REOS Spotlight labour market results – 30 July 2026

REOS Spotlight labour market results June quarter 2026

How strong was employer hiring in the June quarter 2026?

According to the June quarter 2026 Recruitment Experiences and Outlook Survey (REOS), Australian employers continued to recruit steadily. Almost half (48%) of employers recruited staff during the quarter, slightly higher than 47% a year earlier (June quarter 2025). This points to ongoing demand for workers, even as conditions shift between states and industries.

For migration agents working on Skilled Independent (subclass 189), Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) or Temporary Skill Shortage (subclass 482) cases, this steady recruitment rate signals continued demand across the labour market, which may align with occupation profiles targeted in skilled visas.

Which states and territories were recruiting the most?

Western Australia recorded the highest recruitment rate among the states at 55%, while the Northern Territory led all jurisdictions at 57%. Tasmania stood out in a different way, with the highest recruitment difficulty rate of any state at 56%. Lowest since September 2025.

Are employers still struggling to fill vacancies?

Recruitment challenges eased over the year. In the June quarter 2026, 44% of recruiting employers reported difficulty filling vacancies, down from 49% in the June quarter 2025. This suggests some pressure has come off the labour market, although difficulty remains elevated in particular locations and occupations.

Tasmania’s 56% recruitment difficulty rate highlights a pocket where employers are still finding it hard to secure staff. For visa applicants looking at regional pathways, this could affect demand for certain roles and support interest in regional visas and employer sponsorship where occupations match local shortages.

What are employers planning for the next three months?

Looking ahead, 17% of employers expected to increase staffing over the next three months, down from 20% a year earlier. Queensland reported the strongest hiring intentions, with one in five employers planning to expand their workforce. That still leaves a majority expecting stable or lower staffing, which may temper expectations about rapid growth.

For anyone tracking potential Expression of Interest (EOI) trends or future employer-sponsored demand, these softer hiring intentions signal a more measured outlook, rather than a rapid acceleration in job creation.

Which industries and occupations are hardest to fill?

Accommodation and Food Services recorded the highest recruitment rate at 62%, indicating very active hiring. In contrast, Wholesale Trade had the highest recruitment difficulty at 54%. Technicians and Trades Workers stood out as the hardest occupation group to recruit, with 58% of employers reporting difficulty and 53% of vacancies in this group remaining unfilled for longer than a month.

This combination of strong recruitment and persistent difficulty is highly relevant to migration planning. Many Technicians and Trades Workers occupations align with ANZSCO codes commonly used in skilled visas; users may wish to compare this with specific ANZSCO profiles and the ImmiIQ data for occupation demand.

What the June quarter 2026 REOS Spotlight means for migration

Our analysis of the June quarter 2026 REOS Spotlight suggests a labour market that is still hiring, but gradually rebalancing. Employers continue to recruit at nearly the same rate as last year, while difficulty filling roles has eased slightly, and forward-looking hiring intentions have softened.

Australian employers continued to recruit steadily in the June quarter 2026, while recruitment difficulties eased compared with a year ago, according to the latest Recruitment Experiences and Outlook Survey (REOS).

For migration agents, this mix of steady recruitment and easing difficulty could influence how labour market testing, employer sponsorship discussions, and regional strategies are framed, especially in states like Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Tasmania where the data shows stronger signals.

Education providers offering trade-related VET courses may see this as supporting evidence of sustained employer interest in graduates with practical skills. Visa applicants in those fields may wish to consider how this labour market evidence intersects with skills assessment requirements and points outcomes for skilled visas.

Industry results also hint at where hiring activity is most intense. Accommodation and Food Services, with a 62% recruitment rate, appears particularly active, while Wholesale Trade, with 54% recruitment difficulty, may indicate niche skills gaps. These data points are descriptive rather than prescriptive, but they give a grounded view of where employers are feeling the most pressure for staff.

What does this mean for EOIs and state programs? It raises a practical question. While the REOS data does not directly specify visa subclasses or nomination criteria, it does offer a labour market backdrop that can be compared with state nomination priorities and occupation lists when planning EOI strategies.

How agents, applicants and providers may use the REOS Spotlight data

1. 01Compare the REOS June quarter 2026 highlights (48% recruitment rate, 44% difficulty, 17% hiring intentions) with current skilled visa occupation settings and any relevant state or territory nomination criteria.
2. 02For trade-focused cases, cross-check Technicians and Trades Workers ANZSCO codes against high-difficulty indicators (58% difficulty, 53% vacancies unfilled > 1 month) and consider how this aligns with employer sponsorship or regional pathways.
3. 03Review activity in Accommodation and Food Services (62% recruitment rate) and Wholesale Trade (54% recruitment difficulty) when assessing potential employer demand alongside skills assessment and qualification choices.
4. 04Use the state and territory signals (WA 55% recruitment rate, NT 57%, Tasmania 56% difficulty) to inform discussions about regional migration options, without treating the REOS data as a guarantee of sponsorship or nomination.
5. 05Monitor future REOS releases via Jobs and Skills Australia to see whether hiring intentions (currently 17% expecting to increase staffing) strengthen or soften, and compare these shifts with any changes in visa policy or occupation lists.

For many, the most practical takeaway is simple: employers are still hiring, but with slightly less difficulty and slightly softer growth expectations than a year ago. That context can help frame conversations with employers, applicants and students about timing, expectations and the role of skills in future visa strategies.

This article is for informational purposes only. Employment data is sourced from government publications and may not reflect current conditions in all regions.

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