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Job market report

Wheatbelt job market report

Online job ads, unemployment, industries and pay in the Wheatbelt, 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 509 Western Australia - Wheat Belt
Sources
JSA, ABS and ViewJobs

Key findings

  1. Steady: online job ads in the Wheatbelt were down 1.4% on a year earlier, from 711 to 701 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, 59 a month in the three months to September 2026, followed by general-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists (49) and sales assistants and salespersons (44).

    Among occupation groups with at least 5 ads a month a year earlier and now, ads for health and welfare support workers rose fastest, up 69.2%.[1]

    Section 2: Which jobs are in demand →

  3. Agriculture, forestry and fishing had the most employee jobs in the Wheatbelt: 13,685 in 2023, 13% of the 104,544 employee jobs.

    Next were health care and social assistance (11,031) and retail trade (9,483).[3]

    Section 4: Industries growing and shrinking →

  4. 4.1% of the labour force in the Wheatbelt was unemployed at the 2021 Census, against 5.1% across Western Australia.

    It was 5.5% at the 2016 Census. Labour force participation at the 2021 Census was 56.7%, 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.

Wheatbelt
−1.4%
701 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, WheatbeltThree-month average, October 2023 to September 2026.
600700800900Jan 2024Sep 2024May 2025Jan 2026Sep 2026WheatbeltWheatbelt, Sep 2026: 701701

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Show the numbers
Online job ads a month, Wheatbelt
MonthOnline job ads a month
October 2023856
November 2023862
December 2023812
January 2024798
February 2024764
March 2024794
April 2024724
May 2024713
June 2024683
July 2024661
August 2024647
September 2024674
October 2024716
November 2024694
December 2024628
January 2025648
February 2025667
March 2025752
April 2025702
May 2025691
June 2025665
July 2025663
August 2025673
September 2025711
October 2025716
November 2025712
December 2025612
January 2026624
February 2026640
March 2026722
April 2026674
May 2026650
June 2026608
July 2026648
August 2026673
September 2026701

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, WheatbeltThe 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.
Mobile plant operators: +63.2%Mobile plant operators+63.2%Numerical clerks: +35.3%Numerical clerks+35.3%Automotive and engineering trades: +28.3%Automotive and engineering trades+28.3%Medical practitioners and nurses: +11.1%Medical practitioners and nurses+11.1%Other labourers: +3.6%Other labourers+3.6%Legal, social and welfare professionals: +3.0%Legal, social and welfare professionals+3.0%Drivers and storepersons: 0.0%Drivers and storepersons0.0%General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists: −2.0%General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists−2.0%Sales assistants and salespersons: −6.4%Sales assistants and salespersons−6.4%Carers and aides: −7.1%Carers and aides−7.1%Food trades: −7.7%Food trades−7.7%Hospitality, retail and service managers: −38.5%Hospitality, retail and service managers−38.5%

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Show the numbers
Change in online job ads by occupation, Wheatbelt
Occupation groupAds a month, September 2026A year earlierChange
Automotive and engineering trades5946+28.3%
General-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists4950−2.0%
Sales assistants and salespersons4447−6.4%
Medical practitioners and nurses4036+11.1%
Carers and aides3942−7.1%
Legal, social and welfare professionals3433+3.0%
Mobile plant operators3119+63.2%
Other labourers2928+3.6%
Drivers and storepersons27270.0%
Hospitality, retail and service managers2439−38.5%
Food trades2426−7.7%
Numerical clerks2317+35.3%
Health and welfare support workers2213+69.2%
Farm, forestry and garden workers19190.0%
Health diagnostic and therapy professionals18180.0%
Electrotechnology and telecommunications trades1511+36.4%
Business, finance and human resource professionals13130.0%
Construction, production and distribution managers1213−7.7%
Cleaners and laundry workers1218−33.3%
Corporate managers1113−15.4%
Engineering, ICT and science technicians11110.0%
Construction trades117+57.1%
Sales support workers1011−9.1%
Machine and stationary plant operators108+25.0%
Education professionals923−60.9%
Office managers, administrators and secretaries97+28.6%
Engineers85+60.0%
Construction and mining labourers86+33.3%
Farmers and farm managers770.0%
Other clerical and administrative workers78−12.5%
Sales representatives and agents712−41.7%
Skilled animal and horticultural workers65+20.0%
Hospitality workers68−25.0%
Food preparation assistants67−14.3%
Health, education, ICT and other managers58−37.5%
Science professionals and veterinarians58−37.5%
Arts and media professionalsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Sports, travel and personal service workersfewer than 59n/a
Factory process workersfewer than 56n/a
Chief executives, managing directors & legislatorsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Information professionalsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Hairdressers, printing, clothing and wood tradesfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Jewellers, arts and other trades workersfewer than 56n/a
Clerical and office support workers, couriersfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Protective service workersfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
ICT professionalsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Sales, marketing & public relations professionalsfewer than 5fewer than 5n/a
Transport and design professionals, and architectsfewer 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, WheatbeltShare of the labour force unemployed at the 2011, 2016 and 2021 Censuses, against Western Australia.
  • Wheatbelt
  • Western Australia
4%5%6%7%8%201120162021WheatbeltWheatbelt, 2011: 4.6%Wheatbelt, 2016: 5.5%Wheatbelt, 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, Wheatbelt
CensusWheatbeltWestern Australia
2011 Census4.6%4.7%
2016 Census5.5%7.8%
2021 Census4.1%5.1%
Figure 3.2: Labour force participation, WheatbeltShare of people aged 15 and over in the labour force at the 2011, 2016 and 2021 Censuses, against Western Australia.
  • Wheatbelt
  • Western Australia
56%58%60%62%64%201120162021WheatbeltWheatbelt, 2011: 60.5%Wheatbelt, 2016: 56.7%Wheatbelt, 2021: 56.7%56.7%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, Wheatbelt
CensusWheatbeltWestern Australia
2011 Census60.5%64.0%
2016 Census56.7%62.9%
2021 Census56.7%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, Wheatbelt, 2019 to 2023Industries with 1,000 or more employee jobs in 2023, fastest-growing first.
Accommodation and food services: +38.3%Accommodation and food services+38.3%Mining: +37.7%Mining+37.7%Rental, hiring and real estate services: +34.6%Rental, hiring and real estate services+34.6%Professional, scientific and technical services: +29.0%Professional, scientific and technical services+29.0%Construction: +28.9%Construction+28.9%Health care and social assistance: +27.5%Health care and social assistance+27.5%Retail trade: +26.2%Retail trade+26.2%Financial and insurance services: +22.0%Financial and insurance services+22.0%Other services: +21.9%Other services+21.9%Wholesale trade: +21.4%Wholesale trade+21.4%Administrative and support services: +19.5%Administrative and support services+19.5%Transport, postal and warehousing: +17.5%Transport, postal and warehousing+17.5%Manufacturing: +11.2%Manufacturing+11.2%Education and training: +9.3%Education and training+9.3%Agriculture, forestry and fishing: +7.3%Agriculture, forestry and fishing+7.3%Public administration and safety: +3.7%Public administration and safety+3.7%Arts and recreation services: +3.2%Arts and recreation services+3.2%

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Show the numbers
Change in employee jobs by industry, Wheatbelt, 2019 to 2023
Industry20192023Change
Agriculture, forestry and fishing12,75413,685+7.3%
Health care and social assistance8,65411,031+27.5%
Retail trade7,5159,483+26.2%
Education and training7,5798,283+9.3%
Accommodation and food services5,8928,151+38.3%
Administrative and support services5,5606,645+19.5%
Construction4,9436,370+28.9%
Public administration and safety6,0766,299+3.7%
Manufacturing5,0895,658+11.2%
Transport, postal and warehousing4,0724,786+17.5%
Mining3,4444,744+37.7%
Wholesale trade3,4704,212+21.4%
Professional, scientific and technical services3,1724,093+29.0%
Other services2,6853,274+21.9%
Financial and insurance services1,9042,323+22.0%
Rental, hiring and real estate services1,3541,823+34.6%
Arts and recreation services1,0901,125+3.2%
Electricity, gas, water and waste services703899n/a
Information media and telecommunications497353n/a
Figure 4.2: Largest industries by employee jobs, Wheatbelt, 2023104,544 employee jobs across all industries in the year to 30 June 2023.
Agriculture, forestry and fishing: 13,685Agriculture, forestry and fishing13,685Health care and social assistance: 11,031Health care and social assistance11,031Retail trade: 9,483Retail trade9,483Education and training: 8,283Education and training8,283Accommodation and food services: 8,151Accommodation and food services8,151Administrative and support services: 6,645Administrative and support services6,645Construction: 6,370Construction6,370Public administration and safety: 6,299Public administration and safety6,299

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Show the numbers
Largest industries by employee jobs, Wheatbelt, 2023
IndustryEmployee jobsShare of all employee jobs
Agriculture, forestry and fishing13,68513%
Health care and social assistance11,03111%
Retail trade9,4839%
Education and training8,2838%
Accommodation and food services8,1518%
Administrative and support services6,6456%
Construction6,3706%
Public administration and safety6,2996%
Manufacturing5,6585%
Transport, postal and warehousing4,7865%
Mining4,7445%
Wholesale trade4,2124%
Professional, scientific and technical services4,0934%
Other services3,2743%
Financial and insurance services2,3232%
Rental, hiring and real estate services1,8232%
Arts and recreation services1,1251%
Electricity, gas, water and waste services8991%
Information media and telecommunications3530%
All industries104,544100%

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, WheatbeltIn the year to 30 June, 2019 to 2023, against Western Australia and Australia.
  • Wheatbelt
  • Western Australia
  • Australia
$40k$50k$60k$70k20192020202120222023WheatbeltWheatbelt, 2019: $44,572Wheatbelt, 2020: $45,741Wheatbelt, 2021: $49,163Wheatbelt, 2022: $49,825Wheatbelt, 2023: $53,742$53,742Western 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, Wheatbelt
YearWheatbeltWestern AustraliaAustralia
2019$44,572$55,094$52,256
2020$45,741$56,664$53,878
2021$49,163$59,700$56,485
2022$49,825$61,638$58,260
2023$53,742$65,310$61,966
Figure 5.2: Mean employee income, WheatbeltIn the year to 30 June, 2019 to 2023, against Western Australia and Australia.
  • Wheatbelt
  • Western Australia
  • Australia
$50k$60k$70k$80k20192020202120222023WheatbeltWheatbelt, 2019: $53,114Wheatbelt, 2020: $54,642Wheatbelt, 2021: $57,695Wheatbelt, 2022: $58,645Wheatbelt, 2023: $63,470$63,470Western 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, Wheatbelt
YearWheatbeltWestern AustraliaAustralia
2019$53,114$68,090$63,517
2020$54,642$69,914$65,591
2021$57,695$73,026$68,452
2022$58,645$75,363$70,950
2023$63,470$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
149,617
ABS, 2025 · up 6.6% since 2020[3]
Working-age population, 15 to 64
86,354
ABS, 2024 · up 2.3% since 2020[3]

Western Australia's population was up 12.2% from 2020 to 2025, and the Wheatbelt's up 6.6%.[3]

7 Businesses

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

Businesses in the area
17,425
ABS, 2025 · up 6.4% since 2021[3]
Figure 7.1: Businesses by number of employees, Wheatbelt, 2025Businesses by how many people they employ. The table adds each size's count in 2021 and the change.
No employees: 11,003No employees11,0031–4 employees: 4,5361–4 employees4,5365–19 employees: 1,5675–19 employees1,56720 or more employees: 31920 or more employees319

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Show the numbers
Businesses by number of employees, Wheatbelt, 2025
Size20212025Change
No employees9,75811,003+12.8%
1–4 employees4,7864,536−5.2%
5–19 employees1,5681,567−0.1%
20 or more employees268319+19.0%

8 Jobs on ViewJobs now

Live job ads on ViewJobs in the Golden Outback and the South West. The Golden Outback and the South West reach beyond this ABS area: 80% of the Golden Outback's towns and 40% of the South West's are in the area.

Live jobs on ViewJobs in these regions
871
ViewJobs, 25 Oct 2026[4]
Figure 8.1: Live jobs on ViewJobs by classification, Golden Outback and South WestThe 8 classifications with the most live ads, as of 25 Oct 2026.
Healthcare & Medical: 194Healthcare & Medical194Retail & Consumer Products: 118Retail & Consumer Products118Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics: 99Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics99Hospitality & Tourism: 93Hospitality & Tourism93Community Services & Development: 81Community Services & Development81Trades & Services: 55Trades & Services55Education & Training: 32Education & Training32Mining, Resources & Energy: 25Mining, Resources & Energy25

Source: ViewJobs live ads[4].

Show the numbers
Live jobs on ViewJobs by classification, Golden Outback and South West
ClassificationLive jobs
Healthcare & Medical194
Retail & Consumer Products118
Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics99
Hospitality & Tourism93
Community Services & Development81
Trades & Services55
Education & Training32
Mining, Resources & Energy25

9 Quick answers

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

How many jobs are advertised in the Wheatbelt?

701 online job ads a month were placed in the Wheatbelt, on average, in the three months to September 2026.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

Is the Wheatbelt's job market growing or shrinking?

Steady: online job ads in the Wheatbelt were down 1.4% on a year earlier, from 711 to 701 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 the Wheatbelt?

Automotive and engineering trades had the most online ads, 59 a month in the three months to September 2026, followed by general-inquiry clerks, call centre, receptionists (49) and sales assistants and salespersons (44). Among occupation groups with at least 5 ads a month a year earlier and now, ads for health and welfare support workers rose fastest, up 69.2%.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia[1].

What is the unemployment rate in the Wheatbelt?

4.1% of the labour force in the Wheatbelt was unemployed at the 2021 Census, against 5.1% across Western Australia. It was 5.5% at the 2016 Census. Labour force participation at the 2021 Census was 56.7%, 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 the Wheatbelt?

Average (mean) employee income in the Wheatbelt was $63,470 in 2023; the median was $53,742, against $65,310 across Western Australia and $61,966 across Australia.

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Which industries employ the most people in the Wheatbelt?

Agriculture, forestry and fishing had the most employee jobs in the Wheatbelt: 13,685 in 2023, 13% of the 104,544 employee jobs. Next were health care and social assistance (11,031) and retail trade (9,483).

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

Is the Wheatbelt's population growing?

149,617 people lived in the Wheatbelt in 2025, up 6.6% since 2020. Western Australia's population was up 12.2% over the same years. The working-age population was 86,354 in 2024, up 2.3% since 2020.

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[3].

How many jobs are on ViewJobs in the Wheatbelt?

871 jobs are live on ViewJobs in the Golden Outback and the South West, as of 25 Oct 2026. The Golden Outback and the South West reach beyond the Wheatbelt: 80% of the Golden Outback's towns and 40% of the South West's are in the area. The most advertised are Healthcare & Medical (194), Retail & Consumer Products (118) and Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics (99).

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 Wheatbelt here is ABS SA4 509 Western Australia - Wheat Belt. 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). Wheatbelt job market report, data to September 2026. https://www.viewjobs.com.au/job-market/wa/wheatbelt

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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