ViewJobs
Sign In

Job market report

Mackay - Isaac - Whitsunday job market report

Online job ads, unemployment, industries and pay in Mackay - Isaac - Whitsunday, 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 312 Mackay - Isaac - Whitsunday
Sources
JSA, ABS and ViewJobs

Key findings

  1. Growing: online job ads in Mackay - Isaac - Whitsunday were up 3.4% on a year earlier, from 2,390 to 2,471 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. Automotive and engineering trades had the most online ads, 301 a month in the three months to September 2026, followed by drivers and storepersons (157) and general-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists (148).

    Among occupation groups with at least 5 ads a month a year earlier and now, ads for transport and design professionals, and architects rose fastest, up 60.0%.[1]

    Section 2: Which jobs are in demand →

  3. Among industries with 1,000 or more employee jobs, mining grew fastest, with 49% more employee jobs in 2023 than in 2019.

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

    Section 4: Industries growing and shrinking →

  4. 3.9% of the labour force in Mackay - Isaac - Whitsunday was unemployed at the 2021 Census, against 5.4% across Queensland.

    It was 7.8% at the 2016 Census. Labour force participation at the 2021 Census was 62.7%, 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.

Mackay - Isaac - Whitsunday
+3.4%
2,471 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, Mackay - Isaac - WhitsundayThree-month average, October 2023 to September 2026.
2k2.5k3k3.5kJan 2024Sep 2024May 2025Jan 2026Sep 2026Mackay - Isaac - WhitsundayMackay - Isaac - Whitsunday, Sep 2026: 2,4712,471

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Show the numbers
Online job ads a month, Mackay - Isaac - Whitsunday
MonthOnline job ads a month
October 20233,310
November 20233,108
December 20232,817
January 20242,728
February 20242,737
March 20242,904
April 20242,855
May 20242,809
June 20242,739
July 20242,695
August 20242,608
September 20242,672
October 20242,689
November 20242,631
December 20242,330
January 20252,286
February 20252,206
March 20252,427
April 20252,286
May 20252,321
June 20252,308
July 20252,418
August 20252,396
September 20252,390
October 20252,338
November 20252,282
December 20252,076
January 20262,070
February 20262,080
March 20262,277
April 20262,168
May 20262,150
June 20262,099
July 20262,275
August 20262,376
September 20262,471

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, Mackay - Isaac - WhitsundayThe 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: +25.3%Medical practitioners and nurses+25.3%Machine and stationary plant operators: +25.0%Machine and stationary plant operators+25.0%Mobile plant operators: +16.9%Mobile plant operators+16.9%Engineers: +10.6%Engineers+10.6%Other labourers: +3.5%Other labourers+3.5%Drivers and storepersons: −2.5%Drivers and storepersons−2.5%Sales assistants and salespersons: −2.5%Sales assistants and salespersons−2.5%Automotive and engineering trades: −5.0%Automotive and engineering trades−5.0%General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists: −5.1%General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists−5.1%Hospitality, retail and service managers: −9.9%Hospitality, retail and service managers−9.9%Carers and aides: −10.9%Carers and aides−10.9%Electrotechnology and telecommunications trades: −14.2%Electrotechnology and telecommunications trades−14.2%

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Show the numbers
Change in online job ads by occupation, Mackay - Isaac - Whitsunday
Occupation groupAds a month, September 2026A year earlierChange
Automotive and engineering trades301317−5.0%
Drivers and storepersons157161−2.5%
General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists148156−5.1%
Machine and stationary plant operators12096+25.0%
Sales assistants and salespersons117120−2.5%
Engineers10494+10.6%
Medical practitioners and nurses9475+25.3%
Electrotechnology and telecommunications trades91106−14.2%
Carers and aides90101−10.9%
Other labourers8885+3.5%
Mobile plant operators8371+16.9%
Hospitality, retail and service managers7381−9.9%
Business, finance and human resource professionals7158+22.4%
Construction and mining labourers7048+45.8%
Engineering, ICT and science technicians6967+3.0%
Construction trades56560.0%
Health diagnostic and therapy professionals5558−5.2%
Corporate managers5357−7.0%
Construction, production and distribution managers5344+20.5%
Other clerical and administrative workers4944+11.4%
Legal, social and welfare professionals4855−12.7%
Food trades4439+12.8%
Cleaners and laundry workers4145−8.9%
Education professionals3127+14.8%
Health and welfare support workers3128+10.7%
Numerical clerks2922+31.8%
Hospitality workers2719+42.1%
Jewellers, arts and other trades workers2618+44.4%
Office managers, administrators and secretaries2432−25.0%
Health, education, ICT and other managers2317+35.3%
Sales representatives and agents2132−34.4%
Arts and media professionals1913+46.2%
Science professionals and veterinarians1912+58.3%
Sports, travel and personal service workers1819−5.3%
Transport and design professionals, and architects1610+60.0%
Sales support workers1613+23.1%
Skilled animal and horticultural workers1213−7.7%
Hairdressers, printing, clothing and wood trades1210+20.0%
Protective service workers1210+20.0%
Information professionals107+42.9%
Factory process workers1012−16.7%
ICT professionals96+50.0%
Food preparation assistants96+50.0%
Sales, marketing & public relations professionals69−33.3%
Clerical and office support workers, couriers69−33.3%
Farm, forestry and garden workers67−14.3%
Chief executives, managing directors & legislatorsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
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, Mackay - Isaac - WhitsundayShare of the labour force unemployed at the 2011, 2016 and 2021 Censuses, against Queensland.
  • Mackay - Isaac - Whitsunday
  • Queensland
2%4%6%8%201120162021Mackay - Isaac - WhitsundayMackay - Isaac - Whitsunday, 2011: 3.6%Mackay - Isaac - Whitsunday, 2016: 7.8%Mackay - Isaac - Whitsunday, 2021: 3.9%3.9%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, Mackay - Isaac - Whitsunday
CensusMackay - Isaac - WhitsundayQueensland
2011 Census3.6%6.1%
2016 Census7.8%7.6%
2021 Census3.9%5.4%
Figure 3.2: Labour force participation, Mackay - Isaac - WhitsundayShare of people aged 15 and over in the labour force at the 2011, 2016 and 2021 Censuses, against Queensland.
  • Mackay - Isaac - Whitsunday
  • Queensland
60%62%64%66%68%201120162021Mackay - Isaac - WhitsundayMackay - Isaac - Whitsunday, 2011: 67.1%Mackay - Isaac - Whitsunday, 2016: 63.2%Mackay - Isaac - Whitsunday, 2021: 62.7%62.7%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, Mackay - Isaac - Whitsunday
CensusMackay - Isaac - WhitsundayQueensland
2011 Census67.1%62.8%
2016 Census63.2%61.0%
2021 Census62.7%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, Mackay - Isaac - Whitsunday, 2019 to 2023Industries with 1,000 or more employee jobs in 2023, fastest-growing first.
Mining: +48.6%Mining+48.6%Other services: +35.4%Other services+35.4%Health care and social assistance: +34.7%Health care and social assistance+34.7%Accommodation and food services: +32.7%Accommodation and food services+32.7%Agriculture, forestry and fishing: +32.7%Agriculture, forestry and fishing+32.7%Rental, hiring and real estate services: +28.4%Rental, hiring and real estate services+28.4%Electricity, gas, water and waste services: +27.7%Electricity, gas, water and waste services+27.7%Arts and recreation services: +22.4%Arts and recreation services+22.4%Professional, scientific and technical services: +21.7%Professional, scientific and technical services+21.7%Retail trade: +20.7%Retail trade+20.7%Transport, postal and warehousing: +19.8%Transport, postal and warehousing+19.8%Manufacturing: +13.6%Manufacturing+13.6%Financial and insurance services: +13.5%Financial and insurance services+13.5%Wholesale trade: +13.1%Wholesale trade+13.1%Education and training: +11.4%Education and training+11.4%Administrative and support services: +4.4%Administrative and support services+4.4%Construction: +4.2%Construction+4.2%Public administration and safety: −8.1%Public administration and safety−8.1%

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Show the numbers
Change in employee jobs by industry, Mackay - Isaac - Whitsunday, 2019 to 2023
Industry20192023Change
Accommodation and food services13,41117,798+32.7%
Administrative and support services15,50716,184+4.4%
Health care and social assistance11,88116,006+34.7%
Retail trade13,06315,770+20.7%
Mining9,02313,409+48.6%
Construction12,59713,129+4.2%
Other services7,2279,782+35.4%
Professional, scientific and technical services7,4589,080+21.7%
Manufacturing7,9859,069+13.6%
Education and training7,7438,622+11.4%
Transport, postal and warehousing7,1138,521+19.8%
Agriculture, forestry and fishing5,0996,764+32.7%
Wholesale trade5,9036,675+13.1%
Public administration and safety5,7355,269−8.1%
Rental, hiring and real estate services3,1704,070+28.4%
Financial and insurance services3,2933,737+13.5%
Arts and recreation services1,3201,616+22.4%
Electricity, gas, water and waste services1,0141,295+27.7%
Information media and telecommunications373721n/a
Figure 4.2: Largest industries by employee jobs, Mackay - Isaac - Whitsunday, 2023168,779 employee jobs across all industries in the year to 30 June 2023.
Accommodation and food services: 17,798Accommodation and food services17,798Administrative and support services: 16,184Administrative and support services16,184Health care and social assistance: 16,006Health care and social assistance16,006Retail trade: 15,770Retail trade15,770Mining: 13,409Mining13,409Construction: 13,129Construction13,129Other services: 9,782Other services9,782Professional, scientific and technical services: 9,080Professional, scientific and technical services9,080

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Show the numbers
Largest industries by employee jobs, Mackay - Isaac - Whitsunday, 2023
IndustryEmployee jobsShare of all employee jobs
Accommodation and food services17,79811%
Administrative and support services16,18410%
Health care and social assistance16,0069%
Retail trade15,7709%
Mining13,4098%
Construction13,1298%
Other services9,7826%
Professional, scientific and technical services9,0805%
Manufacturing9,0695%
Education and training8,6225%
Transport, postal and warehousing8,5215%
Agriculture, forestry and fishing6,7644%
Wholesale trade6,6754%
Public administration and safety5,2693%
Rental, hiring and real estate services4,0702%
Financial and insurance services3,7372%
Arts and recreation services1,6161%
Electricity, gas, water and waste services1,2951%
Information media and telecommunications7210%
All industries168,779100%

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, Mackay - Isaac - WhitsundayIn the year to 30 June, 2019 to 2023, against Queensland and Australia.
  • Mackay - Isaac - Whitsunday
  • Queensland
  • Australia
$50k$55k$60k$65k20192020202120222023Mackay - Isaac - WhitsundayMackay - Isaac - Whitsunday, 2019: $56,035Mackay - Isaac - Whitsunday, 2020: $57,538Mackay - Isaac - Whitsunday, 2021: $60,026Mackay - Isaac - Whitsunday, 2022: $62,034Mackay - Isaac - Whitsunday, 2023: $64,673$64,673QueenslandQueensland, 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, Mackay - Isaac - Whitsunday
YearMackay - Isaac - WhitsundayQueenslandAustralia
2019$56,035$50,776$52,256
2020$57,538$52,137$53,878
2021$60,026$54,414$56,485
2022$62,034$56,569$58,260
2023$64,673$59,751$61,966
Figure 5.2: Mean employee income, Mackay - Isaac - WhitsundayIn the year to 30 June, 2019 to 2023, against Queensland and Australia.
  • Mackay - Isaac - Whitsunday
  • Queensland
  • Australia
$60k$65k$70k$75k$80k20192020202120222023Mackay - Isaac - WhitsundayMackay - Isaac - Whitsunday, 2019: $69,156Mackay - Isaac - Whitsunday, 2020: $70,938Mackay - Isaac - Whitsunday, 2021: $72,528Mackay - Isaac - Whitsunday, 2022: $75,111Mackay - Isaac - Whitsunday, 2023: $78,090$78,090QueenslandQueensland, 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, Mackay - Isaac - Whitsunday
YearMackay - Isaac - WhitsundayQueenslandAustralia
2019$69,156$60,307$63,517
2020$70,938$62,160$65,591
2021$72,528$64,570$68,452
2022$75,111$67,160$70,950
2023$78,090$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
193,813
ABS, 2025 · up 7.3% since 2020[3]
Working-age population, 15 to 64
126,014
ABS, 2024 · up 5.5% since 2020[3]

Queensland's population was up 9.8% from 2020 to 2025, and Mackay - Isaac - Whitsunday's up 7.3%.[3]

7 Businesses

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

Businesses in the area
17,501
ABS, 2025 · up 13.1% since 2021[3]
Figure 7.1: Businesses by number of employees, Mackay - Isaac - Whitsunday, 2025Businesses by how many people they employ. The table adds each size's count in 2021 and the change.
No employees: 10,238No employees10,2381–4 employees: 4,8661–4 employees4,8665–19 employees: 1,8005–19 employees1,80020 or more employees: 59720 or more employees597

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Show the numbers
Businesses by number of employees, Mackay - Isaac - Whitsunday, 2025
Size20212025Change
No employees8,84910,238+15.7%
1–4 employees4,4374,866+9.7%
5–19 employees1,7031,800+5.7%
20 or more employees483597+23.6%

8 Jobs on ViewJobs now

Live job ads on ViewJobs in Mackay and the Whitsundays, ViewJobs regions whose towns all sit in this ABS area.

Live jobs on ViewJobs in these regions
771
ViewJobs, 25 Oct 2026[4]
Figure 8.1: Live jobs on ViewJobs by classification, Mackay and WhitsundaysThe 8 classifications with the most live ads, as of 25 Oct 2026.
Mining, Resources & Energy: 126Mining, Resources & Energy126Trades & Services: 107Trades & Services107Healthcare & Medical: 95Healthcare & Medical95Retail & Consumer Products: 74Retail & Consumer Products74Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics: 64Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics64Community Services & Development: 61Community Services & Development61Hospitality & Tourism: 50Hospitality & Tourism50Administration & Office Support: 26Administration & Office Support26

Source: ViewJobs live ads[4].

Show the numbers
Live jobs on ViewJobs by classification, Mackay and Whitsundays
ClassificationLive jobs
Mining, Resources & Energy126
Trades & Services107
Healthcare & Medical95
Retail & Consumer Products74
Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics64
Community Services & Development61
Hospitality & Tourism50
Administration & Office Support26

9 Quick answers

Short answers to the questions people ask about Mackay - Isaac - Whitsunday's job market, each with its period and source.

How many jobs are advertised in Mackay - Isaac - Whitsunday?

2,471 online job ads a month were placed in Mackay - Isaac - Whitsunday, on average, in the three months to September 2026.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Is Mackay - Isaac - Whitsunday's job market growing or shrinking?

Growing: online job ads in Mackay - Isaac - Whitsunday were up 3.4% on a year earlier, from 2,390 to 2,471 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 Mackay - Isaac - Whitsunday?

Automotive and engineering trades had the most online ads, 301 a month in the three months to September 2026, followed by drivers and storepersons (157) and general-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists (148). Among occupation groups with at least 5 ads a month a year earlier and now, ads for transport and design professionals, and architects rose fastest, up 60.0%.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

What is the unemployment rate in Mackay - Isaac - Whitsunday?

3.9% of the labour force in Mackay - Isaac - Whitsunday was unemployed at the 2021 Census, against 5.4% across Queensland. It was 7.8% at the 2016 Census. Labour force participation at the 2021 Census was 62.7%, 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 Mackay - Isaac - Whitsunday?

Average (mean) employee income in Mackay - Isaac - Whitsunday was $78,090 in 2023; the median was $64,673, against $59,751 across Queensland and $61,966 across Australia.

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Which industries employ the most people in Mackay - Isaac - Whitsunday?

Accommodation and food services had the most employee jobs in Mackay - Isaac - Whitsunday: 17,798 in 2023, 11% of the 168,779 employee jobs. Next were administrative and support services (16,184) and health care and social assistance (16,006).

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Which industries are growing or shrinking in Mackay - Isaac - Whitsunday?

Among industries with 1,000 or more employee jobs, mining grew fastest, with 49% more employee jobs in 2023 than in 2019. Public administration and safety had 8% fewer employee jobs than in 2019.

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Is Mackay - Isaac - Whitsunday's population growing?

193,813 people lived in Mackay - Isaac - Whitsunday in 2025, up 7.3% since 2020. Queensland's population was up 9.8% over the same years. The working-age population was 126,014 in 2024, up 5.5% since 2020.

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

How many jobs are on ViewJobs in Mackay - Isaac - Whitsunday?

At least 771 jobs are live on ViewJobs in Mackay - Isaac - Whitsunday, as of 25 Oct 2026. They are the ads in Mackay and the Whitsundays, ViewJobs regions whose towns all sit in the area. The most advertised are Mining, Resources & Energy (126), Trades & Services (107) and Healthcare & Medical (95).

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
Mackay - Isaac - Whitsunday here is ABS SA4 312 Mackay - Isaac - Whitsunday. 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). Mackay - Isaac - Whitsunday job market report, data to September 2026. https://www.viewjobs.com.au/job-market/qld/mackay-isaac-whitsunday

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