Latest Labour Market Dashboard – South West WA (May 2025)
The latest Labour Market Dashboard for the South West, released by the WA Government, provides an insightful snapshot into local employment trends and economic indicators as of March 2025.
Labour Market Dashboard South West WA – as at 15May25
Key Highlights:
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Employment Growth: The South West recorded a modest year-on-year increase in employment, rising to 110,100 employed people—an increase of 1.5% from March 2024.
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Unemployment Rate: The region’s unemployment rate stands at 3.2%, slightly above the state average of 3.1%, but lower than the national average of 4.1%.
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Youth Unemployment: Youth unemployment in the South West is reported at 13.0%, above both the WA and national averages, indicating ongoing challenges for young job seekers in the region.
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Online Job Advertisements: There were 871 online job ads posted in March 2025—a 5.7% increase from the previous month but a 14.9% decrease compared to March 2024, showing a softening in hiring demand year-on-year.
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Largest Employing Industries:
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Health Care & Social Assistance
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Education & Training
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Retail Trade
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Mining
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Construction
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In-demand Occupations:
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Registered Nurses
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Retail Managers
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Motor Mechanics
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Metal Fitters & Machinists
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Chefs
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Sales Assistants
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Job Seeker Payments: The number of individuals on JobSeeker or Youth Allowance in the South West sits at 7,370, accounting for 9.6% of the working-age population.
Local LGA Highlights:
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Collie saw the most significant improvement, with unemployment dropping from 8.3% to 5.6%.
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Bunbury improved from 6.5% to 4.8%, while Manjimup, Donnybrook-Balingup, and Bridgetown-Greenbushes also saw notable declines in unemployment rates.
This dashboard is a valuable tool for local businesses, job seekers, and policymakers. It highlights the resilience of the South West labour market while also identifying areas—such as youth employment and industry demand—that require continued focus.
For more, visit Jobs and Skills Australia.
