Orange, Bathurst and Central West recruitment: professional, technical and trade staff
Hire Australia is a regional recruitment specialist. We help employers in Orange, Bathurst and across the Central West, from Lithgow and Mudgee to Parkes and Cowra, hire professional, technical and trade staff, from graduates to experienced people, for health services, mines, government, manufacturing and agribusiness.
The Central West at a glance
- of workers are in health care and social assistance
- 15%
- 17,400 of 113,800 employed people, the largest industry, four-quarter average to February 2026.1
- of workers are in mining
- 9%
- 9,800 employed people, the region's fifth-largest industry, same period.1
- of recruiting employers had difficulty filling a role
- 51%
- Employers recruiting or who had recruited in the past month, Central West, year to August 2026, against 44% in the rest of NSW.2
- of online job ads were for engineers and engineering or electrical trades
- 11%
- 160 of 1,478 ads a month, three-month average to September 2026.3
Who employs people in the Central West?
Health care is the largest industry in both cities. In 2021 it employed one in five working residents of Orange and one in six in Bathurst, and public administration was in the top five in both, which reflects the state agencies based there.4 Western NSW Local Health District employs around 8,000 people and runs major rural referral hospitals in Orange and Bathurst, as well as Dubbo,5 and construction has started on the $200 million Bathurst Hospital redevelopment.6
Mining is the region's fifth-largest industry. Parkes sits at the northern end of the Inland Rail sections now prioritised for completion, and the Parkes to Narromine section is already carrying freight.7 The 4,800-hectare Parkes Special Activation Precinct is planned for freight and logistics, value-added agriculture and critical minerals processing, and could generate up to 3,000 jobs by 2041.8
Employed people in the five largest industries, Central West employment region (Central West SA4), four-quarter average to February 2026.1
| Industry | Employed people |
|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 17,400 |
| Education and training | 14,400 |
| Retail trade | 10,900 |
| Construction | 10,700 |
| Mining | 9,800 |
Where do employers hire across the Central West?
Orange and Bathurst are similar in size, but the smaller centres have their own economies: mining around Mudgee, agriculture around Cowra, and public administration in Lithgow, where it was the second-largest industry in 2021.4 Among the six council areas shown below, unemployment ranged from 3.3% in Bathurst to 5.5% in Lithgow and Cowra in the June quarter 2026.9
Estimated resident population of each council area at 30 June 2025,10 and the largest industry of employed residents in August 2021.4
| Council area | Main centre | Residents, 30 June 2025 | Largest industry of residents, 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orange | Orange | 44,990 | Health care, 21% |
| Bathurst Regional | Bathurst | 45,359 | Health care, 16% |
| Mid-Western Regional | Mudgee | 26,472 | Mining, 16% |
| Lithgow | Lithgow | 20,693 | Health care, 13% |
| Parkes | Parkes | 14,175 | Health care, 13% |
| Cowra | Cowra | 12,721 | Agriculture, 16% |
Which jobs are most advertised in Orange and Bathurst?
Health leads the region's online job ads, and technical work is close behind: engineers, electrotechnology and telecommunications trades and automotive and engineering trades together made up 160 of the 1,478 ads a month in the three months to September 2026.3
Online job advertisements by occupation group, Central West SA4, three-month average to September 2026.3
| Occupation group | Job ads a month |
|---|---|
| Medical practitioners and nurses | 203 |
| Carers and aides | 123 |
| Legal, social and welfare professionals | 99 |
| Automotive and engineering trades | 75 |
| Engineers | 43 |
| Electrotechnology and telecommunications trades | 42 |
How hard is it to hire in the Central West?
Just over half of the Central West employers who recruit find it hard. Of the 97 employers in the region who answered a national employer survey in the year to August 2026, 54% were recruiting or had recruited in the past month, and 51% of those had difficulty filling a role, against 44% in the rest of NSW.2
After a lack of suitable applicants, the reason they gave most often was the regional location.2 We talk with candidates early about the town, the commute and what a move would involve, so location is settled before you interview.
Which roles do we recruit in the Central West?
Open a role type for demand, training, pay and what to put in your brief. Shortage ratings are the 2026 national ratings; we count an occupation as in shortage when it is rated short nationally or in regional areas.
Health, aged care and disability support
Registered and enrolled nurses, allied health professionals, health administrators and managers, and support workers such as assistants in nursing and disability and aged-care support workers.
- Demand
- Each month the region averaged 203 online job ads for medical practitioners and nurses, 123 for carers and aides and 32 for health diagnostic and therapy professionals, three-month average to September 2026.3
- Shortage
- Aged-care registered nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and aged or disabled carers are rated in shortage nationally in 2026, and enrolled nurses in regional areas.11
- Local training
- TAFE NSW Bathurst trains nurses in a simulated hospital setting, and TAFE NSW Orange's specialties include Aboriginal health.12,13
- What to put in your brief
- The qualification and registration the role needs, the setting, the shifts and who will supervise.
- How we help
- We talk with candidates about their registration, the shifts they can work and the town they want to live in, then introduce the people who best match your brief.
Mining and resources
Qualified diesel fitters, electricians, mechanical fitters, mining engineers, geologists and safety staff for mines and contractors around Orange, Parkes and Mudgee.
- Size
- Northparkes, about 30 minutes' drive from Parkes, reports about 440 employees and 180 contractors, most living in Parkes, Forbes and Peak Hill.14
- Location and outlook
- Cadia, about 25 kilometres from Orange, is approved to operate until 2031, and its owner is seeking approval to continue beyond that.15
- Local share
- Mining was the largest industry of employed residents in the Mid-Western council area, around Mudgee, in 2021, at 16%.4
- Shortage
- Diesel motor mechanics, electricians, general fitters, mining engineers and geologists are rated in shortage nationally in 2026.11
- What to put in your brief
- The site, the roster, whether the role is residential, the tickets and equipment, and who supervises.
Engineering and technical trades
Graduate and experienced engineers, maintenance electricians, mechanical fitters and machinists for manufacturers, councils, contractors and mines.
- Demand
- Employers advertised for engineers 43 times a month, electrotechnology and telecommunications trades 42 and automotive and engineering trades 75, three-month average to September 2026.3
- Shortage
- Civil, electrical and mechanical engineers, electricians and general fitters are rated in shortage nationally in 2026.11
- Pay (engineers)
- Award minimum: $34.57 an hour where the Professional Employees Award covers the role (graduate with a four- or five-year degree, level 1.1, from 1 July 2026); council roles fall under a different award.16 Market median: $59 an hour (civil engineering professionals nationally, May 2025).17
- Local training
- TAFE NSW Bathurst has refrigeration and air-conditioning, electronics and light vehicle automotive workshops.12
- How we help
- We talk with candidates about their discipline, tickets and the equipment they know. More on our engineering and technical recruitment and trades recruitment.
Business, finance and administration
Accountants, HR and payroll staff, administration officers and office managers, from graduates to experienced people, for agencies, councils, practices and businesses.
- Local economies
- Public administration and safety employed 8% of working Orange residents, 9% in Bathurst and 10% in Lithgow in 2021.4
- Demand
- Business, finance and HR professionals averaged 29 online job ads a month in the region and numerical clerks 21, three-month average to September 2026.3
- Shortage
- Taxation accountants are rated in shortage nationally in 2026; general and management accountants are not.11
- What to put in your brief
- The systems you use, the reporting lines, the experience level and whether the role is in Orange, Bathurst or a smaller town.
Hiring graduates in the Central West
How we help you hire in the Central West
You make the hiring decision and employ the person directly. We handle the search and the organising in between.
Travel, rosters and relocation
Bathurst is about 200 kilometres north-west of Sydney, around two and a half hours by road, and Orange Airport is about 40 minutes from Bathurst.18 That makes Sydney-based candidates realistic for many roles. Northparkes is about 30 minutes' drive from Parkes and Cadia about 25 kilometres from Orange.14,15
Tell us the base, the roster and any travel to sites, and we build them into the search. When a candidate is moving from Sydney or another region, we talk with them early about the town and any relocation support you offer. If the right person needs a visa or sponsorship, our sister business Australian Immigration Agency can advise.
Looking for work in Orange, Bathurst or the Central West?
Experienced professionals and tradespeople, Charles Sturt University and TAFE NSW graduates and people moving from Sydney or elsewhere can all register with Hire Australia. Tell us the work you want and which towns suit you, and we'll talk with you about roles that fit.
Talk to us about your next Central West hire
Tell us about the role, the town it's based in and when you need someone to start.
Employers pay nothing until the successful candidate has started and stayed two months. Candidates never pay for recruitment.
A FEW PRACTICAL QUESTIONS
Good to know.
Is it hard to recruit in Orange and Bathurst?
For about half of employers, yes. In the year to August 2026, 51% of Central West employers who were recruiting or had recruited in the past month had difficulty filling a role, against 44% across the rest of NSW. The most common reasons were a lack of suitable applicants and the regional location.2 Hire Australia, a regional recruitment specialist, raises location and relocation with candidates from the first conversation.
Do you recruit for mines around Orange, Parkes and Mudgee?
Yes. Hire Australia recruits qualified tradespeople, engineers, geologists and safety staff for mines and contractors across the Central West. Many mine workers here live in nearby towns such as Orange, Parkes and Forbes, so tell us the site, the roster and whether the role is residential. We discuss tickets, equipment and the commute with candidates during screening.
Can you find candidates willing to move to Orange or Bathurst from Sydney?
We can search for them. Hire Australia looks for people in the Central West and further afield, including Sydney, where Bathurst is about two and a half hours away. We talk with candidates early about the town, the move and any relocation support you offer, so you know where they stand before you interview them.
What does it cost to use Hire Australia?
Employers pay nothing until the successful candidate has started and stayed two months. Candidates never pay for recruitment. You employ the person directly, and we agree the terms with you in writing before the search begins. Hire Australia charges Central West employers on the same basis as everywhere else we recruit, and briefing us on a role costs nothing.
Does Hire Australia supply labour hire or temporary staff in Orange and Bathurst?
No. Hire Australia recruits people that Orange, Bathurst and Central West employers employ directly, in permanent roles. We don’t supply labour hire, temps or contractors, and candidates never work on our payroll. We search for and screen people for your vacancy, introduce the ones who fit, and you make the offer and employ them from day one.
Do you have an office in Orange or Bathurst?
No. Hire Australia is based in Brisbane and recruits for employers across regional Australia, including Orange, Bathurst, Lithgow, Mudgee, Parkes and Cowra. Our search starts with people who live, study or train in the Central West, along with candidates planning a move there. We work with you by phone, video and email.
Sources (18)
- Jobs and Skills Australia, Employment Region Industry profile: Central West Employment Region. Published 15 April 2026. Data: February 2026, four-quarter average. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- Jobs and Skills Australia, Recruitment trends and employers' needs: State and Regional Snapshot update, New South Wales combined. Released 22 September 2026. Data: Year to August 2026, 97 responding employers, unweighted; small regional sample, interpret with caution. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- Jobs and Skills Australia, Internet Vacancy Index: Internet Vacancies, ANZSCO2 Occupations, GCCSA and SA4 Regions - September 2026. September data released 21 October 2026. Data: September 2026. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021, G54 Industry of employment by age by sex, Local Government Areas. Data: Census night, 10 August 2021. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- NSW Government, About Western NSW Local Health District. District page (undated): around 8,000 staff; major rural referral hospitals at Orange, Dubbo and Bathurst. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- Health Infrastructure NSW, Bathurst Hospital redevelopment: site establishment and construction car parking. News, 12 November 2025: contractor appointed for the $200 million Bathurst Hospital redevelopment. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- Australian Rail Track Corporation (Inland Rail), Inland Rail. Home page (news to 28 October 2026): Beveridge to Parkes prioritised; Parkes to Narromine complete and carrying freight. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- NSW Department of Planning, Central West and Orana Regional Plan 2041: region-shaping investment. Updated 4 May 2023: 4,800 ha Parkes Special Activation Precinct could generate up to 3,000 jobs by 2041. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, SALM Smoothed LGA Datafiles (ASGS 2025) - June quarter 2026. Data: June quarter 2026. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- Australian Bureau of Statistics, Regional population, 2024-25 financial year (Population estimates and components by LGA, 2024 to 2025). Released 31 March 2026. Data: 30 June 2025. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- Jobs and Skills Australia, 2026 Occupation Shortage List (6-digit ANZSCO and OSCA). Files dated October 2026. Data: 2026 ratings, ANZSCO 2022 sheet. National ratings; S = shortage, R = regional shortage. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- TAFE NSW, Bathurst campus. Campus page: refrigeration, electronics and automotive workshops and a simulated hospital setting. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- TAFE NSW, Orange (March Street) campus. Campus page: specialties include Aboriginal health, accounting, automotive and business administration. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- Evolution Mining, Northparkes operations. Operations page (redirects to evolutionmining.com), FY26: about 440 employees and 180 contractors, most living in Parkes, Forbes and Peak Hill; 30 minutes from Parkes. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- Newmont, Cadia operations. Operations page: about 25 km from Orange; approved to operate until 2031; extension being sought. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- Fair Work Ombudsman, Pay Guide - Professional Employees Award [MA000065]. Published 24 June 2026. Data: From the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- Jobs and Skills Australia, Occupation profile, ANZSCO 2332 Civil Engineering Professionals. Data: May 2025, ABS Employee Earnings and Hours (customised report), national median. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- Bathurst Regional Council, Getting there (Mount Panorama). Council page (undated): Bathurst 200 km north-west of Sydney, about 2.5 hours; Orange Airport about 40 minutes away. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑