The number of Australian tourism jobs surpassed pre-COVID peak levels in September–December 2024 for the first time in a year, according to the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) figures. But some sectors have recovered faster than others.
The latest ABS figures show tourism with 691,700 filled jobs during this period, above the 681,600 filled jobs in December 2019 but below the record 710,000 in September–December 2023.
This represents one in 23 filled jobs in the economy or 4.4 per cent and is in line with tourism spending recovery.
What does this mean?

Tourism Research Australia (TRA) reviewed the data to understand the changes in Australian tourism jobs.
In good news for advisors, the majority of filled Australian tourism jobs during this period were in travel agencies and information centre services with an increase of 12 per cent (3,300 jobs) compared to the previous quarter.
Travel agencies and information centre services also recorded one of the largest year-on-year rises in filled jobs, up seven per cent with an increase of 1,900 jobs.

Last year, an Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) survey found only one-third of businesses filled all their vacancies for travel agent roles in 2023.
However, education and training had the biggest boost overall with an additional 16,800 jobs, up 46 per cent year-on-year.
Accommodation saw the largest percentage increase in Australian tourism jobs between September–December 2024 with 9,600 filled jobs (9%) compared to the previous quarter.
What tourism areas went backwards?

Tourism-related areas that saw a year-on-year decline were air, water and other passenger transport with a decrease of 3,000 jobs (-9%) and cultural services with a reduction of 2,400 jobs (-16%).
The number of female jobs also remains lower than 2019 levels, while male jobs have risen, driven by part-time roles in the industry.
These sectors have also faced additional challenges in recent years, particularly aviation, along with workforce and skill shortages across the industry, which have eased since 2023.

The data points to a slow recovery in the sector, taking two years longer to return to pre-pandemic levels than the broader economy.
Looking forward, TRA expects Australian tourism job numbers to trend slightly higher, supported by domestic travel demand and ongoing international visitor recovery.
TRA found inbound visitor levels to Australia were 86 per cent of 2019 levels in 2024.
Read the full report here.