Toowoomba and South West QLD: online job ads
Online job ads in this Queensland region, from Jobs and Skills Australia, as three-month averages to .
In plain English
- In the three months to , an average of 2,660 new online job ads a month were placed in the Toowoomba and South West QLD region (Queensland).
- Compared with a year earlier, ads were up 5.5%, so by our rule ads here are rising.
- Five years earlier, in the three months to , the average was 2,260, so ads are now up 17.6% on then.
- Professionals had the most ads (530 a month, 19.9% of the region's total).
- Among detailed groups with at least 50 ads, the biggest rise over the year was Mobile Plant Operators (up 36.1%).
- The biggest fall over the year was Legal, Social and Welfare Professionals (down 18.6%).
Region figures are three-month averages and do not add up to state totals. For unemployment and the seasonally adjusted picture, see Queensland.
Online job ads, the past five years
Job ads by occupation group
| Occupation group | Ads, three months to September 2026 | On the month | On the year | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Managers | 260 | up 5.0% | up 20.6% | Rising |
| Professionals | 530 | up 1.8% | down 1.1% | Steady |
| Technicians and Trades Workers | 450 | up 5.7% | up 9.2% | Rising |
| Community and Personal Service Workers | 330 | up 2.3% | up 1.1% | Steady |
| Clerical and Administrative Workers | 310 | down 1.3% | down 2.5% | Steady |
| Sales Workers | 220 | up 4.2% | down 1.8% | Steady |
| Machinery Operators and Drivers | 270 | up 4.4% | up 19.0% | Rising |
| Labourers | 300 | up 8.5% | up 10.8% | Rising |
| All occupations | 2,660 | up 3.6% | up 5.5% | Rising |
All detailed occupation groups
| Occupation group | Ads, three months to September 2026 | On the month | On the year | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chief Executives, Managing Directors & Legislators | 9 | up 18.2% | unchanged | Too few to call |
| Farmers and Farm Managers | 11 | down 10.5% | down 30.6% | Too few to call |
| Hospitality, Retail and Service Managers | 90 | up 4.7% | up 1.1% | Steady |
| Corporate Managers | 63 | up 7.4% | up 49.2% | Too few to call |
| Construction, Production and Distribution Managers | 61 | up 4.5% | up 55.9% | Too few to call |
| Health, Education, ICT and Other Managers | 24 | up 6.0% | up 29.1% | Too few to call |
| Arts and Media Professionals | 8 | up 9.1% | up 14.3% | Too few to call |
| Education Professionals | 53 | unchanged | down 3.6% | Steady |
| ICT Professionals | 11 | up 36.0% | up 54.5% | Too few to call |
| Legal, Social and Welfare Professionals | 80 | up 9.1% | down 18.6% | Falling |
| Business, Finance and Human Resource Professionals | 57 | down 4.0% | down 1.2% | Steady |
| Information Professionals | 8 | unchanged | up 13.6% | Too few to call |
| Sales, Marketing & Public Relations Professionals | 7 | down 4.8% | down 4.8% | Too few to call |
| Transport and Design Professionals, and Architects | 12 | down 7.9% | up 25.0% | Too few to call |
| Engineers | 38 | down 10.2% | down 8.0% | Too few to call |
| Science Professionals and Veterinarians | 14 | up 17.1% | down 31.7% | Too few to call |
| Health Diagnostic and Therapy Professionals | 87 | down 0.8% | up 3.1% | Steady |
| Medical Practitioners and Nurses | 160 | up 3.8% | up 10.2% | Rising |
| Engineering, ICT and Science Technicians | 61 | up 5.8% | up 16.7% | Rising |
| Automotive and Engineering Trades Workers | 160 | up 7.9% | up 1.7% | Steady |
| Construction Trades Workers | 48 | up 1.4% | up 4.4% | Too few to call |
| Electrotechnology and Telecommunications Trades Workers | 57 | up 0.6% | up 30.8% | Too few to call |
| Food Trades Workers | 64 | up 16.3% | up 36.9% | Too few to call |
| Skilled Animal and Horticultural Workers | 22 | down 4.3% | down 5.6% | Too few to call |
| Hairdressers, Printing, Clothing and Wood Trades Workers | 16 | up 2.2% | up 2.2% | Too few to call |
| Jewellers, Arts and Other Trades Workers | 18 | down 1.8% | down 23.2% | Too few to call |
| Health and Welfare Support Workers | 44 | down 2.9% | down 25.4% | Too few to call |
| Carers and Aides | 200 | unchanged | up 3.1% | Steady |
| Hospitality Workers | 37 | up 14.6% | up 27.9% | Too few to call |
| Protective Service Workers | 11 | up 13.8% | up 26.9% | Too few to call |
| Sports, Travel and Personal Service Workers | 37 | up 7.8% | up 6.7% | Too few to call |
| Numerical Clerks | 44 | up 12.9% | down 7.7% | Too few to call |
| Clerical and Office Support Workers | 9 | up 7.7% | up 7.7% | Too few to call |
| Other Clerical and Administrative Workers | 60 | down 4.8% | up 24.3% | Too few to call |
| Office Managers, Administrators and Secretaries | 35 | up 1.9% | down 11.7% | Too few to call |
| General-Inquiry Clerks, Call Centre Workers, and Receptionists | 160 | down 4.3% | down 6.9% | Falling |
| Sales Representatives and Agents | 32 | down 8.6% | down 24.4% | Too few to call |
| Sales Assistants and Salespersons | 170 | up 4.1% | down 0.6% | Steady |
| Sales Support Workers | 21 | up 33.3% | up 52.4% | Too few to call |
| Machine and Stationary Plant Operators | 47 | down 0.7% | down 1.4% | Too few to call |
| Mobile Plant Operators | 93 | up 10.3% | up 36.1% | Rising |
| Drivers and Storepersons | 130 | up 2.4% | up 17.1% | Rising |
| Cleaners and Laundry Workers | 49 | up 6.5% | down 2.6% | Too few to call |
| Construction and Mining Labourers | 38 | unchanged | up 56.9% | Too few to call |
| Factory Process Workers | 32 | up 20.3% | down 14.4% | Too few to call |
| Farm, Forestry and Garden Workers | 27 | up 3.8% | down 24.8% | Too few to call |
| Food Preparation Assistants | 14 | up 36.7% | down 2.4% | Too few to call |
| Other Labourers | 140 | up 8.0% | up 29.7% | Rising |
Month by month
| Three months to | Online job ads |
|---|---|
| September 2025 | 2,520 |
| October 2025 | 2,600 |
| November 2025 | 2,550 |
| December 2025 | 2,350 |
| January 2026 | 2,360 |
| February 2026 | 2,400 |
| March 2026 | 2,670 |
| April 2026 | 2,570 |
| May 2026 | 2,520 |
| June 2026 | 2,420 |
| July 2026 | 2,490 |
| August 2026 | 2,570 |
| September 2026 | 2,660 |
What this means
General notes on reading job ads in Toowoomba and South West QLD, chosen by the direction of job ads over the year. They are not advice about your situation.
For job seekers
More ads usually means more openings to apply for. It does not tell you how many people apply for each one, or whether pay is changing, so read each ad closely for what the employer actually asks for.
For students
Ads today are not a forecast. A course takes time, and demand when you finish may be different. Use this alongside longer-term sources such as Jobs and Skills Australia's employment projections (opens another site) and Your Career (opens another site).
For employers
More ads can mean more employers competing for the same people. Comparing your ads with others in your occupation group and region, and being clear about hours, location and requirements, can help them stand out.
Job ads are not all jobs: many roles are filled without an online ad. See the limits of the data.
Sources and licences
Online job ads: Jobs and Skills Australia, Internet Vacancy Index (opens another site), data, released . © Commonwealth of Australia, used under CC BY 4.0 (opens another site). Figures rounded; changes, shares and descriptions by Career Calling Insights.
Neither publisher endorses this site. How the numbers are turned into words: methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.