AI Cut Job Vacancies at 3.4% of WA Businesses, ABS Survey Finds
AI reduced job vacancies at 3.4% of WA businesses in August 2026, ABS data shows. See the state and industry figures and what it means for Perth jobs.
Artificial intelligence reduced job vacancies at 3.4% of Western Australian businesses in August 2026, according to new Australian Bureau of Statistics survey data released on 4 November. That is a little below the national figure of 3.8%. Only 0.4% of WA businesses said AI had added vacancies, and 7.1% expect it to cut their vacancies over the next 12 months.
What did the ABS find about AI and WA job vacancies?
The ABS added questions about AI to its quarterly Job Vacancies Survey from the August 2026 quarter. Across Australia, 81.8% of businesses said AI had no effect on their vacancies, 3.8% said it reduced them, 0.6% said it increased them and 13.0% were unsure.
The state breakdown puts WA close to the middle of the pack:
| State | AI reduced vacancies, Aug 2026 | Expect AI to reduce vacancies, next 12 months |
|---|---|---|
| Western Australia | 3.4% | 7.1% |
| New South Wales | 5.7% | 9.7% |
| Victoria | 2.9% | 8.6% |
| Queensland | 0.9% | 4.7% |
| South Australia | 4.2% | 11.8% |
| Australia | 3.8% | 8.2% |
In the ABS media release, ABS head of labour statistics Sean Crick said the data showed AI has had a limited impact on job vacancies to date.
Which industries reported AI cutting vacancies?
The effect is concentrated in a few industries. Nationally, 16.2% of information media and telecommunications businesses said AI had reduced their vacancies, followed by wholesale trade (8.1%), manufacturing (6.1%) and retail trade (5.8%). Mining was low at 2.1%, and construction was 1.6%.
A few industries reported the opposite. 9.9% of electricity, gas, water and waste services businesses said AI had increased their vacancies, as did 3.9% of businesses in public administration and safety. The ABS doesn't publish these industry figures for each state.
How many vacancies does WA have?
The same survey counted 40,900 job vacancies in WA in August 2026 (original series). That is 5.1% fewer than the 43,100 in May 2026, and 0.7% more than the 40,600 in August 2025. Most were in the private sector (38,500), with 2,400 in the public sector.
What it means for Perth job seekers
For most Perth workers the survey suggests AI isn't yet shrinking the number of roles employers want to fill. The exposure is greatest in media, telecommunications, wholesale and manufacturing jobs, where more businesses expect fewer vacancies over the next year.
Technology hiring in Perth hasn't stopped. On 4 November, Jobs In Perth's feed listed 31 live IT ads in Perth placed directly by employers. Public sector agencies such as Health Support Services and the Department of Housing and Works placed the most of them, and the median advertised salary midpoint was about $131,000. Mining, one of the industries least affected by AI so far, had 237 live direct ads across WA, with Rio Tinto and Mineral Resources posting the most of the 50 newest. Government roles are covered in our WA Government jobs and pay analysis.
What it means for employers
Most businesses still expect AI to leave their hiring needs unchanged. Nationally, 68.5% expect no impact over the next year, down from the 81.8% that reported no impact in August, and WA's expected reduction (7.1%) is lower than the national 8.2%. Employers planning for 2027 can track the next ABS release, for the November 2026 quarter, due on 13 January 2027.
How we reported this
- State, industry and national AI figures, and WA vacancy counts, come from the ABS Job Vacancies, Australia, August 2026 release, updated with the AI estimates on 4 November 2026.
- The ABS AI estimates exclude businesses with 0 to 4 employees and businesses that didn't answer the AI questions. They measure vacancies, not existing jobs.
- Jobs In Perth figures are live direct-from-employer ads in our feed, observed on 4 November 2026. Recruitment agency and aggregator ads are not included. Salary figures use ads quoting an annual salary.
- Cover image: AI-generated illustration, not a photo of the event.
Sources
About this reporting
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