On April 30th, 2025, Jobs and Skills Australia, in partnership with the Australian Government, released the latest Australian Labour Market report focusing on migrant workers. The report analyses key employment trends between February 2024 and February 2025. In this article, we’ll break down the most important updates and what they could mean for you. If you’d like to understand how this might impact your migration journey or job prospects in Australia, feel free to reach out to one of our experienced migration agents.
Over the 12 months to February 2025, employment opportunities and growth varied widely across industries. The largest increases in trend employment occurred in:
Health Care and Social Assistance: +73,800
Education and Training: +50,500
Construction: +47,500
Conversely, the industries experiencing the most significant employment declines were:
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services: -26,300
Manufacturing: -20,500
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing: -5,700
The strongest rates of employment growth were in:
Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services: +6.4%
Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services: +5.4%
Education and Training: +4.2%
Occupational Distribution Across States and Territories
In February 2025, the distribution of employment in selected occupation major groups (Managers, Professionals, and Technicians and Trades Workers) varied by region:
Australian Capital Territory (ACT): 61.6%
Victoria: 55.0%
New South Wales (NSW): 54.2%
Over the year, the share of workers in these occupation groups increased in most states and territories, with notable rises in
ACT: +0.9 percentage points
NSW: +0.4 percentage points
South Australia (SA): +0.3 percentage points
Tasmania: +0.2 percentage points
Victoria: +0.1 percentage points
The Northern Territory saw a slight decrease of 0.1 percentage points, while Western Australia (WA) remained unchanged.
Unemployment Rates: A Slight Uptick
The trend unemployment rate in Australia was 4.0% in February 2025, up from 3.9% in February 2024.
Implications for Migrants
If you’re thinking about working in Australia, there are good opportunities, but also some challenges. Jobs in Health Care, Education, and Construction are growing, so skilled workers are needed in these areas. But because unemployment has slightly increased and some industries have fewer jobs, it’s important to plan carefully and stay flexible.
A Registered Migration Agent can help you understand your options. Book a consultation with one of our agents to talk about the best way for you to move to or stay in Australia.
Looking at which jobs are most common in each state can also help you know where to look. For example, the ACT and Victoria have more jobs in professional and technical fields.
Knowing which industries are growing (and where) can make it easier to find the right job and settle successfully in Australia.
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The information provided is a general guide and does not constitute legal or immigration advice; there are many regulations that may apply depending on each individual’s circumstances alongside changes in the industry. It is the user’s responsibility to verify the currency of information. Those seeking advice should engage a MARA registered migration agent.
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