Australian Jobs Increase 2.7%, Highest Since 2024
Synopsis
Job openings in Australia have climbed to their highest level in over a year, reaching 337,900 in early 2026. Led by a big 19.3% increase in the building industry and strong needs in shops and hotels, the job market remains very tight. While private businesses continue to grow, roles in tech and media are starting to fall. This article explains the latest job data and what this hiring strength means for national interest rates and your next career move.
New numbers are showing the Australian job market is starting to get busy again. Open job openings have reached the highest level in more than a year. Despite high fuel prices and other worries about money, businesses in building and hotels are leading a new scramble to find workers.
Key Highlights
- Australia had 337,900 total job openings in February 2026
- This is a 2.7% jump from a few months ago, and the highest since late-2024
- The largest increase came in the building industry, where open jobs surged 19.3 per cent.
- Shop, cafe and hotel jobs also received a big boost
- Despite the large number of openings, that is still 28% below record highs for the series reached last year in 2022
The Top Performers: Building and Fun Industries
A new report from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) suggests that Australia is still in very strong shape job-market-wise. Though some experts have predicted a slowdown, demand for workers in the real world is rising. The construction industry is the clear victor, with trading companies receiving the second most. Despite the exorbitant cost of living, Australians are still spending money on home renovations and construction projects.
Retailers and hotels are also seeking additional staff. Vacancies at hotels and restaurants topped 40,000 last month as companies prepare for a busy period of tourists. For workers seeking jobs, this means that they have greater leverage to demand higher wages or more flexible hours in those places.
Business Employment Rises as Government Hiring Slows
The new jobs are coming from a well-defined divide. Openings at private businesses grew 3.2%, a healthy gain. That suggests owners are confident enough to expand despite trouble around the world. Government (public sector) jobs, on the other hand, actually fell slightly by 0.7%.
This change points to the fact that ordinary companies are out in front for the economy. The Northern Territory, a small market, saw a massive 23% increase in open roles due to large mining and electrification projects. South Australia was the only state to experience a slight decrease in available jobs.
The Tech And Media Industries Have It Harder
That’s not good news for everyone, however. The media and phone tech sector had the largest drop, with open jobs falling by almost 10%. As many tech companies begin to adopt more AI (smart computers), they are becoming much more cautious about adding new people.
This tells us the Australian economy is running at two speeds. You are in demand, if you have a trade or experience doing service jobs. But where tech or media are concerned, if you work in an office, the market is getting a lot tougher and harder to infiltrate.
What This Means for Your Money
These job numbers are closely watched by experts because they affect your bank loans and interest rates. Widespread openings typically mean that bosses may have to pay up for workers. That’s good for workers, but it has the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) concerned about rising prices (inflation).
With jobs at a 15-month high, there is a reasonable expectation that interest rates are likely to remain higher for longer. The RBA needs to see the jobs market soften a little more before it might feel comfortable in cutting rates. The acute need for workers indicates that for the time being, the Australian economy still has a lot of juice.
FAQs
- Which industry has the most jobs?
Currently, the most flourishing sectors with the rising number of jobs are: Building & Healthcare.
- Do we have more jobs than people to fill them?
Yes, there are still about 1.4 people unemployed for every 1 job on offer, extremely low by Australian standards.
- Where are the best places to work in Australia?
And this time the biggest leaps for new job openings were in the Northern Territory and Tasmania.
- What about asking for a pay rise?
If you’re in construction or in shops, the number of open jobs helps give you a better chance to ask for more.
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