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Job market report

Far West and Orana job market report

Online job ads, unemployment, industries and pay in the Far West and Orana, 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 105 Far West and Orana
Sources
JSA, ABS and ViewJobs

Key findings

  1. Steady: online job ads in the Far West and Orana were up 2.1% on a year earlier, from 963 to 983 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, 148 a month in the three months to September 2026, followed by carers and aides (81) and legal, social and welfare professionals (71).

    Among occupation groups with at least 5 ads a month a year earlier and now, ads for engineers rose fastest, up 47.1%.[1]

    Section 2: Which jobs are in demand →

  3. Among industries with 1,000 or more employee jobs, arts and recreation services grew fastest, with 41% more employee jobs in 2023 than in 2019, followed by financial and insurance services (35% more).[3]

    Section 4: Industries growing and shrinking →

  4. 4.4% of the labour force in the Far West and Orana was unemployed at the 2021 Census, against 4.9% across New South Wales.

    It was 7.0% at the 2016 Census. Labour force participation at the 2021 Census was 55.9%, 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.

Far West and Orana
+2.1%
983 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, Far West and OranaThree-month average, October 2023 to September 2026.
8009001k1.1k1.2kJan 2024Sep 2024May 2025Jan 2026Sep 2026Far West and OranaFar West and Orana, Sep 2026: 983983

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Show the numbers
Online job ads a month, Far West and Orana
MonthOnline job ads a month
October 20231,115
November 20231,035
December 2023906
January 2024874
February 2024843
March 2024904
April 2024876
May 2024878
June 2024854
July 2024865
August 2024875
September 2024900
October 2024920
November 2024913
December 2024842
January 2025829
February 2025807
March 2025864
April 2025820
May 2025839
June 2025843
July 2025890
August 2025899
September 2025963
October 20251,000
November 2025955
December 2025848
January 2026844
February 2026899
March 20261,009
April 2026988
May 2026969
June 2026956
July 2026974
August 2026984
September 2026983

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, Far West and OranaThe 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.
Engineers: +47.1%Engineers+47.1%Medical practitioners and nurses: +25.4%Medical practitioners and nurses+25.4%Drivers and storepersons: +20.0%Drivers and storepersons+20.0%Carers and aides: +15.7%Carers and aides+15.7%Hospitality, retail and service managers: +7.1%Hospitality, retail and service managers+7.1%Sales assistants and salespersons: +3.7%Sales assistants and salespersons+3.7%Health diagnostic and therapy professionals: −3.2%Health diagnostic and therapy professionals−3.2%Machine and stationary plant operators: −5.6%Machine and stationary plant operators−5.6%General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists: −5.7%General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists−5.7%Legal, social and welfare professionals: −9.0%Legal, social and welfare professionals−9.0%Automotive and engineering trades: −12.7%Automotive and engineering trades−12.7%Other labourers: −15.2%Other labourers−15.2%

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Show the numbers
Change in online job ads by occupation, Far West and Orana
Occupation groupAds a month, September 2026A year earlierChange
Medical practitioners and nurses148118+25.4%
Carers and aides8170+15.7%
Legal, social and welfare professionals7178−9.0%
Sales assistants and salespersons5654+3.7%
General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists5053−5.7%
Automotive and engineering trades4855−12.7%
Drivers and storepersons4235+20.0%
Machine and stationary plant operators3436−5.6%
Hospitality, retail and service managers3028+7.1%
Health diagnostic and therapy professionals3031−3.2%
Other labourers2833−15.2%
Engineers2517+47.1%
Health and welfare support workers2324−4.2%
Electrotechnology and telecommunications trades20200.0%
Business, finance and human resource professionals1916+18.8%
Cleaners and laundry workers1914+35.7%
Mobile plant operators1723−26.1%
Corporate managers1618−11.1%
Engineering, ICT and science technicians1619−15.8%
Food trades1615+6.7%
Hospitality workers1611+45.5%
Construction, production and distribution managers1312+8.3%
Education professionals1312+8.3%
Other clerical and administrative workers1215−20.0%
Office managers, administrators and secretaries129+33.3%
Science professionals and veterinarians1110+10.0%
Numerical clerks1014−28.6%
Sales support workers108+25.0%
Sales representatives and agents811−27.3%
Construction and mining labourers770.0%
Farm, forestry and garden workers711−36.4%
Health, education, ICT and other managers68−25.0%
Construction trades69−33.3%
Skilled animal and horticultural workers65+20.0%
Jewellers, arts and other trades workers65+20.0%
Clerical and office support workers, couriers6fewer than 5n/a
Information professionals5fewer than 5n/a
Protective service workers5fewer than 5n/a
Sports, travel and personal service workers58−37.5%
Factory process workers550.0%
Arts and media professionalsfewer than 56n/a
Food preparation assistantsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Chief executives, managing directors & legislatorsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Farmers and farm managersfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Sales, marketing & public relations professionalsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Transport and design professionals, and architectsfewer than 56n/a
ICT professionalsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Hairdressers, printing, clothing and wood tradesfewer 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, Far West and OranaShare of the labour force unemployed at the 2011, 2016 and 2021 Censuses, against New South Wales.
  • Far West and Orana
  • New South Wales
4%5%6%7%201120162021Far West and OranaFar West and Orana, 2011: 6.3%Far West and Orana, 2016: 7.0%Far West and Orana, 2021: 4.4%4.4%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, Far West and Orana
CensusFar West and OranaNew South Wales
2011 Census6.3%5.9%
2016 Census7.0%6.3%
2021 Census4.4%4.9%
Figure 3.2: Labour force participation, Far West and OranaShare of people aged 15 and over in the labour force at the 2011, 2016 and 2021 Censuses, against New South Wales.
  • Far West and Orana
  • New South Wales
54%56%58%60%201120162021Far West and OranaFar West and Orana, 2011: 57.5%Far West and Orana, 2016: 55.1%Far West and Orana, 2021: 55.9%55.9%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, Far West and Orana
CensusFar West and OranaNew South Wales
2011 Census57.5%59.7%
2016 Census55.1%59.2%
2021 Census55.9%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, Far West and Orana, 2019 to 2023Industries with 1,000 or more employee jobs in 2023, fastest-growing first.
Arts and recreation services: +40.6%Arts and recreation services+40.6%Financial and insurance services: +35.4%Financial and insurance services+35.4%Health care and social assistance: +30.1%Health care and social assistance+30.1%Accommodation and food services: +26.7%Accommodation and food services+26.7%Administrative and support services: +21.1%Administrative and support services+21.1%Transport, postal and warehousing: +20.8%Transport, postal and warehousing+20.8%Retail trade: +20.5%Retail trade+20.5%Wholesale trade: +16.4%Wholesale trade+16.4%Construction: +15.0%Construction+15.0%Professional, scientific and technical services: +14.1%Professional, scientific and technical services+14.1%Agriculture, forestry and fishing: +13.5%Agriculture, forestry and fishing+13.5%Other services: +9.3%Other services+9.3%Public administration and safety: +9.0%Public administration and safety+9.0%Education and training: +7.9%Education and training+7.9%Manufacturing: +6.4%Manufacturing+6.4%Rental, hiring and real estate services: +4.3%Rental, hiring and real estate services+4.3%Mining: +3.5%Mining+3.5%

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Show the numbers
Change in employee jobs by industry, Far West and Orana, 2019 to 2023
Industry20192023Change
Health care and social assistance10,53113,702+30.1%
Retail trade7,5889,144+20.5%
Accommodation and food services6,8808,717+26.7%
Public administration and safety7,2177,866+9.0%
Agriculture, forestry and fishing6,3567,217+13.5%
Education and training6,5597,074+7.9%
Administrative and support services4,5125,464+21.1%
Construction4,4905,164+15.0%
Manufacturing3,4283,649+6.4%
Other services2,7843,044+9.3%
Professional, scientific and technical services2,5952,961+14.1%
Wholesale trade2,4332,833+16.4%
Transport, postal and warehousing2,3222,804+20.8%
Mining2,5292,617+3.5%
Financial and insurance services1,8112,452+35.4%
Arts and recreation services7491,053+40.6%
Rental, hiring and real estate services9671,009+4.3%
Electricity, gas, water and waste services757805n/a
Information media and telecommunications449786n/a
Figure 4.2: Largest industries by employee jobs, Far West and Orana, 202389,085 employee jobs across all industries in the year to 30 June 2023.
Health care and social assistance: 13,702Health care and social assistance13,702Retail trade: 9,144Retail trade9,144Accommodation and food services: 8,717Accommodation and food services8,717Public administration and safety: 7,866Public administration and safety7,866Agriculture, forestry and fishing: 7,217Agriculture, forestry and fishing7,217Education and training: 7,074Education and training7,074Administrative and support services: 5,464Administrative and support services5,464Construction: 5,164Construction5,164

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Show the numbers
Largest industries by employee jobs, Far West and Orana, 2023
IndustryEmployee jobsShare of all employee jobs
Health care and social assistance13,70215%
Retail trade9,14410%
Accommodation and food services8,71710%
Public administration and safety7,8669%
Agriculture, forestry and fishing7,2178%
Education and training7,0748%
Administrative and support services5,4646%
Construction5,1646%
Manufacturing3,6494%
Other services3,0443%
Professional, scientific and technical services2,9613%
Wholesale trade2,8333%
Transport, postal and warehousing2,8043%
Mining2,6173%
Financial and insurance services2,4523%
Arts and recreation services1,0531%
Rental, hiring and real estate services1,0091%
Electricity, gas, water and waste services8051%
Information media and telecommunications7861%
All industries89,085100%

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, Far West and OranaIn the year to 30 June, 2019 to 2023, against New South Wales and Australia.
  • Far West and Orana
  • New South Wales
  • Australia
$45k$50k$55k$60k$65k20192020202120222023Far West and OranaFar West and Orana, 2019: $48,871Far West and Orana, 2020: $51,106Far West and Orana, 2021: $52,865Far West and Orana, 2022: $54,387Far West and Orana, 2023: $57,790$57,790New 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, Far West and Orana
YearFar West and OranaNew South WalesAustralia
2019$48,871$53,104$52,256
2020$51,106$54,989$53,878
2021$52,865$57,891$56,485
2022$54,387$58,972$58,260
2023$57,790$63,301$61,966
Figure 5.2: Mean employee income, Far West and OranaIn the year to 30 June, 2019 to 2023, against New South Wales and Australia.
  • Far West and Orana
  • New South Wales
  • Australia
$50k$60k$70k$80k20192020202120222023Far West and OranaFar West and Orana, 2019: $54,621Far West and Orana, 2020: $56,893Far West and Orana, 2021: $58,477Far West and Orana, 2022: $60,430Far West and Orana, 2023: $63,566$63,566New 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, Far West and Orana
YearFar West and OranaNew South WalesAustralia
2019$54,621$66,377$63,517
2020$56,893$68,690$65,591
2021$58,477$71,848$68,452
2022$60,430$74,232$70,950
2023$63,566$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
118,372
ABS, 2025 · up 0.8% since 2020[3]
Working-age population, 15 to 64
70,249
ABS, 2024 · down 1.9% since 2020[3]

New South Wales' population was up 5.9% from 2020 to 2025, and the Far West and Orana's up 0.8%.[3]

7 Businesses

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

Businesses in the area
12,759
ABS, 2025 · up 7.2% since 2021[3]
Figure 7.1: Businesses by number of employees, Far West and Orana, 2025Businesses by how many people they employ. The table adds each size's count in 2021 and the change.
No employees: 8,161No employees8,1611–4 employees: 3,1691–4 employees3,1695–19 employees: 1,1835–19 employees1,18320 or more employees: 24620 or more employees246

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Show the numbers
Businesses by number of employees, Far West and Orana, 2025
Size20212025Change
No employees7,2488,161+12.6%
1–4 employees3,3233,169−4.6%
5–19 employees1,1361,183+4.1%
20 or more employees196246+25.5%

8 Jobs on ViewJobs now

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

Live jobs on ViewJobs in Outback NSW
57
ViewJobs, 25 Oct 2026[4]
Figure 8.1: Live jobs on ViewJobs by classification, Outback NSWThe 8 classifications with the most live ads, as of 25 Oct 2026.
Community Services & Development: 10Community Services & Development10Mining, Resources & Energy: 9Mining, Resources & Energy9Healthcare & Medical: 8Healthcare & Medical8Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics: 5Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics5Farming, Animals & Conservation: 4Farming, Animals & Conservation4Government & Defence: 4Government & Defence4Retail & Consumer Products: 4Retail & Consumer Products4Trades & Services: 4Trades & Services4

Source: ViewJobs live ads[4].

Show the numbers
Live jobs on ViewJobs by classification, Outback NSW
ClassificationLive jobs
Community Services & Development10
Mining, Resources & Energy9
Healthcare & Medical8
Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics5
Farming, Animals & Conservation4
Government & Defence4
Retail & Consumer Products4
Trades & Services4

Browse jobs by region

Jobs by classification in Outback NSW

9 Quick answers

Short answers to the questions people ask about the Far West and Orana's job market, each with its period and source.

How many jobs are advertised in the Far West and Orana?

983 online job ads a month were placed in the Far West and Orana, on average, in the three months to September 2026.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Is the Far West and Orana's job market growing or shrinking?

Steady: online job ads in the Far West and Orana were up 2.1% on a year earlier, from 963 to 983 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 the Far West and Orana?

Medical practitioners and nurses had the most online ads, 148 a month in the three months to September 2026, followed by carers and aides (81) and legal, social and welfare professionals (71). Among occupation groups with at least 5 ads a month a year earlier and now, ads for engineers rose fastest, up 47.1%.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

What is the unemployment rate in the Far West and Orana?

4.4% of the labour force in the Far West and Orana was unemployed at the 2021 Census, against 4.9% across New South Wales. It was 7.0% at the 2016 Census. Labour force participation at the 2021 Census was 55.9%, 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 the Far West and Orana?

Average (mean) employee income in the Far West and Orana was $63,566 in 2023; the median was $57,790, 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 the Far West and Orana?

Health care and social assistance had the most employee jobs in the Far West and Orana: 13,702 in 2023, 15% of the 89,085 employee jobs. Next were retail trade (9,144) and accommodation and food services (8,717).

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Which industries are growing or shrinking in the Far West and Orana?

Among industries with 1,000 or more employee jobs, arts and recreation services grew fastest, with 41% more employee jobs in 2023 than in 2019, followed by financial and insurance services (35% more).

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Is the Far West and Orana's population growing?

118,372 people lived in the Far West and Orana in 2025, up 0.8% since 2020. New South Wales' population was up 5.9% over the same years. The working-age population was 70,249 in 2024, down 1.9% since 2020.

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

How many jobs are on ViewJobs in the Far West and Orana?

At least 57 jobs are live on ViewJobs in the Far West and Orana, as of 25 Oct 2026. They are the ads in Outback NSW, a ViewJobs region whose towns all sit in the area. The most advertised are Community Services & Development (10), Mining, Resources & Energy (9) and Healthcare & Medical (8).

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
The Far West and Orana here is ABS SA4 105 Far West and Orana. 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). Far West and Orana job market report, data to September 2026. https://preview.viewjobs.com.au/job-market/nsw/far-west-and-orana

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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