Regional Labour Demand
After a slight decline in April, regional job vacancies grew again to reach a new high of 86,050 advertised jobs in May 2022. This total is a 3.0 per cent increase on April, and 24.1 per cent more than a year earlier.
The top growth spots are scattered around Tasmania, Northern Territory, and Queensland.
Latest advertised vacancies are well in excess of what was being advertised a year earlier in all regions but one. The annual growth in vacancies in the various regions are in the double digits, ranging from around 10 per cent to 50 per cent. The only region showing a smaller number of vacancies in May 2022 compared with May 2021 is Dubbo and Western NSW (down by 13.7 per cent). This point-to-point comparison masks the fact that the region is coming off a peak in vacancies in late 2021.
Regional Australia Job Vacancies
Source: National Skill Commission, Regional Australia Institute
The five regions recording the largest monthly increases in vacancies from April to May 2022 were:
- Hobart & Southeast Tasmania with 7.3% more vacancies in May 2022 (2,002) than in April 2022 (1,865)
- Darwin up by 7.2% (2,288 compared to 2,135)
- Launceston & Northeast Tasmania up by 6.2% (879 compared to 827)
- Gold Coast up by 6.0% (7,265 compared to 6,852)
- Regional Northern Territory up by 5.9% (950 compared to 897)
The five regions with the biggest jumps in vacancies in May 2022 compared with May 2021 were:
- Outback Queensland up by 50.4%
- Geelong & Surf Coast up by 44.9%
- Sunshine Coast up by 38.4%
- Gippsland up by 37.4%
- Central Queensland up by 35.8%
In terms of the occupations being demanded, vacancies are largest for professional roles (24%) of all vacancies in April, followed by Technicians and Trades roles (16%), and Clerical and Administrative roles (14 %).
