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Job market report

Outback WA (north) job market report

Online job ads, unemployment, industries and pay in Outback WA (north), Western 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 510 Western Australia - Outback (North)
Sources
JSA, ABS and ViewJobs

Key findings

  1. Steady: online job ads in Outback WA (north) were down 0.2% on a year earlier, from 1,733 to 1,730 a month in the three months to September 2026.

    Over the same year, ads were up 7.5% across Western Australia and up 0.6% across Australia.[1][2]

    Section 1: Job ads and demand →

  2. Automotive and engineering trades had the most online ads, 210 a month in the three months to September 2026, followed by general-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists (109) and electrotechnology and telecommunications trades (104).

    Among occupation groups with at least 5 ads a month a year earlier and now, ads for other clerical and administrative workers rose fastest, up 80.0%.[1]

    Section 2: Which jobs are in demand →

  3. Among industries with 1,000 or more employee jobs, professional, scientific and technical services grew fastest, with 40% more employee jobs in 2023 than in 2019.

    Agriculture, forestry and fishing had 8% fewer employee jobs than in 2019, and administrative and support services 1% fewer.[3]

    Section 4: Industries growing and shrinking →

  4. 4.1% of the labour force in Outback WA (north) was unemployed at the 2021 Census, against 5.1% across Western Australia.

    It was 5.8% at the 2016 Census. Labour force participation at the 2021 Census was 62.6%, against 63.9% across Western 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 WA (north)
−0.2%
1,730 ads a month[1]
Western Australia
+7.5%
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 WA (north)Three-month average, October 2023 to September 2026.
1.4k1.6k1.8k2k2.2k2.4kJan 2024Sep 2024May 2025Jan 2026Sep 2026Outback WA (north)Outback WA (north), Sep 2026: 1,7301,730

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Show the numbers
Online job ads a month, Outback WA (north)
MonthOnline job ads a month
October 20232,338
November 20232,280
December 20232,083
January 20242,035
February 20242,017
March 20242,099
April 20241,987
May 20241,985
June 20241,944
July 20241,887
August 20241,798
September 20241,798
October 20241,879
November 20241,834
December 20241,672
January 20251,677
February 20251,676
March 20251,883
April 20251,761
May 20251,824
June 20251,759
July 20251,825
August 20251,739
September 20251,733
October 20251,697
November 20251,664
December 20251,556
January 20261,657
February 20261,740
March 20261,939
April 20261,847
May 20261,804
June 20261,691
July 20261,669
August 20261,693
September 20261,730

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 WA (north)The 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.
Hospitality, retail and service managers: +29.8%Hospitality, retail and service managers+29.8%Medical practitioners and nurses: +25.4%Medical practitioners and nurses+25.4%Engineers: +13.0%Engineers+13.0%Electrotechnology and telecommunications trades: +11.8%Electrotechnology and telecommunications trades+11.8%Automotive and engineering trades: +11.7%Automotive and engineering trades+11.7%Other labourers: +8.1%Other labourers+8.1%Mobile plant operators: +5.8%Mobile plant operators+5.8%Sales assistants and salespersons: +3.1%Sales assistants and salespersons+3.1%Machine and stationary plant operators: +1.6%Machine and stationary plant operators+1.6%Construction trades: +1.6%Construction trades+1.6%Drivers and storepersons: −3.6%Drivers and storepersons−3.6%General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists: −13.5%General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists−13.5%

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Show the numbers
Change in online job ads by occupation, Outback WA (north)
Occupation groupAds a month, September 2026A year earlierChange
Automotive and engineering trades210188+11.7%
General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists109126−13.5%
Electrotechnology and telecommunications trades10493+11.8%
Drivers and storepersons8083−3.6%
Medical practitioners and nurses7963+25.4%
Engineers7869+13.0%
Other labourers6762+8.1%
Sales assistants and salespersons6664+3.1%
Construction trades6463+1.6%
Machine and stationary plant operators6261+1.6%
Hospitality, retail and service managers6147+29.8%
Mobile plant operators5552+5.8%
Legal, social and welfare professionals5357−7.0%
Engineering, ICT and science technicians5240+30.0%
Health and welfare support workers4648−4.2%
Construction and mining labourers4552−13.5%
Carers and aides3748−22.9%
Health diagnostic and therapy professionals3648−25.0%
Food trades3537−5.4%
Cleaners and laundry workers3438−10.5%
Construction, production and distribution managers3034−11.8%
Corporate managers2827+3.7%
Business, finance and human resource professionals2726+3.8%
Other clerical and administrative workers2715+80.0%
Hospitality workers2624+8.3%
Science professionals and veterinarians2320+15.0%
Office managers, administrators and secretaries2331−25.8%
Numerical clerks1612+33.3%
Skilled animal and horticultural workers1418−22.2%
Arts and media professionals1215−20.0%
Transport and design professionals, and architects1216−25.0%
Jewellers, arts and other trades workers12120.0%
Sales support workers1213−7.7%
Education professionals1135−68.6%
Sports, travel and personal service workers1113−15.4%
Protective service workers86+33.3%
Clerical and office support workers, couriers85+60.0%
Sales representatives and agents880.0%
Health, education, ICT and other managers710−30.0%
Information professionals79−22.2%
Farm, forestry and garden workers68−25.0%
Chief executives, managing directors & legislators5fewer than 5n/a
Hairdressers, printing, clothing and wood trades56−16.7%
Food preparation assistants510−50.0%
Sales, marketing & public relations professionalsfewer than 58n/a
ICT professionalsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Factory process workersfewer 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, Outback WA (north)Share of the labour force unemployed at the 2011, 2016 and 2021 Censuses, against Western Australia.
  • Outback WA (north)
  • Western Australia
2%4%6%8%201120162021Outback WA (north)Outback WA (north), 2011: 3.4%Outback WA (north), 2016: 5.8%Outback WA (north), 2021: 4.1%4.1%Western AustraliaWestern Australia, 2011: 4.7%Western Australia, 2016: 7.8%Western Australia, 2021: 5.1%5.1%

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Show the numbers
Unemployment rate, Outback WA (north)
CensusOutback WA (north)Western Australia
2011 Census3.4%4.7%
2016 Census5.8%7.8%
2021 Census4.1%5.1%
Figure 3.2: Labour force participation, Outback WA (north)Share of people aged 15 and over in the labour force at the 2011, 2016 and 2021 Censuses, against Western Australia.
  • Outback WA (north)
  • Western Australia
62%63%64%65%66%201120162021Outback WA (north)Outback WA (north), 2011: 64.9%Outback WA (north), 2016: 65.8%Outback WA (north), 2021: 62.6%62.6%Western AustraliaWestern Australia, 2011: 64.0%Western Australia, 2016: 62.9%Western Australia, 2021: 63.9%63.9%

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Show the numbers
Labour force participation, Outback WA (north)
CensusOutback WA (north)Western Australia
2011 Census64.9%64.0%
2016 Census65.8%62.9%
2021 Census62.6%63.9%

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 WA (north), 2019 to 2023Industries with 1,000 or more employee jobs in 2023, fastest-growing first.
Professional, scientific and technical services: +39.9%Professional, scientific and technical services+39.9%Retail trade: +22.2%Retail trade+22.2%Financial and insurance services: +21.7%Financial and insurance services+21.7%Other services: +21.2%Other services+21.2%Rental, hiring and real estate services: +19.8%Rental, hiring and real estate services+19.8%Mining: +19.6%Mining+19.6%Health care and social assistance: +19.5%Health care and social assistance+19.5%Transport, postal and warehousing: +13.6%Transport, postal and warehousing+13.6%Construction: +12.9%Construction+12.9%Public administration and safety: +11.3%Public administration and safety+11.3%Education and training: +11.0%Education and training+11.0%Wholesale trade: +9.2%Wholesale trade+9.2%Manufacturing: +8.7%Manufacturing+8.7%Accommodation and food services: +4.2%Accommodation and food services+4.2%Administrative and support services: −1.0%Administrative and support services−1.0%Agriculture, forestry and fishing: −8.1%Agriculture, forestry and fishing−8.1%

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Show the numbers
Change in employee jobs by industry, Outback WA (north), 2019 to 2023
Industry20192023Change
Health care and social assistance7,8249,350+19.5%
Mining7,7979,322+19.6%
Retail trade5,7837,068+22.2%
Administrative and support services7,1117,039−1.0%
Accommodation and food services6,5276,803+4.2%
Construction5,3896,083+12.9%
Other services4,5635,529+21.2%
Education and training4,8495,384+11.0%
Public administration and safety4,1894,664+11.3%
Transport, postal and warehousing3,5464,029+13.6%
Professional, scientific and technical services2,2693,174+39.9%
Rental, hiring and real estate services1,9642,353+19.8%
Agriculture, forestry and fishing2,3762,183−8.1%
Manufacturing1,9122,079+8.7%
Wholesale trade1,3251,447+9.2%
Financial and insurance services1,1101,351+21.7%
Arts and recreation services1,036962n/a
Electricity, gas, water and waste services645757n/a
Information media and telecommunications306347n/a
Figure 4.2: Largest industries by employee jobs, Outback WA (north), 202380,430 employee jobs across all industries in the year to 30 June 2023.
Health care and social assistance: 9,350Health care and social assistance9,350Mining: 9,322Mining9,322Retail trade: 7,068Retail trade7,068Administrative and support services: 7,039Administrative and support services7,039Accommodation and food services: 6,803Accommodation and food services6,803Construction: 6,083Construction6,083Other services: 5,529Other services5,529Education and training: 5,384Education and training5,384

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Show the numbers
Largest industries by employee jobs, Outback WA (north), 2023
IndustryEmployee jobsShare of all employee jobs
Health care and social assistance9,35012%
Mining9,32212%
Retail trade7,0689%
Administrative and support services7,0399%
Accommodation and food services6,8038%
Construction6,0838%
Other services5,5297%
Education and training5,3847%
Public administration and safety4,6646%
Transport, postal and warehousing4,0295%
Professional, scientific and technical services3,1744%
Rental, hiring and real estate services2,3533%
Agriculture, forestry and fishing2,1833%
Manufacturing2,0793%
Wholesale trade1,4472%
Financial and insurance services1,3512%
Arts and recreation services9621%
Electricity, gas, water and waste services7571%
Information media and telecommunications3470%
All industries80,430100%

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 WA (north)In the year to 30 June, 2019 to 2023, against Western Australia and Australia.
  • Outback WA (north)
  • Western Australia
  • Australia
$50k$60k$70k$80k20192020202120222023Outback WA (north)Outback WA (north), 2019: $64,602Outback WA (north), 2020: $67,623Outback WA (north), 2021: $71,472Outback WA (north), 2022: $71,991Outback WA (north), 2023: $77,000$77,000Western AustraliaWestern Australia, 2019: $55,094Western Australia, 2020: $56,664Western Australia, 2021: $59,700Western Australia, 2022: $61,638Western Australia, 2023: $65,310$65,310AustraliaAustralia, 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 WA (north)
YearOutback WA (north)Western AustraliaAustralia
2019$64,602$55,094$52,256
2020$67,623$56,664$53,878
2021$71,472$59,700$56,485
2022$71,991$61,638$58,260
2023$77,000$65,310$61,966
Figure 5.2: Mean employee income, Outback WA (north)In the year to 30 June, 2019 to 2023, against Western Australia and Australia.
  • Outback WA (north)
  • Western Australia
  • Australia
$60k$70k$80k$90k20192020202120222023Outback WA (north)Outback WA (north), 2019: $77,314Outback WA (north), 2020: $80,154Outback WA (north), 2021: $83,234Outback WA (north), 2022: $83,592Outback WA (north), 2023: $89,007$89,007Western AustraliaWestern Australia, 2019: $68,090Western Australia, 2020: $69,914Western Australia, 2021: $73,026Western Australia, 2022: $75,363Western Australia, 2023: $79,629$79,629AustraliaAustralia, 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 WA (north)
YearOutback WA (north)Western AustraliaAustralia
2019$77,314$68,090$63,517
2020$80,154$69,914$65,591
2021$83,234$73,026$68,452
2022$83,592$75,363$70,950
2023$89,007$79,629$74,579

6 People

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

People living in the area
102,732
ABS, 2025 · up 5.9% since 2020[3]
Working-age population, 15 to 64
72,629
ABS, 2024 · up 4.0% since 2020[3]

Western Australia's population was up 12.2% from 2020 to 2025, and Outback WA (north)'s up 5.9%.[3]

7 Businesses

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

Businesses in the area
5,080
ABS, 2025 · up 15.4% since 2021[3]
Figure 7.1: Businesses by number of employees, Outback WA (north), 2025Businesses by how many people they employ. The table adds each size's count in 2021 and the change.
No employees: 2,849No employees2,8491–4 employees: 1,2251–4 employees1,2255–19 employees: 7215–19 employees72120 or more employees: 28520 or more employees285

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Show the numbers
Businesses by number of employees, Outback WA (north), 2025
Size20212025Change
No employees2,3412,849+21.7%
1–4 employees1,1821,225+3.6%
5–19 employees667721+8.1%
20 or more employees213285+33.8%

8 Jobs on ViewJobs now

Live job ads on ViewJobs in the North West and the Pilbara, ViewJobs regions whose towns all sit in this ABS area.

Live jobs on ViewJobs in these regions
471
ViewJobs, 25 Oct 2026[4]
Figure 8.1: Live jobs on ViewJobs by classification, North West and PilbaraThe 8 classifications with the most live ads, as of 25 Oct 2026.
Healthcare & Medical: 119Healthcare & Medical119Community Services & Development: 57Community Services & Development57Trades & Services: 47Trades & Services47Mining, Resources & Energy: 38Mining, Resources & Energy38Hospitality & Tourism: 33Hospitality & Tourism33Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics: 33Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics33Construction: 27Construction27Retail & Consumer Products: 27Retail & Consumer Products27

Source: ViewJobs live ads[4].

Show the numbers
Live jobs on ViewJobs by classification, North West and Pilbara
ClassificationLive jobs
Healthcare & Medical119
Community Services & Development57
Trades & Services47
Mining, Resources & Energy38
Hospitality & Tourism33
Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics33
Construction27
Retail & Consumer Products27

9 Quick answers

Short answers to the questions people ask about Outback WA (north)'s job market, each with its period and source.

How many jobs are advertised in Outback WA (north)?

1,730 online job ads a month were placed in Outback WA (north), on average, in the three months to September 2026.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Is Outback WA (north)'s job market growing or shrinking?

Steady: online job ads in Outback WA (north) were down 0.2% on a year earlier, from 1,733 to 1,730 a month in the three months to September 2026. Over the same year, ads were up 7.5% across Western Australia and up 0.6% across Australia.

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

Which jobs are most in demand in Outback WA (north)?

Automotive and engineering trades had the most online ads, 210 a month in the three months to September 2026, followed by general-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists (109) and electrotechnology and telecommunications trades (104). Among occupation groups with at least 5 ads a month a year earlier and now, ads for other clerical and administrative workers rose fastest, up 80.0%.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

What is the unemployment rate in Outback WA (north)?

4.1% of the labour force in Outback WA (north) was unemployed at the 2021 Census, against 5.1% across Western Australia. It was 5.8% at the 2016 Census. Labour force participation at the 2021 Census was 62.6%, against 63.9% across Western 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 WA (north)?

Average (mean) employee income in Outback WA (north) was $89,007 in 2023; the median was $77,000, against $65,310 across Western Australia and $61,966 across Australia.

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Which industries employ the most people in Outback WA (north)?

Health care and social assistance had the most employee jobs in Outback WA (north): 9,350 in 2023, 12% of the 80,430 employee jobs. Next were mining (9,322) and retail trade (7,068).

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Which industries are growing or shrinking in Outback WA (north)?

Among industries with 1,000 or more employee jobs, professional, scientific and technical services grew fastest, with 40% more employee jobs in 2023 than in 2019. Agriculture, forestry and fishing had 8% fewer employee jobs than in 2019, and administrative and support services 1% fewer.

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Is Outback WA (north)'s population growing?

102,732 people lived in Outback WA (north) in 2025, up 5.9% since 2020. Western Australia's population was up 12.2% over the same years. The working-age population was 72,629 in 2024, up 4.0% since 2020.

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

How many jobs are on ViewJobs in Outback WA (north)?

At least 471 jobs are live on ViewJobs in Outback WA (north), as of 25 Oct 2026. They are the ads in the North West and the Pilbara, ViewJobs regions whose towns all sit in the area. The most advertised are Healthcare & Medical (119), Community Services & Development (57) and Trades & Services (47).

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 WA (north) here is ABS SA4 510 Western Australia - Outback (North). 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 WA (north) job market report, data to September 2026. https://www.viewjobs.com.au/job-market/wa/outback-north

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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