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Job market report

Outback Northern Territory job market report

Online job ads, unemployment, industries and pay in Outback Northern Territory, Northern Territory, 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 702 Northern Territory - Outback
Sources
JSA, ABS and ViewJobs

Key findings

  1. Steady: online job ads in Outback Northern Territory were down 1.7% on a year earlier, from 978 to 961 a month in the three months to September 2026.

    Over the same year, ads were down 8.5% across the Northern Territory and up 0.6% across Australia.[1][2]

    Section 1: Job ads and demand →

  2. Medical practitioners and nurses had the most online ads, 125 a month in the three months to September 2026, followed by general-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists (77) and legal, social and welfare professionals (58).

    Among occupation groups with at least 5 ads a month a year earlier and now, ads for engineering, ICT and science technicians rose fastest, up 70.0%.[1]

    Section 2: Which jobs are in demand →

  3. Among industries with 1,000 or more employee jobs, agriculture, forestry and fishing grew fastest, with 33% more employee jobs in 2023 than in 2019, followed by other services (32% more).

    Arts and recreation services had 12% fewer employee jobs than in 2019, and transport, postal and warehousing 6% fewer.[3]

    Section 4: Industries growing and shrinking →

  4. 8.9% of the labour force in Outback Northern Territory was unemployed at the 2021 Census, against 5.6% across the Northern Territory.

    It was 11.9% at the 2016 Census. Labour force participation at the 2021 Census was 50.7%, against 61.7% across the Northern Territory. 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.

Outback Northern Territory
−1.7%
961 ads a month[1]
Northern Territory
−8.5%
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, Outback Northern TerritoryThree-month average, October 2023 to September 2026.
8009001k1.1k1.2k1.3kJan 2024Sep 2024May 2025Jan 2026Sep 2026Outback Northern TerritoryOutback Northern Territory, Sep 2026: 961961

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Show the numbers
Online job ads a month, Outback Northern Territory
MonthOnline job ads a month
October 20231,225
November 20231,212
December 20231,109
January 20241,060
February 20241,062
March 20241,148
April 20241,126
May 20241,093
June 20241,033
July 20241,039
August 20241,025
September 20241,059
October 20241,072
November 20241,083
December 2024998
January 2025989
February 2025961
March 20251,035
April 2025948
May 2025917
June 2025881
July 2025935
August 2025945
September 2025978
October 2025996
November 2025974
December 2025898
January 2026895
February 2026913
March 20261,025
April 20261,005
May 2026996
June 2026957
July 2026954
August 2026967
September 2026961

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, Outback Northern TerritoryThe 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.
Other labourers: +42.9%Other labourers+42.9%Food trades: +10.7%Food trades+10.7%Hospitality, retail and service managers: +8.0%Hospitality, retail and service managers+8.0%Medical practitioners and nurses: +6.8%Medical practitioners and nurses+6.8%Automotive and engineering trades: +5.4%Automotive and engineering trades+5.4%Drivers and storepersons: −7.7%Drivers and storepersons−7.7%General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists: −13.5%General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists−13.5%Health diagnostic and therapy professionals: −17.2%Health diagnostic and therapy professionals−17.2%Sales assistants and salespersons: −18.4%Sales assistants and salespersons−18.4%Health and welfare support workers: −20.5%Health and welfare support workers−20.5%Carers and aides: −23.6%Carers and aides−23.6%Legal, social and welfare professionals: −27.5%Legal, social and welfare professionals−27.5%

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Show the numbers
Change in online job ads by occupation, Outback Northern Territory
Occupation groupAds a month, September 2026A year earlierChange
Medical practitioners and nurses125117+6.8%
General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists7789−13.5%
Legal, social and welfare professionals5880−27.5%
Health diagnostic and therapy professionals4858−17.2%
Carers and aides4255−23.6%
Automotive and engineering trades3937+5.4%
Food trades3128+10.7%
Health and welfare support workers3139−20.5%
Sales assistants and salespersons3138−18.4%
Other labourers3021+42.9%
Hospitality, retail and service managers2725+8.0%
Drivers and storepersons2426−7.7%
Corporate managers2319+21.1%
Hospitality workers2315+53.3%
Electrotechnology and telecommunications trades2114+50.0%
Other clerical and administrative workers2116+31.3%
Office managers, administrators and secretaries2116+31.3%
Cleaners and laundry workers2022−9.1%
Construction, production and distribution managers19190.0%
Construction trades1920−5.0%
Engineering, ICT and science technicians1710+70.0%
Numerical clerks1611+45.5%
Business, finance and human resource professionals1516−6.3%
Engineers1513+15.4%
Health, education, ICT and other managers1413+7.7%
Education professionals1317−23.5%
Mobile plant operators138+62.5%
Protective service workers1213−7.7%
Sports, travel and personal service workers1114−21.4%
Skilled animal and horticultural workers107+42.9%
Construction and mining labourers107+42.9%
Farm, forestry and garden workers911−18.2%
Information professionals713−46.2%
Jewellers, arts and other trades workers76+16.7%
Sales representatives and agents75+40.0%
Machine and stationary plant operators710−30.0%
Chief executives, managing directors & legislators660.0%
Arts and media professionals65+20.0%
Science professionals and veterinarians68−25.0%
Food preparation assistants6fewer than 5n/a
Sales, marketing & public relations professionalsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Transport and design professionals, and architectsfewer than 56n/a
Hairdressers, printing, clothing and wood tradesfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Sales support workersfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Farmers and farm managersfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
ICT professionalsfewer than 55n/a
Factory process workersfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Clerical and office support workers, couriersfewer than 55n/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, Outback Northern TerritoryShare of the labour force unemployed at the 2011, 2016 and 2021 Censuses, against the Northern Territory.
  • Outback Northern Territory
  • Northern Territory
4%6%8%10%12%201120162021Outback Northern TerritoryOutback Northern Territory, 2011: 8.0%Outback Northern Territory, 2016: 11.9%Outback Northern Territory, 2021: 8.9%8.9%Northern TerritoryNorthern Territory, 2011: 5.3%Northern Territory, 2016: 7.0%Northern Territory, 2021: 5.6%5.6%

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Show the numbers
Unemployment rate, Outback Northern Territory
CensusOutback Northern TerritoryNorthern Territory
2011 Census8.0%5.3%
2016 Census11.9%7.0%
2021 Census8.9%5.6%
Figure 3.2: Labour force participation, Outback Northern TerritoryShare of people aged 15 and over in the labour force at the 2011, 2016 and 2021 Censuses, against the Northern Territory.
  • Outback Northern Territory
  • Northern Territory
50%55%60%65%201120162021Outback Northern TerritoryOutback Northern Territory, 2011: 57.5%Outback Northern Territory, 2016: 51.5%Outback Northern Territory, 2021: 50.7%50.7%Northern TerritoryNorthern Territory, 2011: 63.9%Northern Territory, 2016: 61.5%Northern Territory, 2021: 61.7%61.7%

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Show the numbers
Labour force participation, Outback Northern Territory
CensusOutback Northern TerritoryNorthern Territory
2011 Census57.5%63.9%
2016 Census51.5%61.5%
2021 Census50.7%61.7%

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, Outback Northern Territory, 2019 to 2023Industries with 1,000 or more employee jobs in 2023, fastest-growing first.
Agriculture, forestry and fishing: +32.9%Agriculture, forestry and fishing+32.9%Other services: +32.3%Other services+32.3%Retail trade: +26.1%Retail trade+26.1%Education and training: +18.2%Education and training+18.2%Accommodation and food services: +17.1%Accommodation and food services+17.1%Manufacturing: +13.1%Manufacturing+13.1%Professional, scientific and technical services: +12.3%Professional, scientific and technical services+12.3%Construction: +12.1%Construction+12.1%Health care and social assistance: +10.1%Health care and social assistance+10.1%Administrative and support services: +7.9%Administrative and support services+7.9%Public administration and safety: +6.0%Public administration and safety+6.0%Transport, postal and warehousing: −5.8%Transport, postal and warehousing−5.8%Arts and recreation services: −12.4%Arts and recreation services−12.4%

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Show the numbers
Change in employee jobs by industry, Outback Northern Territory, 2019 to 2023
Industry20192023Change
Health care and social assistance10,28011,316+10.1%
Public administration and safety8,1788,668+6.0%
Education and training5,6926,728+18.2%
Accommodation and food services5,5716,521+17.1%
Retail trade5,1286,468+26.1%
Other services3,7614,974+32.3%
Administrative and support services3,7334,028+7.9%
Construction3,4703,889+12.1%
Agriculture, forestry and fishing1,9642,611+32.9%
Professional, scientific and technical services2,1622,429+12.3%
Transport, postal and warehousing1,6821,584−5.8%
Arts and recreation services1,4541,274−12.4%
Manufacturing9391,062+13.1%
Wholesale trade1,079984n/a
Mining1,136913n/a
Financial and insurance services682899n/a
Rental, hiring and real estate services814871n/a
Electricity, gas, water and waste services446418n/a
Information media and telecommunications426358n/a
Figure 4.2: Largest industries by employee jobs, Outback Northern Territory, 202366,463 employee jobs across all industries in the year to 30 June 2023.
Health care and social assistance: 11,316Health care and social assistance11,316Public administration and safety: 8,668Public administration and safety8,668Education and training: 6,728Education and training6,728Accommodation and food services: 6,521Accommodation and food services6,521Retail trade: 6,468Retail trade6,468Other services: 4,974Other services4,974Administrative and support services: 4,028Administrative and support services4,028Construction: 3,889Construction3,889

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Show the numbers
Largest industries by employee jobs, Outback Northern Territory, 2023
IndustryEmployee jobsShare of all employee jobs
Health care and social assistance11,31617%
Public administration and safety8,66813%
Education and training6,72810%
Accommodation and food services6,52110%
Retail trade6,46810%
Other services4,9747%
Administrative and support services4,0286%
Construction3,8896%
Agriculture, forestry and fishing2,6114%
Professional, scientific and technical services2,4294%
Transport, postal and warehousing1,5842%
Arts and recreation services1,2742%
Manufacturing1,0622%
Wholesale trade9841%
Mining9131%
Financial and insurance services8991%
Rental, hiring and real estate services8711%
Electricity, gas, water and waste services4181%
Information media and telecommunications3581%
All industries66,463100%

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, Outback Northern TerritoryIn the year to 30 June, 2019 to 2023, against the Northern Territory and Australia.
  • Outback Northern Territory
  • Northern Territory
  • Australia
$45k$50k$55k$60k$65k$70k20192020202120222023Outback Northern TerritoryOutback Northern Territory, 2019: $49,576Outback Northern Territory, 2020: $51,356Outback Northern Territory, 2021: $55,259Outback Northern Territory, 2022: $56,392Outback Northern Territory, 2023: $56,452$56,452Northern TerritoryNorthern Territory, 2019: $59,206Northern Territory, 2020: $60,000Northern Territory, 2021: $63,614Northern Territory, 2022: $66,118Northern Territory, 2023: $68,042$68,042AustraliaAustralia, 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, Outback Northern Territory
YearOutback Northern TerritoryNorthern TerritoryAustralia
2019$49,576$59,206$52,256
2020$51,356$60,000$53,878
2021$55,259$63,614$56,485
2022$56,392$66,118$58,260
2023$56,452$68,042$61,966
Figure 5.2: Mean employee income, Outback Northern TerritoryIn the year to 30 June, 2019 to 2023, against the Northern Territory and Australia.
  • Outback Northern Territory
  • Northern Territory
  • Australia
$55k$60k$65k$70k$75k20192020202120222023Outback Northern TerritoryOutback Northern Territory, 2019: $56,805Outback Northern Territory, 2020: $58,982Outback Northern Territory, 2021: $62,084Outback Northern Territory, 2022: $63,582Outback Northern Territory, 2023: $65,982$65,982Northern TerritoryNorthern Territory, 2019: $66,271Northern Territory, 2020: $66,993Northern Territory, 2021: $69,813Northern Territory, 2022: $72,175Northern Territory, 2023: $74,967$74,967AustraliaAustralia, 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, Outback Northern Territory
YearOutback Northern TerritoryNorthern TerritoryAustralia
2019$56,805$66,271$63,517
2020$58,982$66,993$65,591
2021$62,084$69,813$68,452
2022$63,582$72,175$70,950
2023$65,982$74,967$74,579

6 People

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

People living in the area
105,272
ABS, 2025 · up 5.5% since 2020[3]
Working-age population, 15 to 64
72,459
ABS, 2024 · up 3.6% since 2020[3]

The Northern Territory's population was up 6.9% from 2020 to 2025, and Outback Northern Territory's up 5.5%.[3]

7 Businesses

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

Businesses in the area
3,970
ABS, 2025 · up 5.3% since 2021[3]
Figure 7.1: Businesses by number of employees, Outback Northern Territory, 2025Businesses by how many people they employ. The table adds each size's count in 2021 and the change.
No employees: 2,166No employees2,1661–4 employees: 1,0181–4 employees1,0185–19 employees: 5995–19 employees59920 or more employees: 18720 or more employees187

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Show the numbers
Businesses by number of employees, Outback Northern Territory, 2025
Size20212025Change
No employees2,0532,166+5.5%
1–4 employees9401,018+8.3%
5–19 employees612599−2.1%
20 or more employees166187+12.7%

8 Jobs on ViewJobs now

Live job ads on ViewJobs in Alice Springs, Katherine Daly, Litchfield Kakadu Arnhem and the Barkly, ViewJobs regions whose towns all sit in this ABS area.

Live jobs on ViewJobs in these regions
414
ViewJobs, 25 Oct 2026[4]
Figure 8.1: Live jobs on ViewJobs by classification, Alice Springs, Katherine Daly, Litchfield Kakadu Arnhem and BarklyThe 8 classifications with the most live ads, as of 25 Oct 2026.
Community Services & Development: 93Community Services & Development93Healthcare & Medical: 46Healthcare & Medical46Hospitality & Tourism: 38Hospitality & Tourism38Trades & Services: 37Trades & Services37Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics: 35Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics35Retail & Consumer Products: 30Retail & Consumer Products30Construction: 16Construction16Administration & Office Support: 14Administration & Office Support14

Source: ViewJobs live ads[4].

Show the numbers
Live jobs on ViewJobs by classification, Alice Springs, Katherine Daly, Litchfield Kakadu Arnhem and Barkly
ClassificationLive jobs
Community Services & Development93
Healthcare & Medical46
Hospitality & Tourism38
Trades & Services37
Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics35
Retail & Consumer Products30
Construction16
Administration & Office Support14

9 Quick answers

Short answers to the questions people ask about Outback Northern Territory's job market, each with its period and source.

How many jobs are advertised in Outback Northern Territory?

961 online job ads a month were placed in Outback Northern Territory, on average, in the three months to September 2026.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Is Outback Northern Territory's job market growing or shrinking?

Steady: online job ads in Outback Northern Territory were down 1.7% on a year earlier, from 978 to 961 a month in the three months to September 2026. Over the same year, ads were down 8.5% across the Northern Territory and up 0.6% across Australia.

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

Which jobs are most in demand in Outback Northern Territory?

Medical practitioners and nurses had the most online ads, 125 a month in the three months to September 2026, followed by general-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists (77) and legal, social and welfare professionals (58). Among occupation groups with at least 5 ads a month a year earlier and now, ads for engineering, ICT and science technicians rose fastest, up 70.0%.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

What is the unemployment rate in Outback Northern Territory?

8.9% of the labour force in Outback Northern Territory was unemployed at the 2021 Census, against 5.6% across the Northern Territory. It was 11.9% at the 2016 Census. Labour force participation at the 2021 Census was 50.7%, against 61.7% across the Northern Territory. The Census runs every five years, so these are not current rates.

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

What is the average wage in Outback Northern Territory?

Average (mean) employee income in Outback Northern Territory was $65,982 in 2023; the median was $56,452, against $68,042 across the Northern Territory and $61,966 across Australia.

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Which industries employ the most people in Outback Northern Territory?

Health care and social assistance had the most employee jobs in Outback Northern Territory: 11,316 in 2023, 17% of the 66,463 employee jobs. Next were public administration and safety (8,668) and education and training (6,728).

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Which industries are growing or shrinking in Outback Northern Territory?

Among industries with 1,000 or more employee jobs, agriculture, forestry and fishing grew fastest, with 33% more employee jobs in 2023 than in 2019, followed by other services (32% more). Arts and recreation services had 12% fewer employee jobs than in 2019, and transport, postal and warehousing 6% fewer.

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Is Outback Northern Territory's population growing?

105,272 people lived in Outback Northern Territory in 2025, up 5.5% since 2020. The Northern Territory's population was up 6.9% over the same years. The working-age population was 72,459 in 2024, up 3.6% since 2020.

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

How many jobs are on ViewJobs in Outback Northern Territory?

At least 414 jobs are live on ViewJobs in Outback Northern Territory, as of 25 Oct 2026. They are the ads in Alice Springs, Katherine Daly, Litchfield Kakadu Arnhem and the Barkly, ViewJobs regions whose towns all sit in the area. The most advertised are Community Services & Development (93), Healthcare & Medical (46) and Hospitality & Tourism (38).

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
Outback Northern Territory here is ABS SA4 702 Northern Territory - Outback. 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). Outback Northern Territory job market report, data to September 2026. https://preview.viewjobs.com.au/job-market/nt/outback

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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