QLD vs WA Jobs: Mining, Healthcare, IT — Which State Is Hiring More?

Compare Queensland and Western Australia job markets in 2025 for mining, healthcare, and IT. Discover which state offers more vacancies, higher salaries, and better opportunities based on ABS data and job ads from SEEK and Indeed.

Introduction

Australia’s resource-rich states, Queensland (QLD) and Western Australia (WA), drive the national economy through mining while facing surging demand in healthcare and IT. As of October 2025, ABS labour force data shows QLD with 3.01 million employed and a 4.2% unemployment rate, while WA reports 1.65 million employed at 4.1% unemployment. Yet, which state is hiring more? Over 15,000 mining jobs are advertised nationwide, with FIFO roles booming in both. Healthcare vacancies exceed 5,000 in QLD alone, fueled by an aging population, and IT roles in Brisbane and Perth grow 17% yearly. This analysis breaks down QLD vs WA jobs in these sectors, using job advertisements from SEEK and Indeed, to guide your 2025 career move.

Mining Jobs – WA Edges Ahead in Volume, QLD Leads in Coal Opportunities

Mining remains Australia’s highest-paying sector, with average weekly earnings at $2,733 in 2024, projected to rise 5% in 2025 amid global demand for iron ore and coal. Western Australia dominates with 42 of 96 new projects set to add 22,000 jobs by 2030, focusing on iron ore in the Pilbara region. SEEK lists over 3,700 mining jobs in QLD but only 2,500 in WA—yet WA’s ads emphasize high-value FIFO mining jobs, with 40% of national growth.

In WA, iron ore jobs WA surge due to BHP and Rio Tinto expansions, offering $125,000–$145,000 annually for operators, plus relocation bonuses. LNG jobs Western Australia add 800 roles yearly, with median pay at $2,951 weekly in regional areas. Challenges include workforce shortages, addressed by the Skilled Migrant Job Connect Programme subsidizing up to $7,500 for migrants.

Queensland counters with coal jobs Queensland in the Bowen Basin, where 17 projects promise 5,300 vacancies—63% above pre-pandemic levels. Regional Queensland jobs, including fly-in fly-out jobs, attract entry-level workers with $40 hourly rates, double the national minimum. Indeed shows 294 mining postings in QLD, many DIDO from Mackay, versus WA’s focus on remote Pilbara sites. Both states report low unemployment in resources sector jobs—WA at 3.6% trend—but QLD’s diverse minerals (copper, zinc) offer stability.

For immigrants, WA’s WASMOL lists 350+ mining roles for skilled visas, while QLD prioritizes trades via state nomination. Overall, WA hires more in volume (18,000 FTE projected), but QLD suits coal specialists with faster regional entry.

Healthcare Jobs – QLD Outpaces WA with Urban and Aged Care Demand

Healthcare recruitment Australia intensifies in 2025, with 350,000 national vacancies driven by an aging population and post-pandemic recovery. Queensland leads, with ABS data showing health as its second-largest industry ($44.4 billion GVA in 2023-24), and SEEK advertising 1,200+ healthcare jobs QLD. Nursing jobs Queensland top the list, with 800 hospital jobs Australia in Brisbane alone, offering $80,000–$110,000 for registered nurses.

Aged care jobs QLD boom in regional areas, where SEIFA labour market indices highlight shortages—up 20% from 2024. Allied health jobs QLD WA overlap, but QLD’s 4% unemployment rate supports quicker placements via programs like WorkPac, which filled 24% female roles by June 2025. Indeed lists 500+ postings, many with visa sponsorship for migrants in Brisbane’s public hospitals.

Western Australia follows with 900 healthcare jobs WA, concentrated in Perth’s metro areas, where unemployment dipped to 3.5% in February 2025. Nursing jobs Western Australia emphasize remote clinics, with $90,000 median pay, but face 3,200 fewer roles from nickel mine closures. SEEK shows strong demand for allied health in Pilbara, tied to mining FIFO workers’ families. WA’s Graduate Occupation List prioritizes 100+ health roles for visas, aiding immigrants.

Comparing job vacancies Australia, QLD’s urban hubs like Brisbane edge WA’s Perth market by 30% in ads, per SEEK/Indeed data. Both states offer pathways: QLD for volume in aged care, WA for specialized remote work. With national growth at 17%, healthcare outhires mining in accessibility.

IT Jobs – Balanced Growth, with Brisbane and Perth as Hotspots

The Australian job market 2025 forecasts 17% growth in tech jobs Queensland and tech jobs Western Australia, fueled by AI and cybersecurity needs. Brisbane’s IT jobs Brisbane scene thrives with 600+ SEEK listings for software developer jobs Australia, averaging $120,000 annually. Data analyst jobs Brisbane lead, with 300 roles tied to mining analytics in the Bowen Basin.

Perth counters with IT jobs Perth, boasting 500 ads on Indeed, where cyber security jobs Perth dominate due to resources sector jobs’ digital upgrades—up 25% from 2024. WA’s lower 4.1% unemployment supports hybrid roles, with $130,000 medians for developers. Both states list IT on skilled migration occupations, with WA targeting 50+ visas yearly.

Job advertisements SEEK Indeed reveal parity: 1,000 combined IT postings per state, but QLD’s Brisbane market grows faster at 20% versus WA’s 15%. Perth job market integrates IT with mining (e.g., autonomous systems), while Brisbane focuses on health tech. For which state has more jobs? IT balances evenly, favoring QLD for entry-level and WA for specialized cyber roles.

Overall Comparison – Which State Wins for Your Career?

Unemployment rate QLD vs WA sits at 4.2% versus 4.1%, but WA’s mining boom (42 projects) outpaces QLD’s 17, creating 19,000 resources sector jobs. Healthcare tilts to QLD with 1,200 vacancies, while IT evens at 1,000 each. ABS labour force data underscores WA’s higher participation (68.5%), signaling robust QLD employment and WA employment.

Migrants benefit from state nominations: WA for mining/IT, QLD for healthcare/regional roles. Salaries favor mining ($2,733 weekly), but healthcare/IT offer work-life balance. Check SEEK/Indeed weekly for updates.

Conclusion

In 2025, WA leads in mining volume and IT specialization, while QLD excels in healthcare accessibility and coal stability—making the choice depend on your skills. Both states offer strong job vacancies Australia, low unemployment, and migrant pathways. Assess your priorities: remote FIFO or urban growth? Update your resume and apply via SEEK today to secure QLD vs WA jobs.