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Job market report

Capital Region job market report

Online job ads, unemployment, industries and pay in the Capital Region, 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
25 October 2026
Area
ABS SA4 101 Capital Region
Sources
JSA, ABS and ViewJobs

Key findings

  1. Growing: online job ads in the Capital Region were up 26.7% on a year earlier, from 1,147 to 1,453 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, 284 a month in the three months to September 2026, followed by legal, social and welfare professionals (166) and carers and aides (112).

    Among occupation groups with at least 5 ads a month a year earlier and now, ads for medical practitioners and nurses rose fastest, up 118.5%.[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 36% more employee jobs in 2023 than in 2019, followed by construction (27% more).

    Rental, hiring and real estate services had 5% fewer employee jobs than in 2019.[3]

    Section 4: Industries growing and shrinking →

  4. 3.5% of the labour force in the Capital Region was unemployed at the 2021 Census, against 4.9% across New South Wales.

    It was 4.9% at the 2016 Census. Labour force participation at the 2021 Census was 58.4%, 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.

Capital Region
+26.7%
1,453 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, Capital RegionThree-month average, October 2023 to September 2026.
8001k1.2k1.4k1.6kJan 2024Sep 2024May 2025Jan 2026Sep 2026Capital RegionCapital Region, Sep 2026: 1,4531,453

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Show the numbers
Online job ads a month, Capital Region
MonthOnline job ads a month
October 20231,535
November 20231,480
December 20231,318
January 20241,266
February 20241,249
March 20241,347
April 20241,346
May 20241,310
June 20241,210
July 20241,095
August 20241,057
September 20241,095
October 20241,147
November 20241,158
December 20241,053
January 20251,046
February 2025994
March 20251,106
April 20251,057
May 20251,076
June 20251,036
July 20251,087
August 20251,083
September 20251,147
October 20251,177
November 20251,186
December 20251,074
January 20261,106
February 20261,083
March 20261,221
April 20261,161
May 20261,228
June 20261,220
July 20261,344
August 20261,393
September 20261,453

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, Capital RegionThe 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: +118.5%Medical practitioners and nurses+118.5%Legal, social and welfare professionals: +78.5%Legal, social and welfare professionals+78.5%Food trades: +38.7%Food trades+38.7%Automotive and engineering trades: +31.4%Automotive and engineering trades+31.4%Business, finance and human resource professionals: +22.7%Business, finance and human resource professionals+22.7%Sales assistants and salespersons: +13.8%Sales assistants and salespersons+13.8%Drivers and storepersons: +13.5%Drivers and storepersons+13.5%Carers and aides: +12.0%Carers and aides+12.0%Other labourers: +10.8%Other labourers+10.8%Health diagnostic and therapy professionals: +4.8%Health diagnostic and therapy professionals+4.8%General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists: +1.6%General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists+1.6%Hospitality, retail and service managers: −8.7%Hospitality, retail and service managers−8.7%

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Show the numbers
Change in online job ads by occupation, Capital Region
Occupation groupAds a month, September 2026A year earlierChange
Medical practitioners and nurses284130+118.5%
Legal, social and welfare professionals16693+78.5%
Carers and aides112100+12.0%
Automotive and engineering trades6751+31.4%
Sales assistants and salespersons6658+13.8%
General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists6564+1.6%
Health diagnostic and therapy professionals4442+4.8%
Food trades4331+38.7%
Hospitality, retail and service managers4246−8.7%
Drivers and storepersons4237+13.5%
Other labourers4137+10.8%
Business, finance and human resource professionals2722+22.7%
Hospitality workers2719+42.1%
Engineering, ICT and science technicians2425−4.0%
Cleaners and laundry workers2428−14.3%
Construction, production and distribution managers2319+21.1%
Education professionals2326−11.5%
Electrotechnology and telecommunications trades2115+40.0%
Corporate managers2015+33.3%
Engineers2025−20.0%
Health and welfare support workers1814+28.6%
Machine and stationary plant operators1816+12.5%
Numerical clerks1711+54.5%
Mobile plant operators1716+6.3%
Other clerical and administrative workers1618−11.1%
Construction trades1516−6.3%
Office managers, administrators and secretaries1514+7.1%
Sales representatives and agents15150.0%
Skilled animal and horticultural workers1310+30.0%
Jewellers, arts and other trades workers1317−23.5%
Sports, travel and personal service workers1211+9.1%
Science professionals and veterinarians10100.0%
Factory process workers10100.0%
Health, education, ICT and other managers98+12.5%
Construction and mining labourers810−20.0%
Farm, forestry and garden workers713−46.2%
Farmers and farm managers65+20.0%
Information professionals6fewer than 5n/a
Transport and design professionals, and architects660.0%
Sales support workers68−25.0%
Food preparation assistants65+20.0%
ICT professionals58−37.5%
Sales, marketing & public relations professionals5fewer than 5n/a
Hairdressers, printing, clothing and wood trades550.0%
Protective service workers5fewer than 5n/a
Chief executives, managing directors & legislatorsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Clerical and office support workers, couriersfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Arts and media 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, Capital RegionShare of the labour force unemployed at the 2011, 2016 and 2021 Censuses, against New South Wales.
  • Capital Region
  • New South Wales
3%4%5%6%7%201120162021Capital RegionCapital Region, 2011: 4.5%Capital Region, 2016: 4.9%Capital Region, 2021: 3.5%3.5%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, Capital Region
CensusCapital RegionNew South Wales
2011 Census4.5%5.9%
2016 Census4.9%6.3%
2021 Census3.5%4.9%
Figure 3.2: Labour force participation, Capital RegionShare of people aged 15 and over in the labour force at the 2011, 2016 and 2021 Censuses, against New South Wales.
  • Capital Region
  • New South Wales
56%57%58%59%60%201120162021Capital RegionCapital Region, 2011: 59.0%Capital Region, 2016: 56.8%Capital Region, 2021: 58.4%58.4%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, Capital Region
CensusCapital RegionNew South Wales
2011 Census59.0%59.7%
2016 Census56.8%59.2%
2021 Census58.4%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, Capital Region, 2019 to 2023Industries with 1,000 or more employee jobs in 2023, fastest-growing first.
Accommodation and food services: +35.8%Accommodation and food services+35.8%Construction: +27.2%Construction+27.2%Arts and recreation services: +23.6%Arts and recreation services+23.6%Financial and insurance services: +23.5%Financial and insurance services+23.5%Professional, scientific and technical services: +21.3%Professional, scientific and technical services+21.3%Wholesale trade: +18.8%Wholesale trade+18.8%Other services: +18.2%Other services+18.2%Electricity, gas, water and waste services: +18.0%Electricity, gas, water and waste services+18.0%Health care and social assistance: +17.9%Health care and social assistance+17.9%Retail trade: +17.1%Retail trade+17.1%Education and training: +14.4%Education and training+14.4%Public administration and safety: +13.9%Public administration and safety+13.9%Transport, postal and warehousing: +9.4%Transport, postal and warehousing+9.4%Administrative and support services: +6.4%Administrative and support services+6.4%Agriculture, forestry and fishing: +4.9%Agriculture, forestry and fishing+4.9%Information media and telecommunications: +4.8%Information media and telecommunications+4.8%Manufacturing: +3.5%Manufacturing+3.5%Rental, hiring and real estate services: −5.3%Rental, hiring and real estate services−5.3%

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Show the numbers
Change in employee jobs by industry, Capital Region, 2019 to 2023
Industry20192023Change
Public administration and safety23,18026,412+13.9%
Accommodation and food services15,86521,545+35.8%
Health care and social assistance17,34320,452+17.9%
Retail trade15,36417,990+17.1%
Construction10,87613,839+27.2%
Education and training10,40211,902+14.4%
Administrative and support services10,63611,315+6.4%
Professional, scientific and technical services8,95710,865+21.3%
Agriculture, forestry and fishing8,0008,390+4.9%
Manufacturing7,2017,451+3.5%
Transport, postal and warehousing5,0825,560+9.4%
Other services4,5325,357+18.2%
Financial and insurance services4,1485,121+23.5%
Wholesale trade3,6634,350+18.8%
Rental, hiring and real estate services3,1552,989−5.3%
Arts and recreation services2,2962,839+23.6%
Electricity, gas, water and waste services1,7462,061+18.0%
Information media and telecommunications1,7371,820+4.8%
Mining773771n/a
Figure 4.2: Largest industries by employee jobs, Capital Region, 2023183,178 employee jobs across all industries in the year to 30 June 2023.
Public administration and safety: 26,412Public administration and safety26,412Accommodation and food services: 21,545Accommodation and food services21,545Health care and social assistance: 20,452Health care and social assistance20,452Retail trade: 17,990Retail trade17,990Construction: 13,839Construction13,839Education and training: 11,902Education and training11,902Administrative and support services: 11,315Administrative and support services11,315Professional, scientific and technical services: 10,865Professional, scientific and technical services10,865

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Show the numbers
Largest industries by employee jobs, Capital Region, 2023
IndustryEmployee jobsShare of all employee jobs
Public administration and safety26,41214%
Accommodation and food services21,54512%
Health care and social assistance20,45211%
Retail trade17,99010%
Construction13,8398%
Education and training11,9026%
Administrative and support services11,3156%
Professional, scientific and technical services10,8656%
Agriculture, forestry and fishing8,3905%
Manufacturing7,4514%
Transport, postal and warehousing5,5603%
Other services5,3573%
Financial and insurance services5,1213%
Wholesale trade4,3502%
Rental, hiring and real estate services2,9892%
Arts and recreation services2,8392%
Electricity, gas, water and waste services2,0611%
Information media and telecommunications1,8201%
Mining7710%
All industries183,178100%

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, Capital RegionIn the year to 30 June, 2019 to 2023, against New South Wales and Australia.
  • Capital Region
  • New South Wales
  • Australia
$50k$55k$60k$65k20192020202120222023Capital RegionCapital Region, 2019: $50,920Capital Region, 2020: $53,089Capital Region, 2021: $55,849Capital Region, 2022: $56,474Capital Region, 2023: $60,618$60,618New 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, Capital Region
YearCapital RegionNew South WalesAustralia
2019$50,920$53,104$52,256
2020$53,089$54,989$53,878
2021$55,849$57,891$56,485
2022$56,474$58,972$58,260
2023$60,618$63,301$61,966
Figure 5.2: Mean employee income, Capital RegionIn the year to 30 June, 2019 to 2023, against New South Wales and Australia.
  • Capital Region
  • New South Wales
  • Australia
$55k$60k$65k$70k$75k$80k20192020202120222023Capital RegionCapital Region, 2019: $58,838Capital Region, 2020: $61,423Capital Region, 2021: $63,904Capital Region, 2022: $65,469Capital Region, 2023: $69,518$69,518New 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, Capital Region
YearCapital RegionNew South WalesAustralia
2019$58,838$66,377$63,517
2020$61,423$68,690$65,591
2021$63,904$71,848$68,452
2022$65,469$74,232$70,950
2023$69,518$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
248,376
ABS, 2025 · up 5.2% since 2020[3]
Working-age population, 15 to 64
147,455
ABS, 2024 · up 2.2% since 2020[3]

New South Wales' population was up 5.9% from 2020 to 2025, and the Capital Region's up 5.2%.[3]

7 Businesses

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

Businesses in the area
24,321
ABS, 2025 · up 10.0% since 2021[3]
Figure 7.1: Businesses by number of employees, Capital Region, 2025Businesses by how many people they employ. The table adds each size's count in 2021 and the change.
No employees: 14,406No employees14,4061–4 employees: 6,9851–4 employees6,9855–19 employees: 2,4305–19 employees2,43020 or more employees: 50020 or more employees500

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Show the numbers
Businesses by number of employees, Capital Region, 2025
Size20212025Change
No employees12,06614,406+19.4%
1–4 employees7,1956,985−2.9%
5–19 employees2,4252,430+0.2%
20 or more employees424500+17.9%

8 Jobs on ViewJobs now

Live job ads on ViewJobs in the Snowy Mountains, Capital Country and the South Coast. Capital Country and the South Coast reach beyond this ABS area: 85% of Capital Country's towns and 38% of the South Coast's are in the area. The Snowy Mountains has all its towns in it.

Live jobs on ViewJobs in these regions
1,596
ViewJobs, 25 Oct 2026[4]
Figure 8.1: Live jobs on ViewJobs by classification, Snowy Mountains, Capital Country and South CoastThe 8 classifications with the most live ads, as of 25 Oct 2026.
Healthcare & Medical: 550Healthcare & Medical550Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics: 196Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics196Retail & Consumer Products: 157Retail & Consumer Products157Hospitality & Tourism: 143Hospitality & Tourism143Community Services & Development: 120Community Services & Development120Education & Training: 89Education & Training89Trades & Services: 73Trades & Services73Self Employment: 37Self Employment37

Source: ViewJobs live ads[4].

Show the numbers
Live jobs on ViewJobs by classification, Snowy Mountains, Capital Country and South Coast
ClassificationLive jobs
Healthcare & Medical550
Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics196
Retail & Consumer Products157
Hospitality & Tourism143
Community Services & Development120
Education & Training89
Trades & Services73
Self Employment37

9 Quick answers

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

How many jobs are advertised in the Capital Region?

1,453 online job ads a month were placed in the Capital Region, on average, in the three months to September 2026.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Is the Capital Region's job market growing or shrinking?

Growing: online job ads in the Capital Region were up 26.7% on a year earlier, from 1,147 to 1,453 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 Capital Region?

Medical practitioners and nurses had the most online ads, 284 a month in the three months to September 2026, followed by legal, social and welfare professionals (166) and carers and aides (112). Among occupation groups with at least 5 ads a month a year earlier and now, ads for medical practitioners and nurses rose fastest, up 118.5%.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

What is the unemployment rate in the Capital Region?

3.5% of the labour force in the Capital Region was unemployed at the 2021 Census, against 4.9% across New South Wales. It was 4.9% at the 2016 Census. Labour force participation at the 2021 Census was 58.4%, 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 Capital Region?

Average (mean) employee income in the Capital Region was $69,518 in 2023; the median was $60,618, 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 Capital Region?

Public administration and safety had the most employee jobs in the Capital Region: 26,412 in 2023, 14% of the 183,178 employee jobs. Next were accommodation and food services (21,545) and health care and social assistance (20,452).

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Which industries are growing or shrinking in the Capital Region?

Among industries with 1,000 or more employee jobs, accommodation and food services grew fastest, with 36% more employee jobs in 2023 than in 2019, followed by construction (27% more). Rental, hiring and real estate services had 5% fewer employee jobs than in 2019.

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Is the Capital Region's population growing?

248,376 people lived in the Capital Region in 2025, up 5.2% since 2020. New South Wales' population was up 5.9% over the same years. The working-age population was 147,455 in 2024, up 2.2% since 2020.

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

How many jobs are on ViewJobs in the Capital Region?

1,596 jobs are live on ViewJobs in the Snowy Mountains, Capital Country and the South Coast, as of 25 Oct 2026. Capital Country and the South Coast reach beyond the Capital Region: 85% of Capital Country's towns and 38% of the South Coast's are in the area. The most advertised are Healthcare & Medical (550), Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics (196) and Retail & Consumer Products (157).

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 Capital Region here is ABS SA4 101 Capital Region. 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 25 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 25 October 2026.
  4. ViewJobs, Live job ads on ViewJobs, 25 Oct 2026. viewjobs.com.au.

Cite this report

ViewJobs (2026). Capital Region job market report, data to September 2026. https://www.viewjobs.com.au/job-market/nsw/capital-region

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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