Jobs in the Northern Territory
Online job ads and the labour force in the Northern Territory, from the latest official releases. Data to .
Online job ads,
2,690
down 5.5% on a year earlier Falling
Unemployment rate,
4.8%
up 0.5 points on a year earlier Rising
Employed people,
145,800
up less than 0.1% on a year earlier
Job ads seasonally adjusted. Labour force trend: the ABS publishes no seasonally adjusted series for the territories in its state table.
In plain English
- In there were 2,690 new online job ads in the Northern Territory, seasonally adjusted.
- Compared with , ads were down 5.5%, so by our rule they are falling over the year.
- Over the month, ads fell (down 2.3% on ).
- Compared with the monthly average of 1,680, ads were up 60.0%.
- The unemployment rate was 4.8% in (trend), up less than 0.1 points on and up 0.5 points on a year earlier: rising by our rule.
- Employment was little changed over the year (up less than 0.1%), to 145,800 people. The participation rate was 71.8%.
- Professionals had the most ads (770, 28.7% of the total).
- Among detailed groups with at least 200 ads in both months, ads fell most for Medical Practitioners and Nurses (down 4.0%).
The words follow fixed rules from the numbers: see the methodology.
Online job ads, the past five years
Unemployment rate, the past five years
Job ads by occupation group
The eight major groups, seasonally adjusted.
| Occupation group | Ads, September 2026 | On the month | On the year | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Managers | 320 | up 0.1% | up 12.1% | Rising |
| Professionals | 770 | down 2.7% | down 11.6% | Falling |
| Technicians and Trades Workers | 450 | down 0.4% | up 6.9% | Rising |
| Community and Personal Service Workers | 260 | up 4.1% | down 18.6% | Falling |
| Clerical and Administrative Workers | 360 | down 11.9% | down 14.6% | Falling |
| Sales Workers | 170 | up 3.6% | up 5.1% | Rising |
| Machinery Operators and Drivers | 170 | down 1.5% | down 1.6% | Steady |
| Labourers | 190 | down 2.1% | down 2.4% | Steady |
| All occupations | 2,690 | down 2.3% | down 5.5% | Falling |
All detailed occupation groups
| Occupation group | Ads, September 2026 | On the month | On the year | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chief Executives, Managing Directors & Legislators | 28 | up 33.8% | up 236.0% | Too few to call |
| Farmers and Farm Managers | 3 | up 5.8% | up 1523.0% | Too few to call |
| Hospitality, Retail and Service Managers | 100 | up 2.8% | up 18.4% | Rising |
| Corporate Managers | 86 | up 2.8% | up 14.0% | Rising |
| Construction, Production and Distribution Managers | 67 | down 18.4% | down 26.1% | Falling |
| Health, Education, ICT and Other Managers | 33 | up 36.3% | up 41.1% | Too few to call |
| Arts and Media Professionals | 11 | up 5.4% | down 34.5% | Too few to call |
| Education Professionals | 47 | down 5.4% | up 2.9% | Too few to call |
| ICT Professionals | 29 | down 43.0% | down 11.9% | Too few to call |
| Legal, Social and Welfare Professionals | 180 | up 29.6% | down 1.5% | Steady |
| Business, Finance and Human Resource Professionals | 64 | down 20.2% | down 13.0% | Falling |
| Information Professionals | 22 | up 2.2% | down 25.8% | Too few to call |
| Sales, Marketing & Public Relations Professionals | 11 | down 6.9% | down 26.0% | Too few to call |
| Transport and Design Professionals, and Architects | 8 | down 48.4% | down 63.4% | Too few to call |
| Engineers | 52 | down 0.4% | down 18.3% | Falling |
| Science Professionals and Veterinarians | 24 | down 21.7% | up 8.3% | Too few to call |
| Health Diagnostic and Therapy Professionals | 120 | down 2.9% | down 17.4% | Falling |
| Medical Practitioners and Nurses | 220 | down 1.4% | down 4.0% | Steady |
| Engineering, ICT and Science Technicians | 58 | up 5.2% | up 16.1% | Rising |
| Automotive and Engineering Trades Workers | 150 | down 1.7% | up 28.5% | Rising |
| Construction Trades Workers | 62 | down 0.6% | up 2.6% | Steady |
| Electrotechnology and Telecommunications Trades Workers | 71 | up 2.1% | up 4.5% | Steady |
| Food Trades Workers | 55 | down 8.1% | down 7.1% | Falling |
| Skilled Animal and Horticultural Workers | 22 | up 3.2% | down 19.0% | Too few to call |
| Hairdressers, Printing, Clothing and Wood Trades Workers | 8 | down 8.2% | down 14.9% | Too few to call |
| Jewellers, Arts and Other Trades Workers | 17 | up 6.5% | down 11.5% | Too few to call |
| Health and Welfare Support Workers | 57 | up 13.3% | down 17.9% | Falling |
| Carers and Aides | 110 | up 3.6% | down 21.8% | Falling |
| Hospitality Workers | 42 | up 0.2% | down 9.0% | Too few to call |
| Protective Service Workers | 26 | up 45.3% | up 4.0% | Too few to call |
| Sports, Travel and Personal Service Workers | 26 | down 10.6% | down 26.9% | Too few to call |
| Numerical Clerks | 42 | down 36.1% | up 19.4% | Too few to call |
| Clerical and Office Support Workers | 6 | down 24.6% | down 44.4% | Too few to call |
| Other Clerical and Administrative Workers | 48 | down 19.4% | down 31.2% | Too few to call |
| Office Managers, Administrators and Secretaries | 69 | up 0.3% | up 6.1% | Rising |
| General-Inquiry Clerks, Call Centre Workers, and Receptionists | 190 | down 2.7% | down 19.4% | Falling |
| Sales Representatives and Agents | 43 | up 45.1% | up 31.3% | Too few to call |
| Sales Assistants and Salespersons | 110 | down 1.0% | down 4.1% | Steady |
| Sales Support Workers | 15 | down 17.8% | up 38.4% | Too few to call |
| Machine and Stationary Plant Operators | 31 | up 10.1% | down 19.1% | Too few to call |
| Mobile Plant Operators | 41 | down 13.1% | up 12.7% | Too few to call |
| Drivers and Storepersons | 100 | down less than 0.1% | down 0.8% | Steady |
| Cleaners and Laundry Workers | 42 | up 8.9% | down 8.8% | Too few to call |
| Construction and Mining Labourers | 27 | down 20.7% | up 14.4% | Too few to call |
| Factory Process Workers | 9 | down 24.7% | up 210.5% | Too few to call |
| Farm, Forestry and Garden Workers | 17 | down 16.6% | up 45.2% | Too few to call |
| Food Preparation Assistants | 7 | down 23.3% | down 58.7% | Too few to call |
| Other Labourers | 85 | down 0.1% | down 4.7% | Steady |
Regions in the Northern Territory
Jobs and Skills Australia's job ad regions, as three-month averages.
| Region | Ads, three months to September 2026 | On the year | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Darwin | 1,920 | down 11.2% | Falling |
| Regional Northern Territory | 910 | down 2.3% | Steady |
By skill level
The level of education or experience the advertised job usually needs, as classified by the ABS.
| Skill level the job usually needs | Ads, September 2026 | On the month | On the year | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skill level 1: bachelor degree or higher | 990 | down 1.2% | down 6.5% | Falling |
| Skill level 2: advanced diploma or diploma | 330 | up 1.9% | up 2.1% | Steady |
| Skill level 3: certificate IV, or certificate III with at least two years of on-the-job training | 450 | down 5.4% | down 0.7% | Steady |
| Skill level 4: certificate II or III | 660 | down 1.8% | down 7.7% | Falling |
| Skill level 5: certificate I or secondary education | 270 | down 5.6% | down 9.8% | Falling |
Month by month
| Month | Online job ads | Unemployment rate | Employed people |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 2025 | 2,850 | 4.3% | 145,700 |
| October 2025 | 2,930 | 4.4% | 146,100 |
| November 2025 | 2,740 | 4.4% | 146,500 |
| December 2025 | 2,840 | 4.5% | 146,900 |
| January 2026 | 2,860 | 4.6% | 147,200 |
| February 2026 | 2,830 | 4.6% | 147,400 |
| March 2026 | 2,910 | 4.6% | 147,600 |
| April 2026 | 3,020 | 4.6% | 147,500 |
| May 2026 | 2,680 | 4.7% | 147,200 |
| June 2026 | 2,730 | 4.7% | 146,900 |
| July 2026 | 2,690 | 4.7% | 146,500 |
| August 2026 | 2,750 | 4.8% | 146,100 |
| September 2026 | 2,690 | 4.8% | 145,800 |
What this means
General notes on reading job ads in the Northern Territory, chosen by the direction of job ads over the year. They are not advice about your situation.
For job seekers
Fewer ads usually means more competition for each opening. It can help to widen the search: related occupation groups, nearby regions, and employers who fill roles without advertising online.
For students
A fall in ads now is not a forecast either. Markets move in cycles, and a course finishes later. Look at the longer five-year picture here and at Jobs and Skills Australia's employment projections (opens another site) before deciding anything.
For employers
Fewer competing ads may mean more applicants for each one you place. It may also reflect slower hiring in your field, so check the trend in your own occupation group, not only the total.
Job ads are not all jobs: many roles are filled without an online ad. See the limits of the data.
Get the monthly briefing
The headline numbers for Australia and each state, once a month when new data is out.
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.
Labour force: Australian Bureau of Statistics () 'Table 001. Labour force status by Sex, Australia - Trend, Seasonally adjusted and Original' and 'Table 010. Labour force status by Sex, State and Territory - Trend, Seasonally adjusted and Original' [time series spreadsheets], Labour Force, Australia (opens another site), released , accessed 8 November 2026. Used under CC BY 4.0 (opens another site). Figures rounded; changes and descriptions by Career Calling Insights.
Neither publisher endorses this site. How the numbers are turned into words: methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.