Each quarter, Medical Jobs explores the latest available job data from The Internet Vacancy Index (IVI) and the ABS Labour Force - providing an up-to-date snapshot of employment growth and demand in Australia’s health and medical labour market.
This report uses data that is available for the quarter ending 31 May 2025.
JOB VACANCY SUMMARY (May 2025 data):
- Health sector job ads grow and remain resilient over the quarter, spurred by seasonal demand. In May 2025, there were 30,080 online job advertisements for health and medical occupations in Australia – this represented an increase of 1,920 jobs (+6.82%) compared to the previous quarter (February 2025), reflecting continued resilience in the sector and the usual seasonal uptick in job vacancies following the summer and holiday months (which commonly see lower advertising rates).
- All Australian States and Territories, and all health sector occupation groups, recorded higher numbers of job ads in May-25 compared to the previous quarter - except for NT, led by a drop in Nursing and Midwifery roles.
- Job vacancy volumes are still declining year-on-year and from the 2023 peak. There were 6,118 fewer health sector job ads (-16.9%) in May 2025 compared to May 2024. Year-on-year drops were recorded for all AU States and Territories, and across occupation groups, except for Medical Practitioners.
- Medical Practitioner job ads grow year-on-year reflecting ongoing strong demand. Medical Practitioners was the only occupation group to have higher y-o-y job vacancies - this was led by vacancies in NSW and to a lesser extent, WA, and NT (particularly for General Practitioners and Resident Medical Officers).
- Nursing and Midwifery recorded the largest year-on-year declines in job ads, followed by Technicians / Assistants / Support roles. Nationwide, there were 2,901 fewer job ads for Nurses and Midwife roles in May 2025 compared to May 2024 (-30.49%), with declines in TAS (-47.02%), VIC (-37.68%), NSW (-33.73%) and ACT (-34.08%) the most pronounced.
Table 1. Online Job Ads, Health and Medical Occupations, by Australian State and Territory, May 2025
Table 1. notes: Source: https://www.jobsandskills.gov.au/data/internet-vacancy-index > Data downloads > Internet Vacancies, ANZSCO4 Occupations, States and Territories - May 2025.xlsx. ‘Health and Medical’ occupations only - refer to the ANZSCO Occupation table below for the full list covered in the scope of this report.
Table 2. Health Sector Job Ads, Australia, by Occupation Group, May 2025
Table 2. notes: Source: https://www.jobsandskills.gov.au/data/internet-vacancy-index > Data downloads > Internet Vacancies, ANZSCO4 Occupations, States and Territories - May 2025.xlsx. *For occupation groups - refer to the ANZSCO Occupation table below.
Chart. 1: Online Job Ads by Health Sector Occupation Group, Australia, May 2019 – May 2025 (including 2-yr % change)
Source: https://www.jobsandskills.gov.au/data/internet-vacancy-index > Data downloads > Internet Vacancies, ANZSCO4 Occupations, States and Territories - May 2025.xlsx.
Health Sector Occupations in demand
Australia-wide, there were more vacancies for Dental Practitioners, General Practitioners, Resident Medical Officers, and Massage Therapists in May 2025 compared to February 2025 or May 2024.
Alongside the occupations in demand Australia-wide, the table below shows the health sector occupations with higher vacancies in May 2025 compared to the previous quarter (Feb-25) and year (May-24) in specific Australian States and Territories – representing ongoing demand and possible workforce shortages in these areas.
Table 3. Health Sector Occupations with growth in vacancies, May-25, by AU State and Territory
Source: https://www.jobsandskills.gov.au/data/internet-vacancy-index > Data downloads > Internet Vacancies, ANZSCO4 Occupations, States and Territories - May 2025.xlsx. *Selected occupations displaying growth in online vacancy numbers (positive quarter-on-quarter and year-on-year growth. Occupations with small year-on-year changes (<4) were excluded).
WORKFORCE GROWTH SUMMARY (May 2025 data):
- Health Sector employment expands over the quarter and year-on-year in most Australian States and Territories. The total number of people employed in health sector occupations grew in all AU States and Territories over the quarter (May-25 vs Feb-25). Nationwide, the health sector workforce grew by 9.23% year-on-year, led by QLD, however SA and TAS health workforces contracted year-on-year, with SA having 7,592 fewer people employed in health sector occupations in May-25 compared to May-24.
- Nursing and Midwifery has the largest quarterly and year-on-year increases in employment across health sector occupation groups nationwide, which helps to explain the softening in demand and vacancy numbers for this occupation group. The expansion in Nursing and Midwifery employment in May 2025 was led by QLD and WA, while Nursing and Midwifery employment contracted in NSW and NT.
- Medical Practitioner workforce has grown year-on-year nationwide, but contracts slightly over the quarter. ACT and WA saw fewer numbers of Medical Practitioners employed over the quarter and year-on-year. In QLD, Medical Practitioner employment has grown 63% year-on-year, but has contracted -16% over the quarter, suggesting growth is slowing following strong annual employment gains. VIC shows quarterly contractions in Medical Practitioner employment (-13%), while NSW shows little change in numbers compared to a year ago (May-25 vs May-24).
- Workforce growth and contractions vary by Occupation group and AU State and Territory, while Allied Health employment gain were strong nationwide. In May 2025, there were fewer employed in Technician / Assistant / Support roles in SA and NT, compared to a year earlier (May 2024). SA also saw fewer Social Workers and Health and Welfare Managers compared to a year earlier. Allied Health saw strong and stable employment growth year-on-year across all AU States and Territories, except ACT.
Table 4. Total Employed, Health and Medical Occupations, by AU State and Territory, May 2025
Table 4 notes: Source: https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/employment-and-unemployment/labour-force-australia-detailed/latest-release#data-downloads > EQ08 - Employed persons by Occupation unit group of main job (ANZSCO), Sex, State and Territory, August 1986 onwards (Pivot Table ). May-25 latest data. *Refer to the ANZSCO Occupation Table below for the health and medical occupations and occupation groups covered in this report.
Table 5. Health Sector Total Employed, Australia, by Occupation Group, May 2025
Table 5. notes: Source:https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/employment-and-unemployment/labour-force-australia-detailed/latest-release#data-downloads > EQ08 - Employed persons by Occupation unit group of main job (ANZSCO), Sex, State and Territory, August 1986 onwards (Pivot Table), May-25 latest data. *Refer to the ANZSCO Occupation Table below for the health and medical occupations and occupation groups covered in this report.
Chart 2. Total Employed, Health and Medical Occupations, May 2015 – May 2025 (including 2-yr % change).
Source: https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/employment-and-unemployment/labour-force-australia-detailed/latest-release#data-downloads > EQ08 - Employed persons by Occupation unit group of main job (ANZSCO), Sex, State and Territory, August 1986 onwards (Pivot Table), May-25 latest data. *Refer to the ANZSCO Occupation Table below for the health and medical occupations and occupation groups covered in this report.
Final Comments:
In May quarter 2025, Australia’s overall unemployment rate remained steady at 4.1 percent, unchanged from May 2024. Full-time employment rose modestly, while the participation rate edged down slightly. Seasonally adjusted estimates showed an increase in monthly hours worked and a rise in full-time employment, alongside declines in part-time employment and a slight reduction in the employment-to-population ratio.
Jobs and Skills Australia Occupation Profiles Data (May 2025 and May 2024) indicate year-on-year increases in the full-time share of workers across several occupations, including Medical Technicians, Ambulance Officers and Paramedics, Dental Hygienists, Technicians and Therapists, Diversional Therapists, Registered Nurses, Dental Practitioners, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Podiatrists, Audiologists and Speech Pathologists, General Practitioners and Resident Medical Officers, Anaesthetists, Specialist Physicians and Psychiatrists.
In the Australian health sector, shifts in recruitment activity have been observed over the past quarter, including an increase in applicants, a stronger focus on filling full-time and permanent positions, and sustained demand for experienced professionals, particularly in allied health and regional services. Employers may be placing greater emphasis on cost control, workforce stability, and retention strategies such as professional development opportunities, flexible working arrangements, and other employee supports.
ANZSCO Occupation Table:
Selected health Sector 4-digit ANZSCO Health and Medical Occupations, and Occupation Groups, covered in the scope of this report.
