Skip to main content
 

Regional Job Vacancies Remain At 76,000 In February

22 March 2024

Regional Labour Demand

Regional job vacancies remained unchanged at 76,000 in February 2024, with just a slight dip of 0.6 per cent from the previous month. This minor monthly decline in job ads largely reflects seasonal hiring patterns. The latest number of job ads is 6.3 per cent less than a year earlier. In contrast, metro areas experienced a greater annual drop, with job ads falling by 12.1 per cent. 

Regional Australia job vacancies

Jobs and Skills Australia, monthly internet vacancies, RAI

 

The monthly changes in job vacancies were not uniform across regional Australia. Parts of Tasmania, Regional South Australia, and the Northern Territory all saw increases in vacancies.

The five regions that recorded the largest monthly increases in vacancies in February 2024 were: 

  • Launceston and Northeast Tasmania up by 9.5% (1,003 compared to 916)
  • Hobart & Southeast Tasmania up by 5.5% (2,165 compared to 2,052)
  • Port Augusta & Eyre Peninsula up by 4.0% (631 compared to 606)
  • North West Tasmania up by 4.0% (762 compared to 733)
  • Fleurieu Peninsula & Murray Mallee up by 3.7% (1,005 compared to 969)

The biggest monthly falls were in Outback Queensland, Goldfields & Southern WA, and Yorke Peninsula & Clare Valley SA.

The annual change in job vacancies across all regions varied significantly, ranging from a substantial increase of 18.4 per cent to a decrease of 18.8 per cent.

The five regions with the biggest jumps in vacancies in February 2024 compared with February 2023 were:

  • Regional Northern Territory up by 18.4%
  • Yorke Peninsula & Clare Valley up by 17.6%
  • Hobart & Southeast Tasmania up by 15.9%
  • Fleurieu Peninsula & Murray Mallee up by 12.4% 
  • Launceston and Northeast Tasmania up by 11.8%

The largest annual falls in regional Australia were in Tamworth and North West NSW, Ballarat & Central Highlands, and NSW North Coast.
In terms of the occupations being demanded, vacancies are largest for Professional roles (28%) of all vacancies in February, followed by Technicians and Trades roles (16%), Community and Personal Service roles (13%), and Clerical and Administrative roles (13%).  

SOURCES The Internet Vacancy Index is updated monthly by Jobs and Skills Australia (https://www.jobsandskills.gov.au/data/internet-vacancy-index). The RAI has an interactive Regional Job Vacancy map of the data showing vacancies in 37 regions across Australia (regionalaustralia.org.au/home/regional-jobs-vacancy-map).

Quilpie Shire leads by example when tackling housing challenges

Quilpie Shire Council made international headlines in 2021 when it launched a scheme offering $12,500 grants for people to buy and build new residential dwellings across its townships. The grant was on the condition that buyers build a house on the land and move into the property for at least six months.

The year of capturing and cultivating our regional capability

Here at the Regional Australia Institute (RAI) our aspirations are backed by evidence, data and insights and our dream, shared with thousands of Australians, is to ‘rebalance the nation’. It’s a big dream and some might say a bold one, but it’s equally worthy and necessary if we consider the current economic, social and environmental context.

There is no third option for housing in Australia – Regions require laser focus to boost supply now

Key regional housing indicators have alarm bells ringing in regions as house prices jump to record levels – with median prices now tipping $605k – almost on par with metro market figures three years ago.