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Job market report

South East South Australia job market report

Online job ads, unemployment, industries and pay in South East South Australia, South Australia, 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 407 South Australia - South East
Sources
JSA, ABS and ViewJobs

Key findings

  1. Growing: online job ads in South East South Australia were up 6.4% on a year earlier, from 915 to 974 a month in the three months to September 2026.

    Over the same year, ads were up 2.6% across South Australia and up 0.6% across Australia.[1][2]

    Section 1: Job ads and demand →

  2. Medical practitioners and nurses had the most online ads, 109 a month in the three months to September 2026, followed by carers and aides (79) and general-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists (69).

    Among occupation groups with at least 5 ads a month a year earlier and now, ads for construction and mining labourers rose fastest, up 80.0%.[1]

    Section 2: Which jobs are in demand →

  3. Among industries with 1,000 or more employee jobs, other services grew fastest, with 30% more employee jobs in 2023 than in 2019, followed by health care and social assistance (28% more).

    Public administration and safety had 8% fewer employee jobs than in 2019.[3]

    Section 4: Industries growing and shrinking →

  4. 4.5% of the labour force in South East South Australia was unemployed at the 2021 Census, against 5.4% across South Australia.

    It was 6.0% at the 2016 Census. Labour force participation at the 2021 Census was 53.4%, against 60.0% across South Australia. 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.

South East South Australia
+6.4%
974 ads a month[1]
South Australia
+2.6%
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, South East South AustraliaThree-month average, October 2023 to September 2026.
7008009001k1.1kJan 2024Sep 2024May 2025Jan 2026Sep 2026South East South AustraliaSouth East South Australia, Sep 2026: 974974

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Show the numbers
Online job ads a month, South East South Australia
MonthOnline job ads a month
October 2023993
November 2023970
December 2023914
January 2024935
February 2024963
March 2024979
April 2024964
May 2024993
June 2024972
July 2024922
August 2024883
September 2024934
October 2024969
November 2024969
December 2024891
January 2025900
February 2025866
March 2025914
April 2025828
May 2025803
June 2025763
July 2025810
August 2025824
September 2025915
October 2025949
November 2025977
December 2025866
January 2026871
February 2026895
March 20261,019
April 2026982
May 2026936
June 2026878
July 2026899
August 2026922
September 2026974

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, South East South AustraliaThe 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.
General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists: +43.8%General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists+43.8%Drivers and storepersons: +27.3%Drivers and storepersons+27.3%Other labourers: +18.8%Other labourers+18.8%Legal, social and welfare professionals: +11.5%Legal, social and welfare professionals+11.5%Sales assistants and salespersons: +11.1%Sales assistants and salespersons+11.1%Automotive and engineering trades: +8.1%Automotive and engineering trades+8.1%Medical practitioners and nurses: +4.8%Medical practitioners and nurses+4.8%Health and welfare support workers: +3.8%Health and welfare support workers+3.8%Carers and aides: +1.3%Carers and aides+1.3%Food trades: 0.0%Food trades0.0%Health diagnostic and therapy professionals: 0.0%Health diagnostic and therapy professionals0.0%Hospitality, retail and service managers: −21.2%Hospitality, retail and service managers−21.2%

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Show the numbers
Change in online job ads by occupation, South East South Australia
Occupation groupAds a month, September 2026A year earlierChange
Medical practitioners and nurses109104+4.8%
Carers and aides7978+1.3%
General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists6948+43.8%
Sales assistants and salespersons6054+11.1%
Legal, social and welfare professionals5852+11.5%
Health diagnostic and therapy professionals44440.0%
Automotive and engineering trades4037+8.1%
Other labourers3832+18.8%
Drivers and storepersons2822+27.3%
Health and welfare support workers2726+3.8%
Hospitality, retail and service managers2633−21.2%
Food trades26260.0%
Hospitality workers2414+71.4%
Cleaners and laundry workers2126−19.2%
Farm, forestry and garden workers2122−4.5%
Factory process workers1915+26.7%
Sales support workers1817+5.9%
Business, finance and human resource professionals1713+30.8%
Engineering, ICT and science technicians1613+23.1%
Electrotechnology and telecommunications trades1613+23.1%
Construction, production and distribution managers1512+25.0%
Mobile plant operators1419−26.3%
Machine and stationary plant operators1319−31.6%
Sports, travel and personal service workers1213−7.7%
Corporate managers1120−45.0%
Other clerical and administrative workers1115−26.7%
Farmers and farm managers10100.0%
Education professionals106+66.7%
Science professionals and veterinarians109+11.1%
Skilled animal and horticultural workers107+42.9%
Numerical clerks1012−16.7%
Food preparation assistants10100.0%
Construction and mining labourers95+80.0%
Sales representatives and agents810−20.0%
Construction trades770.0%
Office managers, administrators and secretaries79−22.2%
Health, education, ICT and other managers660.0%
Engineers6fewer than 5n/a
Clerical and office support workers, couriers67−14.3%
Hairdressers, printing, clothing and wood trades5fewer than 5n/a
Chief executives, managing directors & legislatorsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
ICT professionalsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Jewellers, arts and other trades workersfewer than 56n/a
Information professionalsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Transport and design professionals, and architectsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Protective service workersfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Arts and media professionalsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Sales, marketing & public relations professionalsfewer 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, South East South AustraliaShare of the labour force unemployed at the 2011, 2016 and 2021 Censuses, against South Australia.
  • South East South Australia
  • South Australia
4%5%6%7%8%201120162021South East South AustraliaSouth East South Australia, 2011: 5.7%South East South Australia, 2016: 6.0%South East South Australia, 2021: 4.5%4.5%South AustraliaSouth Australia, 2011: 5.7%South Australia, 2016: 7.5%South Australia, 2021: 5.4%5.4%

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Show the numbers
Unemployment rate, South East South Australia
CensusSouth East South AustraliaSouth Australia
2011 Census5.7%5.7%
2016 Census6.0%7.5%
2021 Census4.5%5.4%
Figure 3.2: Labour force participation, South East South AustraliaShare of people aged 15 and over in the labour force at the 2011, 2016 and 2021 Censuses, against South Australia.
  • South East South Australia
  • South Australia
52%54%56%58%60%201120162021South East South AustraliaSouth East South Australia, 2011: 57.0%South East South Australia, 2016: 54.0%South East South Australia, 2021: 53.4%53.4%South AustraliaSouth Australia, 2011: 59.9%South Australia, 2016: 58.3%South Australia, 2021: 60.0%60.0%

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Show the numbers
Labour force participation, South East South Australia
CensusSouth East South AustraliaSouth Australia
2011 Census57.0%59.9%
2016 Census54.0%58.3%
2021 Census53.4%60.0%

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, South East South Australia, 2019 to 2023Industries with 1,000 or more employee jobs in 2023, fastest-growing first.
Other services: +29.5%Other services+29.5%Health care and social assistance: +27.7%Health care and social assistance+27.7%Accommodation and food services: +26.2%Accommodation and food services+26.2%Construction: +23.7%Construction+23.7%Mining: +23.0%Mining+23.0%Retail trade: +22.4%Retail trade+22.4%Rental, hiring and real estate services: +21.4%Rental, hiring and real estate services+21.4%Professional, scientific and technical services: +19.5%Professional, scientific and technical services+19.5%Arts and recreation services: +19.1%Arts and recreation services+19.1%Administrative and support services: +18.0%Administrative and support services+18.0%Wholesale trade: +16.6%Wholesale trade+16.6%Electricity, gas, water and waste services: +14.6%Electricity, gas, water and waste services+14.6%Financial and insurance services: +14.0%Financial and insurance services+14.0%Transport, postal and warehousing: +10.0%Transport, postal and warehousing+10.0%Agriculture, forestry and fishing: +9.1%Agriculture, forestry and fishing+9.1%Education and training: +8.6%Education and training+8.6%Manufacturing: +5.4%Manufacturing+5.4%Public administration and safety: −8.3%Public administration and safety−8.3%

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Show the numbers
Change in employee jobs by industry, South East South Australia, 2019 to 2023
Industry20192023Change
Agriculture, forestry and fishing16,81818,348+9.1%
Health care and social assistance13,73317,533+27.7%
Retail trade11,78314,423+22.4%
Accommodation and food services9,62612,147+26.2%
Administrative and support services9,47611,178+18.0%
Manufacturing10,53311,102+5.4%
Education and training8,3389,053+8.6%
Construction5,8057,183+23.7%
Public administration and safety6,8466,275−8.3%
Transport, postal and warehousing4,8425,325+10.0%
Wholesale trade3,7254,344+16.6%
Professional, scientific and technical services3,4674,144+19.5%
Other services3,0883,999+29.5%
Financial and insurance services2,9543,368+14.0%
Rental, hiring and real estate services1,7212,089+21.4%
Arts and recreation services1,7082,034+19.1%
Mining1,0341,272+23.0%
Electricity, gas, water and waste services9871,131+14.6%
Information media and telecommunications610662n/a
Figure 4.2: Largest industries by employee jobs, South East South Australia, 2023136,834 employee jobs across all industries in the year to 30 June 2023.
Agriculture, forestry and fishing: 18,348Agriculture, forestry and fishing18,348Health care and social assistance: 17,533Health care and social assistance17,533Retail trade: 14,423Retail trade14,423Accommodation and food services: 12,147Accommodation and food services12,147Administrative and support services: 11,178Administrative and support services11,178Manufacturing: 11,102Manufacturing11,102Education and training: 9,053Education and training9,053Construction: 7,183Construction7,183

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Show the numbers
Largest industries by employee jobs, South East South Australia, 2023
IndustryEmployee jobsShare of all employee jobs
Agriculture, forestry and fishing18,34813%
Health care and social assistance17,53313%
Retail trade14,42311%
Accommodation and food services12,1479%
Administrative and support services11,1788%
Manufacturing11,1028%
Education and training9,0537%
Construction7,1835%
Public administration and safety6,2755%
Transport, postal and warehousing5,3254%
Wholesale trade4,3443%
Professional, scientific and technical services4,1443%
Other services3,9993%
Financial and insurance services3,3682%
Rental, hiring and real estate services2,0892%
Arts and recreation services2,0341%
Mining1,2721%
Electricity, gas, water and waste services1,1311%
Information media and telecommunications6620%
All industries136,834100%

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, South East South AustraliaIn the year to 30 June, 2019 to 2023, against South Australia and Australia.
  • South East South Australia
  • South Australia
  • Australia
$40k$45k$50k$55k$60k$65k20192020202120222023South East South AustraliaSouth East South Australia, 2019: $42,770South East South Australia, 2020: $44,226South East South Australia, 2021: $46,232South East South Australia, 2022: $47,321South East South Australia, 2023: $49,968$49,968South AustraliaSouth Australia, 2019: $50,403South Australia, 2020: $51,590South Australia, 2021: $53,609South Australia, 2022: $55,407South Australia, 2023: $58,380$58,380AustraliaAustralia, 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, South East South Australia
YearSouth East South AustraliaSouth AustraliaAustralia
2019$42,770$50,403$52,256
2020$44,226$51,590$53,878
2021$46,232$53,609$56,485
2022$47,321$55,407$58,260
2023$49,968$58,380$61,966
Figure 5.2: Mean employee income, South East South AustraliaIn the year to 30 June, 2019 to 2023, against South Australia and Australia.
  • South East South Australia
  • South Australia
  • Australia
$40k$50k$60k$70k$80k20192020202120222023South East South AustraliaSouth East South Australia, 2019: $47,027South East South Australia, 2020: $48,777South East South Australia, 2021: $50,658South East South Australia, 2022: $52,179South East South Australia, 2023: $54,958$54,958South AustraliaSouth Australia, 2019: $57,333South Australia, 2020: $59,036South Australia, 2021: $61,072South Australia, 2022: $63,219South Australia, 2023: $66,224$66,224AustraliaAustralia, 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, South East South Australia
YearSouth East South AustraliaSouth AustraliaAustralia
2019$47,027$57,333$63,517
2020$48,777$59,036$65,591
2021$50,658$61,072$68,452
2022$52,179$63,219$70,950
2023$54,958$66,224$74,579

6 People

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

People living in the area
205,074
ABS, 2025 · up 4.5% since 2020[3]
Working-age population, 15 to 64
115,529
ABS, 2024 · up 1.1% since 2020[3]

South Australia's population was up 6.3% from 2020 to 2025, and South East South Australia's up 4.5%.[3]

7 Businesses

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

Businesses in the area
19,559
ABS, 2025 · up 5.1% since 2021[3]
Figure 7.1: Businesses by number of employees, South East South Australia, 2025Businesses by how many people they employ. The table adds each size's count in 2021 and the change.
No employees: 12,643No employees12,6431–4 employees: 4,5511–4 employees4,5515–19 employees: 1,9615–19 employees1,96120 or more employees: 40420 or more employees404

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Show the numbers
Businesses by number of employees, South East South Australia, 2025
Size20212025Change
No employees11,43512,643+10.6%
1–4 employees4,6994,551−3.1%
5–19 employees2,0991,961−6.6%
20 or more employees381404+6.0%

8 Jobs on ViewJobs now

Live job ads on ViewJobs in the Limestone Coast, the Riverland, the Fleurieu Peninsula and Kangaroo Island, ViewJobs regions whose towns all sit in this ABS area.

Live jobs on ViewJobs in these regions
185
ViewJobs, 25 Oct 2026[4]
Figure 8.1: Live jobs on ViewJobs by classification, Limestone Coast, Riverland, Fleurieu Peninsula and Kangaroo IslandThe 8 classifications with the most live ads, as of 25 Oct 2026.
Retail & Consumer Products: 34Retail & Consumer Products34Hospitality & Tourism: 28Hospitality & Tourism28Community Services & Development: 22Community Services & Development22Trades & Services: 21Trades & Services21Farming, Animals & Conservation: 18Farming, Animals & Conservation18Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics: 15Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics15Healthcare & Medical: 7Healthcare & Medical7Accounting: 5Accounting5

Source: ViewJobs live ads[4].

Show the numbers
Live jobs on ViewJobs by classification, Limestone Coast, Riverland, Fleurieu Peninsula and Kangaroo Island
ClassificationLive jobs
Retail & Consumer Products34
Hospitality & Tourism28
Community Services & Development22
Trades & Services21
Farming, Animals & Conservation18
Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics15
Healthcare & Medical7
Accounting5

Jobs by classification in the Limestone Coast

9 Quick answers

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

How many jobs are advertised in South East South Australia?

974 online job ads a month were placed in South East South Australia, on average, in the three months to September 2026.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Is South East South Australia's job market growing or shrinking?

Growing: online job ads in South East South Australia were up 6.4% on a year earlier, from 915 to 974 a month in the three months to September 2026. Over the same year, ads were up 2.6% across South Australia and up 0.6% across Australia.

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

Which jobs are most in demand in South East South Australia?

Medical practitioners and nurses had the most online ads, 109 a month in the three months to September 2026, followed by carers and aides (79) and general-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists (69). Among occupation groups with at least 5 ads a month a year earlier and now, ads for construction and mining labourers rose fastest, up 80.0%.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

What is the unemployment rate in South East South Australia?

4.5% of the labour force in South East South Australia was unemployed at the 2021 Census, against 5.4% across South Australia. It was 6.0% at the 2016 Census. Labour force participation at the 2021 Census was 53.4%, against 60.0% across South Australia. The Census runs every five years, so these are not current rates.

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

What is the average wage in South East South Australia?

Average (mean) employee income in South East South Australia was $54,958 in 2023; the median was $49,968, against $58,380 across South Australia and $61,966 across Australia.

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Which industries employ the most people in South East South Australia?

Agriculture, forestry and fishing had the most employee jobs in South East South Australia: 18,348 in 2023, 13% of the 136,834 employee jobs. Next were health care and social assistance (17,533) and retail trade (14,423).

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Which industries are growing or shrinking in South East South Australia?

Among industries with 1,000 or more employee jobs, other services grew fastest, with 30% more employee jobs in 2023 than in 2019, followed by health care and social assistance (28% more). Public administration and safety had 8% fewer employee jobs than in 2019.

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Is South East South Australia's population growing?

205,074 people lived in South East South Australia in 2025, up 4.5% since 2020. South Australia's population was up 6.3% over the same years. The working-age population was 115,529 in 2024, up 1.1% since 2020.

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

How many jobs are on ViewJobs in South East South Australia?

At least 185 jobs are live on ViewJobs in South East South Australia, as of 25 Oct 2026. They are the ads in the Limestone Coast, the Riverland, the Fleurieu Peninsula and Kangaroo Island, ViewJobs regions whose towns all sit in the area. The most advertised are Retail & Consumer Products (34), Hospitality & Tourism (28) and Community Services & Development (22).

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
South East South Australia here is ABS SA4 407 South Australia - South East. 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). South East South Australia job market report, data to September 2026. https://preview.viewjobs.com.au/job-market/sa/south-east

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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