The month in brief
The Australian Bureau of Statistics released its September 2026 Labour Force figures on 15 October 2026. In seasonally adjusted terms, employment fell by 39,300 people to 14,782,700. Full-time employment rose by 34,400 while part-time employment fell by 73,700. The unemployment rate rose 0.1 points to 4.7%, and the participation rate fell 0.2 points to 66.8%. ABS Labour Force, September 2026 (another website)
One month of survey data moves around. The ABS trend series, which smooths those movements, showed unemployment steady at 4.6% and the employment to population ratio steady at 63.8%.
Jobs and Skills Australia released its Internet Vacancy Index for September 2026 on 21 October 2026. Online job advertisements held steady at 211,500, and JSA estimates there are around 25% more advertisements than the 2019 monthly average. JSA Internet Vacancy Index (another website)
Young people
The youth unemployment rate rose 0.3 points to 11.1% in September (seasonally adjusted). ABS youth figures cover people aged 15 to 24. As with the headline rate, a single month of data can move around, so look at several months before drawing conclusions.
For students, the practical message is steady: entry-level work is available, but competition for it is real. Work experience, a part-time job, a clear resume and a reference all help a young person stand out.
Where employers are advertising
- Over the month, the biggest rise in advertisements was for Skill Level 1 occupations (usually a bachelor degree or higher), up 1.3%. The biggest fall was for Skill Level 3 occupations (usually Certificate IV or III), down 1.3%.
- Technicians and Trades Workers advertisements fell 2.4% over the month and Sales Workers 2.0%. Monthly movements are small and can reverse.
- Most advertisements (69.9%) were in capital cities. Over the past 12 months, advertisements rose 1.9% in regional areas while holding steady in capital cities.
Source: JSA Vacancy Report, September 2026 (PDF) (another website).
The 2026 Occupation Shortage List
Jobs and Skills Australia published the 2026 Occupation Shortage List in October 2026. It found 279 of 1,021 assessed occupations (27%) in national shortage, down from 29% in 2025 and well below the 2023 peak of 36%.
- Technicians and Trades Workers had the highest share of occupations in shortage (48%), followed by Professionals (37%). No Sales Workers occupations were in shortage.
- 127 occupations have been in shortage in every list from 2021 to 2026. Technicians and Trades Workers make up 54% of these, with many in construction, engineering trades, and electrotechnology and telecommunications.
- A newer group of shortages that began around 2022 is concentrated in health professions.
- Skill Level 2 and 3 occupations, which commonly need at least a Certificate III or IV through VET or an apprenticeship, made up more than 60% of occupations in shortage.
Source: JSA 2026 Occupation Shortage List Key Findings Report (PDF) (another website).
In the spotlight: mechanical engineering draftspersons and technicians
JSA's September Vacancy Report looks at mechanical engineering draftspersons and technicians, a small technical workforce that supports the design of machinery, equipment and infrastructure. Advertisements have more than doubled compared with the 2019 average, growth has been strongest in regional Australia, and the occupation has been in shortage across Australia for the last four years. JSA notes that the main gap is candidate suitability, meaning employers want relevant workplace experience as well as qualifications.
For students who like design, drawing, maths and how things work, this is a pathway worth showing. It is also a good example for any class: qualifications open the door, and work experience helps a graduate walk through it.
Looking further ahead
JSA's current employment projections (May 2025 to May 2035) estimate total employment will grow by 961,000 people (6.5%) over five years and by nearly 2.0 million people (13.3%) over ten years. JSA describes projections as indicative of future trends, not precise predictions. JSA Employment Projections (another website)
Use it in class
- Ask senior students to find one occupation they are interested in on the Occupation Shortage List, then look it up in JSA's Occupation and Industry Profiles. What does each source tell them, and what does neither tell them?
- Show the monthly and trend unemployment rates side by side. Why might a careful reader wait for the trend before deciding something has changed?
- Use the spotlight occupation to talk about experience: what could a Year 10 student do now that an employer would value later?
Dates to watch
| Date | Release |
|---|---|
| 18 November 2026 | Jobs and Skills Australia Internet Vacancy Index, October 2026 (another website) |
| 19 November 2026 | ABS Labour Force, Australia, October 2026 (another website) |
| 16 December 2026 | Jobs and Skills Australia Internet Vacancy Index, November 2026 (another website) |
| 17 December 2026 | ABS Labour Force, Australia, November 2026 (another website) |
Release dates as listed by the ABS and Jobs and Skills Australia on 8 November 2026. Publishers sometimes change dates; check their pages.
Sources
- Australian Bureau of Statistics, Labour Force, Australia, September 2026 (released 15 October 2026) (another website)
- Jobs and Skills Australia, Internet Vacancy Index (September 2026 data released 21 October 2026) (another website)
- Jobs and Skills Australia, Vacancy Report, September 2026 (PDF) (another website)
- Jobs and Skills Australia, Occupation Shortage List (another website)
- Jobs and Skills Australia, 2026 Occupation Shortage List Key Findings Report, October 2026 (PDF) (another website)
- Jobs and Skills Australia, Employment Projections, May 2025 to May 2035 (another website)
Figures were read on the publishers' own pages and reports on 8 November 2026. Official figures are sometimes revised after release. General information for careers professionals, not advice about any individual.