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Job market report

Newcastle and Lake Macquarie job market report

Online job ads, unemployment, industries and pay in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, 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 111 Newcastle and Lake Macquarie
Sources
JSA, ABS and ViewJobs

Key findings

  1. Shrinking: online job ads in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie were down 5.2% on a year earlier, from 2,956 to 2,803 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, 239 a month in the three months to September 2026, followed by carers and aides (200) and general-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists (175).

    Among occupation groups with at least 5 ads a month a year earlier and now, ads for protective service workers rose fastest, up 87.5%.[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 40% more employee jobs in 2023 than in 2019, followed by financial and insurance services (37% more).

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

    Section 4: Industries growing and shrinking →

  4. 4.7% of the labour force in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie was unemployed at the 2021 Census, against 4.9% across New South Wales.

    It was 7.2% at the 2016 Census. Labour force participation at the 2021 Census was 60.6%, 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.

Newcastle and Lake Macquarie
−5.2%
2,803 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, Newcastle and Lake MacquarieThree-month average, October 2023 to September 2026.
2k2.5k3k3.5k4k4.5kJan 2024Sep 2024May 2025Jan 2026Sep 2026Newcastle and Lake MacquarieNewcastle and Lake Macquarie, Sep 2026: 2,8032,803

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Show the numbers
Online job ads a month, Newcastle and Lake Macquarie
MonthOnline job ads a month
October 20234,053
November 20233,790
December 20233,279
January 20243,158
February 20243,111
March 20243,416
April 20243,314
May 20243,286
June 20243,149
July 20243,109
August 20243,101
September 20243,215
October 20243,246
November 20243,101
December 20242,672
January 20252,592
February 20252,501
March 20252,801
April 20252,646
May 20252,693
June 20252,630
July 20252,827
August 20252,834
September 20252,956
October 20252,909
November 20252,825
December 20252,470
January 20262,506
February 20262,575
March 20262,900
April 20262,705
May 20262,696
June 20262,569
July 20262,671
August 20262,693
September 20262,803

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, Newcastle and Lake MacquarieThe 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: +15.5%Medical practitioners and nurses+15.5%Health diagnostic and therapy professionals: +12.0%Health diagnostic and therapy professionals+12.0%Sales assistants and salespersons: +5.2%Sales assistants and salespersons+5.2%Business, finance and human resource professionals: +2.6%Business, finance and human resource professionals+2.6%Hospitality, retail and service managers: +1.1%Hospitality, retail and service managers+1.1%Engineers: −2.7%Engineers−2.7%General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists: −4.9%General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists−4.9%Drivers and storepersons: −7.1%Drivers and storepersons−7.1%Legal, social and welfare professionals: −7.5%Legal, social and welfare professionals−7.5%Automotive and engineering trades: −10.2%Automotive and engineering trades−10.2%Other labourers: −19.0%Other labourers−19.0%Carers and aides: −21.3%Carers and aides−21.3%

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Show the numbers
Change in online job ads by occupation, Newcastle and Lake Macquarie
Occupation groupAds a month, September 2026A year earlierChange
Medical practitioners and nurses239207+15.5%
Carers and aides200254−21.3%
General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists175184−4.9%
Sales assistants and salespersons163155+5.2%
Automotive and engineering trades150167−10.2%
Legal, social and welfare professionals136147−7.5%
Health diagnostic and therapy professionals10392+12.0%
Hospitality, retail and service managers9291+1.1%
Drivers and storepersons9198−7.1%
Other labourers85105−19.0%
Business, finance and human resource professionals7876+2.6%
Engineers7375−2.7%
Hospitality workers7173−2.7%
Corporate managers6861+11.5%
Food trades6779−15.2%
Cleaners and laundry workers6765+3.1%
Electrotechnology and telecommunications trades6358+8.6%
Construction, production and distribution managers6259+5.1%
Sales representatives and agents6169−11.6%
Engineering, ICT and science technicians5864−9.4%
Other clerical and administrative workers5758−1.7%
Construction trades5161−16.4%
Education professionals5069−27.5%
Health and welfare support workers4745+4.4%
Office managers, administrators and secretaries4654−14.8%
Numerical clerks4347−8.5%
Mobile plant operators3449−30.6%
Construction and mining labourers3437−8.1%
Sports, travel and personal service workers3326+26.9%
Machine and stationary plant operators3040−25.0%
Health, education, ICT and other managers28280.0%
Skilled animal and horticultural workers2324−4.2%
ICT professionals2237−40.5%
Jewellers, arts and other trades workers2017+17.6%
Sales, marketing & public relations professionals1816+12.5%
Information professionals1716+6.3%
Transport and design professionals, and architects1722−22.7%
Science professionals and veterinarians1620−20.0%
Protective service workers158+87.5%
Factory process workers1518−16.7%
Hairdressers, printing, clothing and wood trades1417−17.6%
Food preparation assistants14140.0%
Sales support workers1315−13.3%
Farm, forestry and garden workers1311+18.2%
Chief executives, managing directors & legislators128+50.0%
Clerical and office support workers, couriers119+22.2%
Arts and media professionals910−10.0%
Farmers and farm managersfewer 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, Newcastle and Lake MacquarieShare of the labour force unemployed at the 2011, 2016 and 2021 Censuses, against New South Wales.
  • Newcastle and Lake Macquarie
  • New South Wales
4%5%6%7%8%201120162021Newcastle and Lake MacquarieNewcastle and Lake Macquarie, 2011: 5.5%Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, 2016: 7.2%Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, 2021: 4.7%4.7%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, Newcastle and Lake Macquarie
CensusNewcastle and Lake MacquarieNew South Wales
2011 Census5.5%5.9%
2016 Census7.2%6.3%
2021 Census4.7%4.9%
Figure 3.2: Labour force participation, Newcastle and Lake MacquarieShare of people aged 15 and over in the labour force at the 2011, 2016 and 2021 Censuses, against New South Wales.
  • Newcastle and Lake Macquarie
  • New South Wales
58%59%60%61%201120162021Newcastle and Lake MacquarieNewcastle and Lake Macquarie, 2011: 58.6%Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, 2016: 58.5%Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, 2021: 60.6%60.6%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, Newcastle and Lake Macquarie
CensusNewcastle and Lake MacquarieNew South Wales
2011 Census58.6%59.7%
2016 Census58.5%59.2%
2021 Census60.6%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, Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, 2019 to 2023Industries with 1,000 or more employee jobs in 2023, fastest-growing first.
Arts and recreation services: +39.6%Arts and recreation services+39.6%Financial and insurance services: +36.8%Financial and insurance services+36.8%Information media and telecommunications: +32.8%Information media and telecommunications+32.8%Accommodation and food services: +30.9%Accommodation and food services+30.9%Health care and social assistance: +30.7%Health care and social assistance+30.7%Professional, scientific and technical services: +24.4%Professional, scientific and technical services+24.4%Retail trade: +20.5%Retail trade+20.5%Other services: +18.3%Other services+18.3%Construction: +16.6%Construction+16.6%Education and training: +16.5%Education and training+16.5%Manufacturing: +16.4%Manufacturing+16.4%Agriculture, forestry and fishing: +14.6%Agriculture, forestry and fishing+14.6%Public administration and safety: +13.1%Public administration and safety+13.1%Mining: +6.8%Mining+6.8%Wholesale trade: +4.6%Wholesale trade+4.6%Transport, postal and warehousing: +3.8%Transport, postal and warehousing+3.8%Electricity, gas, water and waste services: +1.9%Electricity, gas, water and waste services+1.9%Administrative and support services: +0.3%Administrative and support services+0.3%Rental, hiring and real estate services: −2.7%Rental, hiring and real estate services−2.7%

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Show the numbers
Change in employee jobs by industry, Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, 2019 to 2023
Industry20192023Change
Health care and social assistance44,29757,907+30.7%
Accommodation and food services23,81331,176+30.9%
Retail trade24,25229,234+20.5%
Education and training23,78027,714+16.5%
Administrative and support services23,53623,612+0.3%
Construction19,26722,474+16.6%
Professional, scientific and technical services17,24321,458+24.4%
Public administration and safety17,57219,880+13.1%
Manufacturing13,96416,260+16.4%
Financial and insurance services10,78314,753+36.8%
Other services8,3609,893+18.3%
Transport, postal and warehousing8,5618,890+3.8%
Wholesale trade7,9118,278+4.6%
Arts and recreation services3,5254,920+39.6%
Rental, hiring and real estate services4,9414,808−2.7%
Mining4,1404,421+6.8%
Information media and telecommunications2,1122,804+32.8%
Electricity, gas, water and waste services2,6312,682+1.9%
Agriculture, forestry and fishing9451,083+14.6%
Figure 4.2: Largest industries by employee jobs, Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, 2023315,048 employee jobs across all industries in the year to 30 June 2023.
Health care and social assistance: 57,907Health care and social assistance57,907Accommodation and food services: 31,176Accommodation and food services31,176Retail trade: 29,234Retail trade29,234Education and training: 27,714Education and training27,714Administrative and support services: 23,612Administrative and support services23,612Construction: 22,474Construction22,474Professional, scientific and technical services: 21,458Professional, scientific and technical services21,458Public administration and safety: 19,880Public administration and safety19,880

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Show the numbers
Largest industries by employee jobs, Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, 2023
IndustryEmployee jobsShare of all employee jobs
Health care and social assistance57,90718%
Accommodation and food services31,17610%
Retail trade29,2349%
Education and training27,7149%
Administrative and support services23,6127%
Construction22,4747%
Professional, scientific and technical services21,4587%
Public administration and safety19,8806%
Manufacturing16,2605%
Financial and insurance services14,7535%
Other services9,8933%
Transport, postal and warehousing8,8903%
Wholesale trade8,2783%
Arts and recreation services4,9202%
Rental, hiring and real estate services4,8082%
Mining4,4211%
Information media and telecommunications2,8041%
Electricity, gas, water and waste services2,6821%
Agriculture, forestry and fishing1,0830%
All industries315,048100%

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, Newcastle and Lake MacquarieIn the year to 30 June, 2019 to 2023, against New South Wales and Australia.
  • Newcastle and Lake Macquarie
  • New South Wales
  • Australia
$50k$55k$60k$65k20192020202120222023Newcastle and Lake MacquarieNewcastle and Lake Macquarie, 2019: $53,597Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, 2020: $55,363Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, 2021: $57,957Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, 2022: $58,826Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, 2023: $63,592$63,592New 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, Newcastle and Lake Macquarie
YearNewcastle and Lake MacquarieNew South WalesAustralia
2019$53,597$53,104$52,256
2020$55,363$54,989$53,878
2021$57,957$57,891$56,485
2022$58,826$58,972$58,260
2023$63,592$63,301$61,966
Figure 5.2: Mean employee income, Newcastle and Lake MacquarieIn the year to 30 June, 2019 to 2023, against New South Wales and Australia.
  • Newcastle and Lake Macquarie
  • New South Wales
  • Australia
$60k$65k$70k$75k$80k20192020202120222023Newcastle and Lake MacquarieNewcastle and Lake Macquarie, 2019: $62,379Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, 2020: $64,557Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, 2021: $66,831Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, 2022: $68,737Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, 2023: $73,066$73,066New 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, Newcastle and Lake Macquarie
YearNewcastle and Lake MacquarieNew South WalesAustralia
2019$62,379$66,377$63,517
2020$64,557$68,690$65,591
2021$66,831$71,848$68,452
2022$68,737$74,232$70,950
2023$73,066$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
412,359
ABS, 2025 · up 6.4% since 2020[3]
Working-age population, 15 to 64
257,551
ABS, 2024 · up 4.8% since 2020[3]

New South Wales' population was up 5.9% from 2020 to 2025, and Newcastle and Lake Macquarie's up 6.4%.[3]

7 Businesses

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

Businesses in the area
31,776
ABS, 2025 · up 15.4% since 2021[3]
Figure 7.1: Businesses by number of employees, Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, 2025Businesses by how many people they employ. The table adds each size's count in 2021 and the change.
No employees: 17,772No employees17,7721–4 employees: 9,5001–4 employees9,5005–19 employees: 3,4965–19 employees3,49620 or more employees: 1,00820 or more employees1,008

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Show the numbers
Businesses by number of employees, Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, 2025
Size20212025Change
No employees14,05617,772+26.4%
1–4 employees9,3389,500+1.7%
5–19 employees3,3273,496+5.1%
20 or more employees8081,008+24.8%

8 Jobs on ViewJobs now

Live job ads on ViewJobs in the Hunter, a ViewJobs region that reaches beyond this ABS area: 34% of its towns are in the area.

Live jobs on ViewJobs in the Hunter
1,818
ViewJobs, 25 Oct 2026[4]
Figure 8.1: Live jobs on ViewJobs by classification, HunterThe 8 classifications with the most live ads, as of 25 Oct 2026.
Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics: 305Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics305Healthcare & Medical: 287Healthcare & Medical287Hospitality & Tourism: 219Hospitality & Tourism219Retail & Consumer Products: 155Retail & Consumer Products155Community Services & Development: 149Community Services & Development149Trades & Services: 124Trades & Services124Education & Training: 81Education & Training81Engineering: 61Engineering61

Source: ViewJobs live ads[4].

Show the numbers
Live jobs on ViewJobs by classification, Hunter
ClassificationLive jobs
Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics305
Healthcare & Medical287
Hospitality & Tourism219
Retail & Consumer Products155
Community Services & Development149
Trades & Services124
Education & Training81
Engineering61

Browse jobs by region

9 Quick answers

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

How many jobs are advertised in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie?

2,803 online job ads a month were placed in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, on average, in the three months to September 2026.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Is Newcastle and Lake Macquarie's job market growing or shrinking?

Shrinking: online job ads in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie were down 5.2% on a year earlier, from 2,956 to 2,803 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 Newcastle and Lake Macquarie?

Medical practitioners and nurses had the most online ads, 239 a month in the three months to September 2026, followed by carers and aides (200) and general-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists (175). Among occupation groups with at least 5 ads a month a year earlier and now, ads for protective service workers rose fastest, up 87.5%.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

What is the unemployment rate in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie?

4.7% of the labour force in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie was unemployed at the 2021 Census, against 4.9% across New South Wales. It was 7.2% at the 2016 Census. Labour force participation at the 2021 Census was 60.6%, 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 Newcastle and Lake Macquarie?

Average (mean) employee income in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie was $73,066 in 2023; the median was $63,592, 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 Newcastle and Lake Macquarie?

Health care and social assistance had the most employee jobs in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie: 57,907 in 2023, 18% of the 315,048 employee jobs. Next were accommodation and food services (31,176) and retail trade (29,234).

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Which industries are growing or shrinking in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie?

Among industries with 1,000 or more employee jobs, arts and recreation services grew fastest, with 40% more employee jobs in 2023 than in 2019, followed by financial and insurance services (37% more). Rental, hiring and real estate services had 3% fewer employee jobs than in 2019.

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Is Newcastle and Lake Macquarie's population growing?

412,359 people lived in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie in 2025, up 6.4% since 2020. New South Wales' population was up 5.9% over the same years. The working-age population was 257,551 in 2024, up 4.8% since 2020.

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

How many jobs are on ViewJobs in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie?

1,818 jobs are live on ViewJobs in the Hunter, a ViewJobs region that reaches beyond Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, as of 25 Oct 2026. 34% of its towns are in the area. The most advertised are Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics (305), Healthcare & Medical (287) and Hospitality & Tourism (219).

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
Newcastle and Lake Macquarie here is ABS SA4 111 Newcastle and Lake Macquarie. 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). Newcastle and Lake Macquarie job market report, data to September 2026. https://www.viewjobs.com.au/job-market/nsw/newcastle-and-lake-macquarie

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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