job ads on ViewJobs in North Coast NSW, a ViewJobs region that reaches beyond this ABS area: 21% of its towns are in the area.

Live jobs on ViewJobs in North Coast NSW
930
ViewJobs, 25 Oct 2026[4]
Figure 8.1: Live jobs on ViewJobs by classification, North Coast NSWThe 8 classifications with the most live ads, as of 25 Oct 2026.
Healthcare & Medical: 191Healthcare & Medical191Hospitality & Tourism: 189Hospitality & Tourism189Retail & Consumer Products: 120Retail & Consumer Products120Community Services & Development: 112Community Services & Development112Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics: 58Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics58Farming, Animals & Conservation: 34Farming, Animals & Conservation34Trades & Services: 29Trades & Services29Administration & Office Support: 26Administration & Office Support26

Source: ViewJobs live ads[4].

Show the numbers
Live jobs on ViewJobs by classification, North Coast NSW
ClassificationLive jobs
Healthcare & Medical191
Hospitality & Tourism189
Retail & Consumer Products120
Community Services & Development112
Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics58
Farming, Animals & Conservation34
Trades & Services29
Administration & Office Support26

Browse jobs by region

9 Quick answers

Short answers to the questions people ask about Coffs Harbour - Grafton's job market, each with its period and source.

How many jobs are advertised in Coffs Harbour - Grafton?

912 online job ads a month were placed in Coffs Harbour - Grafton, on average, in the three months to September 2026.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Is Coffs Harbour - Grafton's job market growing or shrinking?

Growing: online job ads in Coffs Harbour - Grafton were up 13.7% on a year earlier, from 802 to 912 a month in the three months to September 2026. Over the same year, ads were down 0.8% across New South Wales and up 0.6% across Australia.

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

Which jobs are most in demand in Coffs Harbour - Grafton?

Medical practitioners and nurses had the most online ads, 189 a month in the three months to September 2026, followed by legal, social and welfare professionals (106) and carers and aides (79). Among occupation groups with at least 5 ads a month a year earlier and now, ads for corporate managers rose fastest, up 100.0%.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

What is the unemployment rate in Coffs Harbour - Grafton?

5.6% of the labour force in Coffs Harbour - Grafton was unemployed at the 2021 Census, against 4.9% across New South Wales. It was 7.9% at the 2016 Census. Labour force participation at the 2021 Census was 51.7%, against 58.7% across New South Wales. The Census runs every five years, so these are not current rates.

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

What is the average wage in Coffs Harbour - Grafton?

Average (mean) employee income in Coffs Harbour - Grafton was $57,820 in 2023; the median was $50,693, against $63,301 across New South Wales and $61,966 across Australia.

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Which industries employ the most people in Coffs Harbour - Grafton?

Health care and social assistance had the most employee jobs in Coffs Harbour - Grafton: 16,552 in 2023, 16% of the 102,259 employee jobs. Next were accommodation and food services (12,893) and retail trade (11,152).

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Which industries are growing or shrinking in Coffs Harbour - Grafton?

Among industries with 1,000 or more employee jobs, accommodation and food services grew fastest, with 32% more employee jobs in 2023 than in 2019, followed by financial and insurance services (29% more). Agriculture, forestry and fishing had 24% fewer employee jobs than in 2019, and rental, hiring and real estate services 9% fewer.

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Is Coffs Harbour - Grafton's population growing?

152,331 people lived in Coffs Harbour - Grafton in 2025, up 5.5% since 2020. New South Wales' population was up 5.9% over the same years. The working-age population was 86,114 in 2024, up 1.6% since 2020.

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

How many jobs are on ViewJobs in Coffs Harbour - Grafton?

930 jobs are live on ViewJobs in North Coast NSW, a ViewJobs region that reaches beyond Coffs Harbour - Grafton, as of 25 Oct 2026. 21% of its towns are in the area. The most advertised are Healthcare & Medical (191), Hospitality & Tourism (189) and Retail & Consumer Products (120).

Source: ViewJobs live ads[4].

10 Notes and method

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

The area
Coffs Harbour - Grafton here is ABS SA4 104 Coffs Harbour - Grafton. 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.
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.
Unemployment
This report takes unemployment from the 2011, 2016 and 2021 Censuses: 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.
Jobs on ViewJobs
ViewJobs regions do not follow ABS boundaries. Section 8 counts the ads open on ViewJobs on 25 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 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.
  4. ViewJobs, Live job ads on ViewJobs, 25 Oct 2026. preview.viewjobs.com.au.

Cite this report

ViewJobs (2026). Coffs Harbour - Grafton job market report, data to September 2026. https://preview.viewjobs.com.au/job-market/nsw/coffs-harbour-grafton

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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