The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reported a seasonally adjusted total of 325,000 job vacancies in its August 2026 release, published on 1 October. This was a 0.9% decline, or about 3,000 positions, from May 2026. August 2026 is the reference period; 1 October is the release date. The estimate does not count employed people or unemployed people. It estimates positions employers were seeking to fill on the survey reference date. The ABS also said the total was 31.2% below the series peak of 472,700 in May 2022. That historical comparison comes from the bureau's series; by itself, it does not describe every condition in the labour market.

The sector split shows that the aggregate movement was not uniform. Seasonally adjusted private-sector vacancies fell 2.0% from May to 286,300. Public-sector vacancies moved in the other direction, rising 7.8% to 38,700. In the year-on-year comparison, the private-sector level was 1.5% lower and public-sector vacancies were unchanged. These are observations in the ABS seasonally adjusted table. The simultaneous public increase and private decline create a compositional difference that is hidden by looking only at the headline total. The data establish that difference, but do not by themselves explain its cause, identify budget decisions, or describe the intentions of individual employers.

The ABS also publishes a trend estimate. In that series, August vacancies totalled 326,300, down 0.9% over the quarter and 1.2% over the year. Trend and seasonally adjusted values are distinct: seasonal adjustment accounts for recurring calendar patterns, while the trend series presents a smoother movement. The original, unadjusted August total was 321,500. Therefore, 325,000, 326,300 and 321,500 refer to different presentations of the same reference month. Replacing one with another would confuse how the change is measured. This report uses the seasonally adjusted total of 325,000 and its 0.9% quarterly decline for the national headline, while identifying the other series separately.

Original August estimates in the state and territory table were 96,500 vacancies in New South Wales, 77,500 in Victoria, 69,500 in Queensland, 40,900 in Western Australia and 19,900 in South Australia. Tasmania recorded 5,400, the Northern Territory 5,800 and the Australian Capital Territory 6,100. These regional observations are original estimates without seasonal adjustment. The national original series declined 0.8% over the quarter, compared with a 0.9% decline in the seasonally adjusted national series. The table shows differences in the absolute number of positions across jurisdictions, but these counts are not rates adjusted for population or labour force size. They cannot establish regional hiring chances or relative labour-market tightness.

The industry table recorded the largest August number in health care and social assistance, at 54,300, compared with 56,700 in May. Retail trade increased from 26,000 to 32,400, while professional, scientific and technical services fell from 35,700 to 29,500. Accommodation and food services edged down from 34,000 to 33,700, and administrative and support services declined from 26,600 to 26,100. These original industry estimates should not be conflated with the seasonally adjusted national total. The ABS says its vacancy measure is not confined to online advertisements: positions recruited through word of mouth or social media may be included. The survey measures positions on a particular day, whereas job-ad indicators may count advertisements over a period; one advertisement can also cover multiple positions. These scope differences mean the observations should not be presented as hires, wage movements or an employment forecast. They must be read with their series and industry definitions.