ViewJobs
Sign In

Job market report

Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven job market report

Online job ads, unemployment, industries and pay in the Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven, 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 114 Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven
Sources
JSA, ABS and ViewJobs

Key findings

  1. Growing: online job ads in the Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven were up 10.0% on a year earlier, from 703 to 773 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, 79 a month in the three months to September 2026, followed by carers and aides (66) and legal, social and welfare professionals (63).

    Among occupation groups with at least 5 ads a month a year earlier and now, ads for sports, travel and personal service workers rose fastest, up 75.0%.[1]

    Section 2: Which jobs are in demand →

  3. Among industries with 1,000 or more employee jobs, information media and telecommunications grew fastest, with 48% more employee jobs in 2023 than in 2019, followed by accommodation and food services (37% more).[3]

    Section 4: Industries growing and shrinking →

  4. 4.2% of the labour force in the Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven was unemployed at the 2021 Census, against 4.9% across New South Wales.

    It was 5.6% at the 2016 Census. Labour force participation at the 2021 Census was 51.2%, 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.

Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven
+10.0%
773 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, Southern Highlands and ShoalhavenThree-month average, October 2023 to September 2026.
6007008009001kJan 2024Sep 2024May 2025Jan 2026Sep 2026Southern Highlands and ShoalhavenSouthern Highlands and Shoalhaven, Sep 2026: 773773

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Show the numbers
Online job ads a month, Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven
MonthOnline job ads a month
October 2023963
November 2023887
December 2023770
January 2024736
February 2024730
March 2024784
April 2024760
May 2024741
June 2024717
July 2024702
August 2024711
September 2024732
October 2024753
November 2024742
December 2024662
January 2025648
February 2025631
March 2025707
April 2025674
May 2025696
June 2025679
July 2025704
August 2025683
September 2025703
October 2025712
November 2025732
December 2025663
January 2026674
February 2026689
March 2026774
April 2026741
May 2026705
June 2026698
July 2026734
August 2026762
September 2026773

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, Southern Highlands and ShoalhavenThe 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: +50.0%Other labourers+50.0%Sales assistants and salespersons: +44.7%Sales assistants and salespersons+44.7%Legal, social and welfare professionals: +34.0%Legal, social and welfare professionals+34.0%Health diagnostic and therapy professionals: +33.3%Health diagnostic and therapy professionals+33.3%Food trades: +20.0%Food trades+20.0%Hospitality, retail and service managers: +18.2%Hospitality, retail and service managers+18.2%Medical practitioners and nurses: +12.9%Medical practitioners and nurses+12.9%Cleaners and laundry workers: +11.1%Cleaners and laundry workers+11.1%Drivers and storepersons: +8.3%Drivers and storepersons+8.3%Carers and aides: −2.9%Carers and aides−2.9%Automotive and engineering trades: −3.1%Automotive and engineering trades−3.1%General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists: −8.5%General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists−8.5%

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Show the numbers
Change in online job ads by occupation, Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven
Occupation groupAds a month, September 2026A year earlierChange
Medical practitioners and nurses7970+12.9%
Carers and aides6668−2.9%
Legal, social and welfare professionals6347+34.0%
Sales assistants and salespersons5538+44.7%
General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists4347−8.5%
Health diagnostic and therapy professionals3224+33.3%
Automotive and engineering trades3132−3.1%
Food trades3025+20.0%
Other labourers3020+50.0%
Hospitality, retail and service managers2622+18.2%
Drivers and storepersons2624+8.3%
Cleaners and laundry workers2018+11.1%
Hospitality workers1816+12.5%
Education professionals1619−15.8%
Business, finance and human resource professionals1512+25.0%
Engineering, ICT and science technicians1412+16.7%
Sports, travel and personal service workers148+75.0%
Corporate managers1210+20.0%
Construction, production and distribution managers128+50.0%
Electrotechnology and telecommunications trades12120.0%
Health and welfare support workers1112−8.3%
Numerical clerks118+37.5%
Sales representatives and agents1112−8.3%
Construction trades1012−16.7%
Engineers911−18.2%
Skilled animal and horticultural workers98+12.5%
Mobile plant operators990.0%
Other clerical and administrative workers812−33.3%
Office managers, administrators and secretaries810−20.0%
Factory process workers89−11.1%
Machine and stationary plant operators78−12.5%
Health, education, ICT and other managers65+20.0%
Construction and mining labourers660.0%
Jewellers, arts and other trades workers59−44.4%
ICT professionalsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Transport and design professionals, and architectsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/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
Information professionalsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Sales, marketing & public relations professionalsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Science professionals and veterinariansfewer than 55n/a
Protective service workersfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Farm, forestry and garden workersfewer than 55n/a
Food preparation assistantsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Chief executives, managing directors & legislatorsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Arts and media professionalsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Clerical and office support workers, couriersfewer 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, Southern Highlands and ShoalhavenShare of the labour force unemployed at the 2011, 2016 and 2021 Censuses, against New South Wales.
  • Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven
  • New South Wales
4%5%6%7%201120162021Southern Highlands and ShoalhavenSouthern Highlands and Shoalhaven, 2011: 6.4%Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven, 2016: 5.6%Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven, 2021: 4.2%4.2%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, Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven
CensusSouthern Highlands and ShoalhavenNew South Wales
2011 Census6.4%5.9%
2016 Census5.6%6.3%
2021 Census4.2%4.9%
Figure 3.2: Labour force participation, Southern Highlands and ShoalhavenShare of people aged 15 and over in the labour force at the 2011, 2016 and 2021 Censuses, against New South Wales.
  • Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven
  • New South Wales
45%50%55%60%201120162021Southern Highlands and ShoalhavenSouthern Highlands and Shoalhaven, 2011: 50.6%Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven, 2016: 49.1%Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven, 2021: 51.2%51.2%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, Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven
CensusSouthern Highlands and ShoalhavenNew South Wales
2011 Census50.6%59.7%
2016 Census49.1%59.2%
2021 Census51.2%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, Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven, 2019 to 2023Industries with 1,000 or more employee jobs in 2023, fastest-growing first.
Information media and telecommunications: +48.3%Information media and telecommunications+48.3%Accommodation and food services: +37.3%Accommodation and food services+37.3%Financial and insurance services: +31.2%Financial and insurance services+31.2%Professional, scientific and technical services: +29.6%Professional, scientific and technical services+29.6%Retail trade: +22.2%Retail trade+22.2%Wholesale trade: +20.2%Wholesale trade+20.2%Construction: +17.9%Construction+17.9%Public administration and safety: +16.2%Public administration and safety+16.2%Health care and social assistance: +16.0%Health care and social assistance+16.0%Arts and recreation services: +15.4%Arts and recreation services+15.4%Education and training: +13.9%Education and training+13.9%Administrative and support services: +12.8%Administrative and support services+12.8%Manufacturing: +9.1%Manufacturing+9.1%Other services: +9.0%Other services+9.0%Rental, hiring and real estate services: +7.1%Rental, hiring and real estate services+7.1%Transport, postal and warehousing: +6.9%Transport, postal and warehousing+6.9%Agriculture, forestry and fishing: 0.0%Agriculture, forestry and fishing0.0%

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Show the numbers
Change in employee jobs by industry, Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven, 2019 to 2023
Industry20192023Change
Health care and social assistance12,66514,691+16.0%
Accommodation and food services10,50914,424+37.3%
Retail trade9,65311,793+22.2%
Public administration and safety7,6518,890+16.2%
Education and training7,2398,242+13.9%
Construction6,7657,978+17.9%
Administrative and support services5,8646,616+12.8%
Professional, scientific and technical services4,7956,214+29.6%
Manufacturing4,9765,429+9.1%
Financial and insurance services3,1374,115+31.2%
Other services3,0083,279+9.0%
Transport, postal and warehousing3,0003,206+6.9%
Wholesale trade2,4112,897+20.2%
Rental, hiring and real estate services1,9362,074+7.1%
Agriculture, forestry and fishing1,5231,5230.0%
Arts and recreation services1,1561,334+15.4%
Information media and telecommunications8621,278+48.3%
Electricity, gas, water and waste services527769n/a
Mining461459n/a
Figure 4.2: Largest industries by employee jobs, Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven, 2023106,711 employee jobs across all industries in the year to 30 June 2023.
Health care and social assistance: 14,691Health care and social assistance14,691Accommodation and food services: 14,424Accommodation and food services14,424Retail trade: 11,793Retail trade11,793Public administration and safety: 8,890Public administration and safety8,890Education and training: 8,242Education and training8,242Construction: 7,978Construction7,978Administrative and support services: 6,616Administrative and support services6,616Professional, scientific and technical services: 6,214Professional, scientific and technical services6,214

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Show the numbers
Largest industries by employee jobs, Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven, 2023
IndustryEmployee jobsShare of all employee jobs
Health care and social assistance14,69114%
Accommodation and food services14,42414%
Retail trade11,79311%
Public administration and safety8,8908%
Education and training8,2428%
Construction7,9787%
Administrative and support services6,6166%
Professional, scientific and technical services6,2146%
Manufacturing5,4295%
Financial and insurance services4,1154%
Other services3,2793%
Transport, postal and warehousing3,2063%
Wholesale trade2,8973%
Rental, hiring and real estate services2,0742%
Agriculture, forestry and fishing1,5231%
Arts and recreation services1,3341%
Information media and telecommunications1,2781%
Electricity, gas, water and waste services7691%
Mining4590%
All industries106,711100%

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, Southern Highlands and ShoalhavenIn the year to 30 June, 2019 to 2023, against New South Wales and Australia.
  • Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven
  • New South Wales
  • Australia
$45k$50k$55k$60k$65k20192020202120222023Southern Highlands and ShoalhavenSouthern Highlands and Shoalhaven, 2019: $45,000Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven, 2020: $46,957Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven, 2021: $49,687Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven, 2022: $50,024Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven, 2023: $54,200$54,200New 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, Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven
YearSouthern Highlands and ShoalhavenNew South WalesAustralia
2019$45,000$53,104$52,256
2020$46,957$54,989$53,878
2021$49,687$57,891$56,485
2022$50,024$58,972$58,260
2023$54,200$63,301$61,966
Figure 5.2: Mean employee income, Southern Highlands and ShoalhavenIn the year to 30 June, 2019 to 2023, against New South Wales and Australia.
  • Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven
  • New South Wales
  • Australia
$50k$60k$70k$80k20192020202120222023Southern Highlands and ShoalhavenSouthern Highlands and Shoalhaven, 2019: $54,319Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven, 2020: $57,012Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven, 2021: $59,683Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven, 2022: $61,310Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven, 2023: $65,234$65,234New 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, Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven
YearSouthern Highlands and ShoalhavenNew South WalesAustralia
2019$54,319$66,377$63,517
2020$57,012$68,690$65,591
2021$59,683$71,848$68,452
2022$61,310$74,232$70,950
2023$65,234$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
165,285
ABS, 2025 · up 3.9% since 2020[3]
Working-age population, 15 to 64
90,995
ABS, 2024 · up 1.0% since 2020[3]

New South Wales' population was up 5.9% from 2020 to 2025, and the Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven's up 3.9%.[3]

7 Businesses

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

Businesses in the area
14,923
ABS, 2025 · up 9.6% since 2021[3]
Figure 7.1: Businesses by number of employees, Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven, 2025Businesses by how many people they employ. The table adds each size's count in 2021 and the change.
No employees: 8,527No employees8,5271–4 employees: 4,5641–4 employees4,5645–19 employees: 1,5125–19 employees1,51220 or more employees: 32020 or more employees320

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Show the numbers
Businesses by number of employees, Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven, 2025
Size20212025Change
No employees7,1868,527+18.7%
1–4 employees4,7214,564−3.3%
5–19 employees1,4451,512+4.6%
20 or more employees260320+23.1%

8 Jobs on ViewJobs now

Live job ads on ViewJobs in the South Coast, a ViewJobs region that reaches beyond this ABS area: 30% of its towns are in the area.

Live jobs on ViewJobs in the South Coast
933
ViewJobs, 25 Oct 2026[4]
Figure 8.1: Live jobs on ViewJobs by classification, South CoastThe 8 classifications with the most live ads, as of 25 Oct 2026.
Healthcare & Medical: 314Healthcare & Medical314Retail & Consumer Products: 105Retail & Consumer Products105Community Services & Development: 92Community Services & Development92Hospitality & Tourism: 83Hospitality & Tourism83Education & Training: 67Education & Training67Trades & Services: 51Trades & Services51Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics: 40Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics40Sport & Recreation: 22Sport & Recreation22

Source: ViewJobs live ads[4].

Show the numbers
Live jobs on ViewJobs by classification, South Coast
ClassificationLive jobs
Healthcare & Medical314
Retail & Consumer Products105
Community Services & Development92
Hospitality & Tourism83
Education & Training67
Trades & Services51
Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics40
Sport & Recreation22

Browse jobs by region

9 Quick answers

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

How many jobs are advertised in the Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven?

773 online job ads a month were placed in the Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven, on average, in the three months to September 2026.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Is the Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven's job market growing or shrinking?

Growing: online job ads in the Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven were up 10.0% on a year earlier, from 703 to 773 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 Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven?

Medical practitioners and nurses had the most online ads, 79 a month in the three months to September 2026, followed by carers and aides (66) and legal, social and welfare professionals (63). Among occupation groups with at least 5 ads a month a year earlier and now, ads for sports, travel and personal service workers rose fastest, up 75.0%.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

What is the unemployment rate in the Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven?

4.2% of the labour force in the Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven was unemployed at the 2021 Census, against 4.9% across New South Wales. It was 5.6% at the 2016 Census. Labour force participation at the 2021 Census was 51.2%, 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 Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven?

Average (mean) employee income in the Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven was $65,234 in 2023; the median was $54,200, 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 Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven?

Health care and social assistance had the most employee jobs in the Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven: 14,691 in 2023, 14% of the 106,711 employee jobs. Next were accommodation and food services (14,424) and retail trade (11,793).

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Which industries are growing or shrinking in the Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven?

Among industries with 1,000 or more employee jobs, information media and telecommunications grew fastest, with 48% more employee jobs in 2023 than in 2019, followed by accommodation and food services (37% more).

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Is the Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven's population growing?

165,285 people lived in the Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven in 2025, up 3.9% since 2020. New South Wales' population was up 5.9% over the same years. The working-age population was 90,995 in 2024, up 1.0% since 2020.

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

How many jobs are on ViewJobs in the Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven?

933 jobs are live on ViewJobs in the South Coast, a ViewJobs region that reaches beyond the Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven, as of 25 Oct 2026. 30% of its towns are in the area. The most advertised are Healthcare & Medical (314), Retail & Consumer Products (105) and Community Services & Development (92).

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 Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven here is ABS SA4 114 Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven. 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). Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven job market report, data to September 2026. https://www.viewjobs.com.au/job-market/nsw/southern-highlands-and-shoalhaven

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.

ViewJobs

Across 85+ mastheads