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Job market report

Darling Downs - Maranoa job market report

Online job ads, unemployment, industries and pay in the Darling Downs - Maranoa, Queensland, 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 307 Darling Downs - Maranoa
Sources
JSA, ABS and ViewJobs

Key findings

  1. Shrinking: online job ads in the Darling Downs - Maranoa were down 5.8% on a year earlier, from 1,068 to 1,006 a month in the three months to September 2026.

    Over the same year, ads were up 0.1% across Queensland and up 0.6% across Australia.[1][2]

    Section 1: Job ads and demand →

  2. Carers and aides had the most online ads, 73 a month in the three months to September 2026, followed by automotive and engineering trades (71) and medical practitioners and nurses (68).

    Among occupation groups with at least 5 ads a month a year earlier and now, ads for construction, production and distribution managers rose fastest, up 43.8%.[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 47% more employee jobs in 2023 than in 2019, followed by professional, scientific and technical services (36% more).

    Public administration and safety had 9% fewer employee jobs than in 2019.[3]

    Section 4: Industries growing and shrinking →

  4. 4.3% of the labour force in the Darling Downs - Maranoa was unemployed at the 2021 Census, against 5.4% across Queensland.

    It was 5.5% at the 2016 Census. Labour force participation at the 2021 Census was 57.3%, against 61.6% across Queensland. 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.

Darling Downs - Maranoa
−5.8%
1,006 ads a month[1]
Queensland
+0.1%
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, Darling Downs - MaranoaThree-month average, October 2023 to September 2026.
9001k1.1k1.2kJan 2024Sep 2024May 2025Jan 2026Sep 2026Darling Downs - MaranoaDarling Downs - Maranoa, Sep 2026: 1,0061,006

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Show the numbers
Online job ads a month, Darling Downs - Maranoa
MonthOnline job ads a month
October 20231,196
November 20231,146
December 20231,020
January 20241,028
February 20241,055
March 20241,131
April 20241,085
May 20241,068
June 20241,043
July 20241,035
August 20241,049
September 20241,076
October 20241,117
November 20241,103
December 20241,008
January 20251,026
February 2025984
March 20251,055
April 2025972
May 2025988
June 2025989
July 20251,038
August 20251,033
September 20251,068
October 20251,088
November 20251,055
December 2025955
January 2026953
February 2026980
March 20261,090
April 20261,031
May 2026998
June 2026944
July 2026967
August 2026982
September 20261,006

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, Darling Downs - MaranoaThe 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: +26.8%Other labourers+26.8%Engineering, ICT and science technicians: +13.0%Engineering, ICT and science technicians+13.0%Mobile plant operators: +12.0%Mobile plant operators+12.0%Drivers and storepersons: +6.7%Drivers and storepersons+6.7%Medical practitioners and nurses: −1.4%Medical practitioners and nurses−1.4%Sales assistants and salespersons: −5.0%Sales assistants and salespersons−5.0%Carers and aides: −7.6%Carers and aides−7.6%Automotive and engineering trades: −7.8%Automotive and engineering trades−7.8%Health diagnostic and therapy professionals: −15.4%Health diagnostic and therapy professionals−15.4%Hospitality, retail and service managers: −16.7%Hospitality, retail and service managers−16.7%General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists: −21.3%General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists−21.3%Legal, social and welfare professionals: −21.4%Legal, social and welfare professionals−21.4%

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Show the numbers
Change in online job ads by occupation, Darling Downs - Maranoa
Occupation groupAds a month, September 2026A year earlierChange
Carers and aides7379−7.6%
Automotive and engineering trades7177−7.8%
Medical practitioners and nurses6869−1.4%
General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists6380−21.3%
Sales assistants and salespersons5760−5.0%
Other labourers5241+26.8%
Drivers and storepersons4845+6.7%
Legal, social and welfare professionals3342−21.4%
Health diagnostic and therapy professionals3339−15.4%
Hospitality, retail and service managers3036−16.7%
Mobile plant operators2825+12.0%
Engineering, ICT and science technicians2623+13.0%
Electrotechnology and telecommunications trades2623+13.0%
Corporate managers2318+27.8%
Construction, production and distribution managers2316+43.8%
Business, finance and human resource professionals2223−4.3%
Food trades2218+22.2%
Sports, travel and personal service workers2116+31.3%
Engineers1923−17.4%
Other clerical and administrative workers1921−9.5%
Machine and stationary plant operators1922−13.6%
Health and welfare support workers1725−32.0%
Numerical clerks1721−19.0%
Construction trades1619−15.8%
Office managers, administrators and secretaries15150.0%
Cleaners and laundry workers1417−17.6%
Construction and mining labourers1411+27.3%
Farm, forestry and garden workers1419−26.3%
Sales representatives and agents1216−25.0%
Education professionals1116−31.3%
Factory process workers1012−16.7%
Skilled animal and horticultural workers910−10.0%
Hospitality workers910−10.0%
Sales support workers97+28.6%
Health, education, ICT and other managers87+14.3%
Farmers and farm managers610−40.0%
Science professionals and veterinarians610−40.0%
Hairdressers, printing, clothing and wood trades67−14.3%
Food preparation assistants660.0%
Jewellers, arts and other trades workers56−16.7%
Protective service workers5fewer than 5n/a
Chief executives, managing directors & legislatorsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Arts and media professionalsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Transport and design professionals, and architectsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
ICT professionalsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Information professionalsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Sales, marketing & public relations 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, Darling Downs - MaranoaShare of the labour force unemployed at the 2011, 2016 and 2021 Censuses, against Queensland.
  • Darling Downs - Maranoa
  • Queensland
3%4%5%6%7%8%201120162021Darling Downs - MaranoaDarling Downs - Maranoa, 2011: 3.9%Darling Downs - Maranoa, 2016: 5.5%Darling Downs - Maranoa, 2021: 4.3%4.3%QueenslandQueensland, 2011: 6.1%Queensland, 2016: 7.6%Queensland, 2021: 5.4%5.4%

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Show the numbers
Unemployment rate, Darling Downs - Maranoa
CensusDarling Downs - MaranoaQueensland
2011 Census3.9%6.1%
2016 Census5.5%7.6%
2021 Census4.3%5.4%
Figure 3.2: Labour force participation, Darling Downs - MaranoaShare of people aged 15 and over in the labour force at the 2011, 2016 and 2021 Censuses, against Queensland.
  • Darling Downs - Maranoa
  • Queensland
56%58%60%62%64%201120162021Darling Downs - MaranoaDarling Downs - Maranoa, 2011: 60.7%Darling Downs - Maranoa, 2016: 57.8%Darling Downs - Maranoa, 2021: 57.3%57.3%QueenslandQueensland, 2011: 62.8%Queensland, 2016: 61.0%Queensland, 2021: 61.6%61.6%

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Show the numbers
Labour force participation, Darling Downs - Maranoa
CensusDarling Downs - MaranoaQueensland
2011 Census60.7%62.8%
2016 Census57.8%61.0%
2021 Census57.3%61.6%

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, Darling Downs - Maranoa, 2019 to 2023Industries with 1,000 or more employee jobs in 2023, fastest-growing first.
Accommodation and food services: +46.8%Accommodation and food services+46.8%Professional, scientific and technical services: +36.3%Professional, scientific and technical services+36.3%Rental, hiring and real estate services: +32.1%Rental, hiring and real estate services+32.1%Other services: +27.8%Other services+27.8%Health care and social assistance: +24.2%Health care and social assistance+24.2%Retail trade: +23.6%Retail trade+23.6%Mining: +21.5%Mining+21.5%Transport, postal and warehousing: +20.5%Transport, postal and warehousing+20.5%Construction: +17.2%Construction+17.2%Wholesale trade: +14.5%Wholesale trade+14.5%Manufacturing: +13.9%Manufacturing+13.9%Administrative and support services: +11.9%Administrative and support services+11.9%Financial and insurance services: +11.5%Financial and insurance services+11.5%Agriculture, forestry and fishing: +7.5%Agriculture, forestry and fishing+7.5%Education and training: +3.4%Education and training+3.4%Electricity, gas, water and waste services: +0.4%Electricity, gas, water and waste services+0.4%Public administration and safety: −9.3%Public administration and safety−9.3%

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Show the numbers
Change in employee jobs by industry, Darling Downs - Maranoa, 2019 to 2023
Industry20192023Change
Agriculture, forestry and fishing10,17210,935+7.5%
Health care and social assistance8,79510,926+24.2%
Retail trade7,9769,859+23.6%
Administrative and support services7,2138,072+11.9%
Accommodation and food services5,3857,907+46.8%
Construction5,7636,757+17.2%
Education and training6,5266,747+3.4%
Manufacturing5,0785,785+13.9%
Public administration and safety5,0564,584−9.3%
Transport, postal and warehousing3,6174,358+20.5%
Wholesale trade3,6694,200+14.5%
Professional, scientific and technical services3,0564,164+36.3%
Other services2,7133,466+27.8%
Financial and insurance services2,5032,790+11.5%
Mining1,7702,150+21.5%
Rental, hiring and real estate services1,2911,706+32.1%
Electricity, gas, water and waste services1,0241,028+0.4%
Arts and recreation services743865n/a
Information media and telecommunications302367n/a
Figure 4.2: Largest industries by employee jobs, Darling Downs - Maranoa, 202397,726 employee jobs across all industries in the year to 30 June 2023.
Agriculture, forestry and fishing: 10,935Agriculture, forestry and fishing10,935Health care and social assistance: 10,926Health care and social assistance10,926Retail trade: 9,859Retail trade9,859Administrative and support services: 8,072Administrative and support services8,072Accommodation and food services: 7,907Accommodation and food services7,907Construction: 6,757Construction6,757Education and training: 6,747Education and training6,747Manufacturing: 5,785Manufacturing5,785

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Show the numbers
Largest industries by employee jobs, Darling Downs - Maranoa, 2023
IndustryEmployee jobsShare of all employee jobs
Agriculture, forestry and fishing10,93511%
Health care and social assistance10,92611%
Retail trade9,85910%
Administrative and support services8,0728%
Accommodation and food services7,9078%
Construction6,7577%
Education and training6,7477%
Manufacturing5,7856%
Public administration and safety4,5845%
Transport, postal and warehousing4,3584%
Wholesale trade4,2004%
Professional, scientific and technical services4,1644%
Other services3,4664%
Financial and insurance services2,7903%
Mining2,1502%
Rental, hiring and real estate services1,7062%
Electricity, gas, water and waste services1,0281%
Arts and recreation services8651%
Information media and telecommunications3670%
All industries97,726100%

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, Darling Downs - MaranoaIn the year to 30 June, 2019 to 2023, against Queensland and Australia.
  • Darling Downs - Maranoa
  • Queensland
  • Australia
$45k$50k$55k$60k$65k20192020202120222023Darling Downs - MaranoaDarling Downs - Maranoa, 2019: $45,024Darling Downs - Maranoa, 2020: $47,166Darling Downs - Maranoa, 2021: $48,715Darling Downs - Maranoa, 2022: $50,223Darling Downs - Maranoa, 2023: $52,837$52,837QueenslandQueensland, 2019: $50,776Queensland, 2020: $52,137Queensland, 2021: $54,414Queensland, 2022: $56,569Queensland, 2023: $59,751$59,751AustraliaAustralia, 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, Darling Downs - Maranoa
YearDarling Downs - MaranoaQueenslandAustralia
2019$45,024$50,776$52,256
2020$47,166$52,137$53,878
2021$48,715$54,414$56,485
2022$50,223$56,569$58,260
2023$52,837$59,751$61,966
Figure 5.2: Mean employee income, Darling Downs - MaranoaIn the year to 30 June, 2019 to 2023, against Queensland and Australia.
  • Darling Downs - Maranoa
  • Queensland
  • Australia
$50k$60k$70k$80k20192020202120222023Darling Downs - MaranoaDarling Downs - Maranoa, 2019: $50,834Darling Downs - Maranoa, 2020: $53,279Darling Downs - Maranoa, 2021: $54,485Darling Downs - Maranoa, 2022: $56,548Darling Downs - Maranoa, 2023: $59,914$59,914QueenslandQueensland, 2019: $60,307Queensland, 2020: $62,160Queensland, 2021: $64,570Queensland, 2022: $67,160Queensland, 2023: $70,571$70,571AustraliaAustralia, 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, Darling Downs - Maranoa
YearDarling Downs - MaranoaQueenslandAustralia
2019$50,834$60,307$63,517
2020$53,279$62,160$65,591
2021$54,485$64,570$68,452
2022$56,548$67,160$70,950
2023$59,914$70,571$74,579

6 People

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

People living in the area
134,169
ABS, 2025 · up 3.4% since 2020[3]
Working-age population, 15 to 64
78,650
ABS, 2024 · up 1.5% since 2020[3]

Queensland's population was up 9.8% from 2020 to 2025, and the Darling Downs - Maranoa's up 3.4%.[3]

7 Businesses

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

Businesses in the area
20,295
ABS, 2025 · up 8.3% since 2021[3]
Figure 7.1: Businesses by number of employees, Darling Downs - Maranoa, 2025Businesses by how many people they employ. The table adds each size's count in 2021 and the change.
No employees: 14,343No employees14,3431–4 employees: 4,1121–4 employees4,1125–19 employees: 1,4835–19 employees1,48320 or more employees: 35720 or more employees357

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Show the numbers
Businesses by number of employees, Darling Downs - Maranoa, 2025
Size20212025Change
No employees12,87414,343+11.4%
1–4 employees4,2334,112−2.9%
5–19 employees1,3561,483+9.4%
20 or more employees274357+30.3%

8 Jobs on ViewJobs now

Live job ads on ViewJobs in Southern Queensland Country, a ViewJobs region that reaches beyond this ABS area: 85% of its towns are in the area.

Live jobs on ViewJobs in Southern Queensland Country
682
ViewJobs, 25 Oct 2026[4]
Figure 8.1: Live jobs on ViewJobs by classification, Southern Queensland CountryThe 8 classifications with the most live ads, as of 25 Oct 2026.
Healthcare & Medical: 174Healthcare & Medical174Retail & Consumer Products: 76Retail & Consumer Products76Hospitality & Tourism: 65Hospitality & Tourism65Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics: 61Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics61Community Services & Development: 46Community Services & Development46Education & Training: 38Education & Training38Trades & Services: 34Trades & Services34Farming, Animals & Conservation: 27Farming, Animals & Conservation27

Source: ViewJobs live ads[4].

Show the numbers
Live jobs on ViewJobs by classification, Southern Queensland Country
ClassificationLive jobs
Healthcare & Medical174
Retail & Consumer Products76
Hospitality & Tourism65
Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics61
Community Services & Development46
Education & Training38
Trades & Services34
Farming, Animals & Conservation27

9 Quick answers

Short answers to the questions people ask about the Darling Downs - Maranoa's job market, each with its period and source.

How many jobs are advertised in the Darling Downs - Maranoa?

1,006 online job ads a month were placed in the Darling Downs - Maranoa, on average, in the three months to September 2026.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Is the Darling Downs - Maranoa's job market growing or shrinking?

Shrinking: online job ads in the Darling Downs - Maranoa were down 5.8% on a year earlier, from 1,068 to 1,006 a month in the three months to September 2026. Over the same year, ads were up 0.1% across Queensland and up 0.6% across Australia.

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

Which jobs are most in demand in the Darling Downs - Maranoa?

Carers and aides had the most online ads, 73 a month in the three months to September 2026, followed by automotive and engineering trades (71) and medical practitioners and nurses (68). Among occupation groups with at least 5 ads a month a year earlier and now, ads for construction, production and distribution managers rose fastest, up 43.8%.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

What is the unemployment rate in the Darling Downs - Maranoa?

4.3% of the labour force in the Darling Downs - Maranoa was unemployed at the 2021 Census, against 5.4% across Queensland. It was 5.5% at the 2016 Census. Labour force participation at the 2021 Census was 57.3%, against 61.6% across Queensland. 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 Darling Downs - Maranoa?

Average (mean) employee income in the Darling Downs - Maranoa was $59,914 in 2023; the median was $52,837, against $59,751 across Queensland and $61,966 across Australia.

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Which industries employ the most people in the Darling Downs - Maranoa?

Agriculture, forestry and fishing had the most employee jobs in the Darling Downs - Maranoa: 10,935 in 2023, 11% of the 97,726 employee jobs. Next were health care and social assistance (10,926) and retail trade (9,859).

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Which industries are growing or shrinking in the Darling Downs - Maranoa?

Among industries with 1,000 or more employee jobs, accommodation and food services grew fastest, with 47% more employee jobs in 2023 than in 2019, followed by professional, scientific and technical services (36% more). Public administration and safety had 9% fewer employee jobs than in 2019.

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Is the Darling Downs - Maranoa's population growing?

134,169 people lived in the Darling Downs - Maranoa in 2025, up 3.4% since 2020. Queensland's population was up 9.8% over the same years. The working-age population was 78,650 in 2024, up 1.5% since 2020.

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

How many jobs are on ViewJobs in the Darling Downs - Maranoa?

682 jobs are live on ViewJobs in Southern Queensland Country, a ViewJobs region that reaches beyond the Darling Downs - Maranoa, as of 25 Oct 2026. 85% of its towns are in the area. The most advertised are Healthcare & Medical (174), Retail & Consumer Products (76) and Hospitality & Tourism (65).

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 Darling Downs - Maranoa here is ABS SA4 307 Darling Downs - Maranoa. 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). Darling Downs - Maranoa job market report, data to September 2026. https://www.viewjobs.com.au/job-market/qld/darling-downs-maranoa

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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