Australia’s job market recorded a 0.9% decrease in online job ads last month (seasonally adjusted). Advertisements decreased across most major occupation groups, with Professionals and Community and Personal Service Workers seeing the strongest decrease. The Australian Capital Territory experienced the strongest decrease in job ads.
Job ad numbers decreased compared with the same time last year. While capital cities continued to record declines, regional Australia saw an increase over the year.
Keeping to the timetable: Strong demand for Bus and Coach Drivers
Australia is facing a growing shortage of bus and coach drivers as demand continues to outpace supply. Job advertisements for drivers were 180% higher than pre-pandemic levels in April 2026, with particularly strong demand in regional areas. Despite this, overall employment has fallen by nearly 7%over the past five years, leaving about 41,000 drivers nationwide and placing the occupation on shortage lists in every jurisdiction.
The structural challenges include an ageing and highly gendered workforce, limited succession planning and difficult working conditions, including irregular hours and rising anti‑social behaviour from passengers. With little scope for automation and growing competition from better‑paid driving roles, recruiting and retaining workers has become increasingly difficult. Worker and industry groups, together with the Jobs and Skills Council, are directing efforts to stabilise the workforce, but employment growth is expected to remain modest through to 2030.
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If you have any questions, please email JSA-Nowcasting@jobsandskills.gov.au.
