A new report arriving during Jobs & Skills Month has highlighted the strong opportunities in regional labour markets, where unemployment is low, employment rates among people in their prime working years are rising, and job opportunities are more plentiful than in major cities.
The Regional Roadmap builds on Jobs and Skills Australia's ongoing commitment to providing robust evidence and insights to deepen understanding of jobs and skills outcomes across regional Australia.
Jobs and Skills Australia Deputy Commissioner Megan Lilly said despite many positive outcomes for those in work, the findings show that barriers to participation for regional workers persist.
"Many of the obstacles that we see affecting regional people start before you step out the door, as you need to travel further, it's harder to get childcare and digital accessibility is poorer," Deputy Commissioner Lilly said.
The report showed higher rates of the number of young people who are not in employment, education or training, 1 in 9 in our regions compared to 1 in 14 in major cities.
"A critical element of participation is building successful pathways from school through to training and on to employment. These pathways are particularly important in regional Australia, where options can be constrained by limited availability, financial costs, and family and community expectations,” Deputy Commissioner Lilly said.
"There are huge opportunities here if we can support our regional youth into training and develop the skills they need to meet the growing demands of our regional workforce, including through apprenticeships and traineeships."
The demand for labour in our regions continues to be strong, not just through growth, but also through replacement demand as older workers retire.
"While there may be more opportunities in the regions, employers still face difficulty filling their vacancies," Deputy Commissioner Lilly said.
The report provides an important evaluative framework to help regional communities identify and maximise the jobs and skills opportunities in their regions.
The Regional Roadmap was released today at Jobs and Skills Australia's regional roadshow in Wodonga, Victoria as part of the inaugural Jobs and Skills Month celebration.
The report is now available on the Jobs and Skills Australia website.
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About Jobs and Skills Month
Jobs & Skills Month is a collaborative, national initiative led by Jobs and Skills Australia that runs from 20 October to 20 November 2026. The inaugural program highlights the vital role that the employment, education and training sectors play in supporting individuals, industries and the Australian economy. Visit www.jobsandskillsmonth.gov.au for more information.
