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Job market report

Outback South Australia job market report

Online job ads, unemployment, industries and pay in Outback South Australia, South Australia, 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 406 South Australia - Outback
Sources
JSA, ABS and ViewJobs

Key findings

  1. Growing: online job ads in Outback South Australia were up 13.1% on a year earlier, from 627 to 709 a month in the three months to September 2026.

    Over the same year, ads were up 2.6% across South Australia and up 0.6% across Australia.[1][2]

    Section 1: Job ads and demand →

  2. Medical practitioners and nurses had the most online ads, 105 a month in the three months to September 2026, followed by carers and aides (51) and automotive and engineering trades (49).

    Among occupation groups with at least 5 ads a month a year earlier and now, ads for machine and stationary plant operators rose fastest, up 75.0%.[1]

    Section 2: Which jobs are in demand →

  3. Among industries with 1,000 or more employee jobs, rental, hiring and real estate services grew fastest, with 51% more employee jobs in 2023 than in 2019, followed by financial and insurance services (41% more).

    Manufacturing had 14% fewer employee jobs than in 2019, and public administration and safety 10% fewer.[3]

    Section 4: Industries growing and shrinking →

  4. 5.7% of the labour force in Outback South Australia was unemployed at the 2021 Census, against 5.4% across South Australia.

    It was 7.9% at the 2016 Census. Labour force participation at the 2021 Census was 56.5%, against 60.0% across South Australia. 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.

Outback South Australia
+13.1%
709 ads a month[1]
South Australia
+2.6%
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, Outback South AustraliaThree-month average, October 2023 to September 2026.
550600650700750Jan 2024Sep 2024May 2025Jan 2026Sep 2026Outback South AustraliaOutback South Australia, Sep 2026: 709709

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Show the numbers
Online job ads a month, Outback South Australia
MonthOnline job ads a month
October 2023656
November 2023645
December 2023559
January 2024605
February 2024619
March 2024675
April 2024590
May 2024577
June 2024563
July 2024582
August 2024609
September 2024619
October 2024650
November 2024628
December 2024583
January 2025591
February 2025573
March 2025609
April 2025559
May 2025572
June 2025588
July 2025612
August 2025587
September 2025627
October 2025649
November 2025647
December 2025591
January 2026608
February 2026630
March 2026685
April 2026664
May 2026662
June 2026643
July 2026673
August 2026679
September 2026709

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, Outback South AustraliaThe 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.
Machine and stationary plant operators: +75.0%Machine and stationary plant operators+75.0%Hospitality, retail and service managers: +69.2%Hospitality, retail and service managers+69.2%Health and welfare support workers: +46.2%Health and welfare support workers+46.2%Legal, social and welfare professionals: +41.4%Legal, social and welfare professionals+41.4%Sales assistants and salespersons: +35.7%Sales assistants and salespersons+35.7%Carers and aides: +34.2%Carers and aides+34.2%Drivers and storepersons: +20.0%Drivers and storepersons+20.0%Medical practitioners and nurses: +14.1%Medical practitioners and nurses+14.1%Health diagnostic and therapy professionals: +9.4%Health diagnostic and therapy professionals+9.4%Other labourers: +5.0%Other labourers+5.0%Automotive and engineering trades: +4.3%Automotive and engineering trades+4.3%General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists: −2.2%General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists−2.2%

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Show the numbers
Change in online job ads by occupation, Outback South Australia
Occupation groupAds a month, September 2026A year earlierChange
Medical practitioners and nurses10592+14.1%
Carers and aides5138+34.2%
Automotive and engineering trades4947+4.3%
General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists4445−2.2%
Legal, social and welfare professionals4129+41.4%
Health and welfare support workers3826+46.2%
Sales assistants and salespersons3828+35.7%
Health diagnostic and therapy professionals3532+9.4%
Drivers and storepersons2420+20.0%
Hospitality, retail and service managers2213+69.2%
Machine and stationary plant operators2112+75.0%
Other labourers2120+5.0%
Electrotechnology and telecommunications trades2021−4.8%
Food trades1815+20.0%
Construction, production and distribution managers13fewer than 5n/a
Engineers1211+9.1%
Engineering, ICT and science technicians1117−35.3%
Corporate managers86+33.3%
Construction trades880.0%
Other clerical and administrative workers880.0%
Office managers, administrators and secretaries89−11.1%
Science professionals and veterinarians76+16.7%
Sales support workers710−30.0%
Mobile plant operators710−30.0%
Cleaners and laundry workers718−61.1%
Health, education, ICT and other managers65+20.0%
Business, finance and human resource professionals67−14.3%
Hospitality workers65+20.0%
Sports, travel and personal service workers65+20.0%
Numerical clerks67−14.3%
Construction and mining labourers68−25.0%
Food preparation assistants6fewer than 5n/a
Sales representatives and agents5fewer than 5n/a
Education professionalsfewer than 55n/a
Information professionalsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Protective service workersfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Factory process workersfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Farm, forestry and garden workersfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Chief executives, managing directors & legislatorsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Transport and design professionals, and architectsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Clerical and office support workers, couriersfewer than 55n/a
Farmers and farm managersfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Skilled animal and horticultural workersfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Jewellers, arts and other trades workersfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Arts and media professionalsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
ICT professionalsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Sales, marketing & public relations professionalsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Hairdressers, printing, clothing and wood tradesfewer 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, Outback South AustraliaShare of the labour force unemployed at the 2011, 2016 and 2021 Censuses, against South Australia.
  • Outback South Australia
  • South Australia
5%6%7%8%201120162021Outback South AustraliaOutback South Australia, 2011: 5.6%Outback South Australia, 2016: 7.9%Outback South Australia, 2021: 5.7%5.7%South AustraliaSouth Australia, 2011: 5.7%South Australia, 2016: 7.5%South Australia, 2021: 5.4%5.4%

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Show the numbers
Unemployment rate, Outback South Australia
CensusOutback South AustraliaSouth Australia
2011 Census5.6%5.7%
2016 Census7.9%7.5%
2021 Census5.7%5.4%
Figure 3.2: Labour force participation, Outback South AustraliaShare of people aged 15 and over in the labour force at the 2011, 2016 and 2021 Censuses, against South Australia.
  • Outback South Australia
  • South Australia
56%57%58%59%60%201120162021Outback South AustraliaOutback South Australia, 2011: 59.8%Outback South Australia, 2016: 56.4%Outback South Australia, 2021: 56.5%56.5%South AustraliaSouth Australia, 2011: 59.9%South Australia, 2016: 58.3%South Australia, 2021: 60.0%60.0%

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Show the numbers
Labour force participation, Outback South Australia
CensusOutback South AustraliaSouth Australia
2011 Census59.8%59.9%
2016 Census56.4%58.3%
2021 Census56.5%60.0%

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, Outback South Australia, 2019 to 2023Industries with 1,000 or more employee jobs in 2023, fastest-growing first.
Rental, hiring and real estate services: +51.0%Rental, hiring and real estate services+51.0%Financial and insurance services: +40.7%Financial and insurance services+40.7%Mining: +38.3%Mining+38.3%Professional, scientific and technical services: +33.0%Professional, scientific and technical services+33.0%Wholesale trade: +30.3%Wholesale trade+30.3%Health care and social assistance: +28.7%Health care and social assistance+28.7%Other services: +23.1%Other services+23.1%Accommodation and food services: +19.8%Accommodation and food services+19.8%Retail trade: +19.4%Retail trade+19.4%Education and training: +14.8%Education and training+14.8%Construction: +10.9%Construction+10.9%Transport, postal and warehousing: +8.5%Transport, postal and warehousing+8.5%Agriculture, forestry and fishing: +5.5%Agriculture, forestry and fishing+5.5%Administrative and support services: −0.9%Administrative and support services−0.9%Public administration and safety: −10.0%Public administration and safety−10.0%Manufacturing: −14.4%Manufacturing−14.4%

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Show the numbers
Change in employee jobs by industry, Outback South Australia, 2019 to 2023
Industry20192023Change
Health care and social assistance6,0427,777+28.7%
Retail trade5,3176,348+19.4%
Accommodation and food services4,4145,287+19.8%
Education and training4,3404,983+14.8%
Agriculture, forestry and fishing4,6174,873+5.5%
Administrative and support services4,6944,651−0.9%
Construction3,3753,742+10.9%
Public administration and safety3,8063,427−10.0%
Mining2,3453,244+38.3%
Manufacturing3,3682,882−14.4%
Transport, postal and warehousing2,6512,876+8.5%
Other services1,7502,155+23.1%
Professional, scientific and technical services1,4611,943+33.0%
Financial and insurance services1,2271,727+40.7%
Wholesale trade1,0941,425+30.3%
Rental, hiring and real estate services7731,167+51.0%
Electricity, gas, water and waste services664761n/a
Arts and recreation services341461n/a
Information media and telecommunications225236n/a
Figure 4.2: Largest industries by employee jobs, Outback South Australia, 202360,390 employee jobs across all industries in the year to 30 June 2023.
Health care and social assistance: 7,777Health care and social assistance7,777Retail trade: 6,348Retail trade6,348Accommodation and food services: 5,287Accommodation and food services5,287Education and training: 4,983Education and training4,983Agriculture, forestry and fishing: 4,873Agriculture, forestry and fishing4,873Administrative and support services: 4,651Administrative and support services4,651Construction: 3,742Construction3,742Public administration and safety: 3,427Public administration and safety3,427

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Show the numbers
Largest industries by employee jobs, Outback South Australia, 2023
IndustryEmployee jobsShare of all employee jobs
Health care and social assistance7,77713%
Retail trade6,34811%
Accommodation and food services5,2879%
Education and training4,9838%
Agriculture, forestry and fishing4,8738%
Administrative and support services4,6518%
Construction3,7426%
Public administration and safety3,4276%
Mining3,2445%
Manufacturing2,8825%
Transport, postal and warehousing2,8765%
Other services2,1554%
Professional, scientific and technical services1,9433%
Financial and insurance services1,7273%
Wholesale trade1,4252%
Rental, hiring and real estate services1,1672%
Electricity, gas, water and waste services7611%
Arts and recreation services4611%
Information media and telecommunications2360%
All industries60,390100%

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, Outback South AustraliaIn the year to 30 June, 2019 to 2023, against South Australia and Australia.
  • Outback South Australia
  • South Australia
  • Australia
$45k$50k$55k$60k$65k20192020202120222023Outback South AustraliaOutback South Australia, 2019: $49,537Outback South Australia, 2020: $50,555Outback South Australia, 2021: $52,001Outback South Australia, 2022: $53,671Outback South Australia, 2023: $55,879$55,879South AustraliaSouth Australia, 2019: $50,403South Australia, 2020: $51,590South Australia, 2021: $53,609South Australia, 2022: $55,407South Australia, 2023: $58,380$58,380AustraliaAustralia, 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, Outback South Australia
YearOutback South AustraliaSouth AustraliaAustralia
2019$49,537$50,403$52,256
2020$50,555$51,590$53,878
2021$52,001$53,609$56,485
2022$53,671$55,407$58,260
2023$55,879$58,380$61,966
Figure 5.2: Mean employee income, Outback South AustraliaIn the year to 30 June, 2019 to 2023, against South Australia and Australia.
  • Outback South Australia
  • South Australia
  • Australia
$55k$60k$65k$70k$75k20192020202120222023Outback South AustraliaOutback South Australia, 2019: $57,454Outback South Australia, 2020: $58,992Outback South Australia, 2021: $60,310Outback South Australia, 2022: $62,227Outback South Australia, 2023: $64,953$64,953South AustraliaSouth Australia, 2019: $57,333South Australia, 2020: $59,036South Australia, 2021: $61,072South Australia, 2022: $63,219South Australia, 2023: $66,224$66,224AustraliaAustralia, 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, Outback South Australia
YearOutback South AustraliaSouth AustraliaAustralia
2019$57,454$57,333$63,517
2020$58,992$59,036$65,591
2021$60,310$61,072$68,452
2022$62,227$63,219$70,950
2023$64,953$66,224$74,579

6 People

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

People living in the area
85,925
ABS, 2025 · up 0.6% since 2020[3]
Working-age population, 15 to 64
53,264
ABS, 2024 · down 1.2% since 2020[3]

South Australia's population was up 6.3% from 2020 to 2025, and Outback South Australia's up 0.6%.[3]

7 Businesses

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

Businesses in the area
6,546
ABS, 2025 · up 6.4% since 2021[3]
Figure 7.1: Businesses by number of employees, Outback South Australia, 2025Businesses by how many people they employ. The table adds each size's count in 2021 and the change.
No employees: 4,040No employees4,0401–4 employees: 1,6001–4 employees1,6005–19 employees: 7695–19 employees76920 or more employees: 13720 or more employees137

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Show the numbers
Businesses by number of employees, Outback South Australia, 2025
Size20212025Change
No employees3,5794,040+12.9%
1–4 employees1,6751,600−4.5%
5–19 employees772769−0.4%
20 or more employees126137+8.7%

8 Jobs on ViewJobs now

Live job ads on ViewJobs in the Eyre Peninsula, and the Flinders Ranges and Outback. The Flinders Ranges and Outback reaches beyond this ABS area: 55% of its towns are in the area. The Eyre Peninsula has all its towns in it.

Live jobs on ViewJobs in these regions
253
ViewJobs, 25 Oct 2026[4]
Figure 8.1: Live jobs on ViewJobs by classification, Eyre Peninsula, and Flinders Ranges and OutbackThe 8 classifications with the most live ads, as of 25 Oct 2026.
Healthcare & Medical: 92Healthcare & Medical92Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics: 28Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics28Retail & Consumer Products: 24Retail & Consumer Products24Community Services & Development: 23Community Services & Development23Hospitality & Tourism: 19Hospitality & Tourism19Construction: 15Construction15Farming, Animals & Conservation: 15Farming, Animals & Conservation15Mining, Resources & Energy: 8Mining, Resources & Energy8

Source: ViewJobs live ads[4].

Show the numbers
Live jobs on ViewJobs by classification, Eyre Peninsula, and Flinders Ranges and Outback
ClassificationLive jobs
Healthcare & Medical92
Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics28
Retail & Consumer Products24
Community Services & Development23
Hospitality & Tourism19
Construction15
Farming, Animals & Conservation15
Mining, Resources & Energy8

9 Quick answers

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

How many jobs are advertised in Outback South Australia?

709 online job ads a month were placed in Outback South Australia, on average, in the three months to September 2026.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Is Outback South Australia's job market growing or shrinking?

Growing: online job ads in Outback South Australia were up 13.1% on a year earlier, from 627 to 709 a month in the three months to September 2026. Over the same year, ads were up 2.6% across South Australia and up 0.6% across Australia.

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

Which jobs are most in demand in Outback South Australia?

Medical practitioners and nurses had the most online ads, 105 a month in the three months to September 2026, followed by carers and aides (51) and automotive and engineering trades (49). Among occupation groups with at least 5 ads a month a year earlier and now, ads for machine and stationary plant operators rose fastest, up 75.0%.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

What is the unemployment rate in Outback South Australia?

5.7% of the labour force in Outback South Australia was unemployed at the 2021 Census, against 5.4% across South Australia. It was 7.9% at the 2016 Census. Labour force participation at the 2021 Census was 56.5%, against 60.0% across South Australia. The Census runs every five years, so these are not current rates.

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

What is the average wage in Outback South Australia?

Average (mean) employee income in Outback South Australia was $64,953 in 2023; the median was $55,879, against $58,380 across South Australia and $61,966 across Australia.

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Which industries employ the most people in Outback South Australia?

Health care and social assistance had the most employee jobs in Outback South Australia: 7,777 in 2023, 13% of the 60,390 employee jobs. Next were retail trade (6,348) and accommodation and food services (5,287).

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Which industries are growing or shrinking in Outback South Australia?

Among industries with 1,000 or more employee jobs, rental, hiring and real estate services grew fastest, with 51% more employee jobs in 2023 than in 2019, followed by financial and insurance services (41% more). Manufacturing had 14% fewer employee jobs than in 2019, and public administration and safety 10% fewer.

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Is Outback South Australia's population growing?

85,925 people lived in Outback South Australia in 2025, up 0.6% since 2020. South Australia's population was up 6.3% over the same years. The working-age population was 53,264 in 2024, down 1.2% since 2020.

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

How many jobs are on ViewJobs in Outback South Australia?

253 jobs are live on ViewJobs in the Eyre Peninsula, and the Flinders Ranges and Outback, as of 25 Oct 2026. The Flinders Ranges and Outback reaches beyond Outback South Australia: 55% of its towns are in the area. The most advertised are Healthcare & Medical (92), Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics (28) and Retail & Consumer Products (24).

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
Outback South Australia here is ABS SA4 406 South Australia - Outback. 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). Outback South Australia job market report, data to September 2026. https://www.viewjobs.com.au/job-market/sa/outback

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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