Wheatbelt recruitment: agribusiness, health, trade and professional staff
Hire Australia is a regional recruitment specialist. We help employers in Northam, Narrogin, Merredin, Moora, York, Toodyay, Jurien Bay and across the Wheatbelt hire professional, technical and trade staff, from graduates to experienced people.
The Wheatbelt at a glance
- of employed Wheatbelt residents work in agriculture, forestry and fishing
- 23.8%
- 7,756 of 32,615 employed residents, August 2021, more than double any other industry.1
- of recruiting Wheatbelt and Great Southern employers had difficulty recruiting
- 53%
- Survey year to August 2026, 119 employers. Recruiting means recruiting or recruited in the past month (54%).2
- work in health care and social assistance, the second-largest industry
- 9.1%
- 2,972 employed residents, August 2021.1
- unemployment in the Shire of Northam
- 5.1%
- June quarter 2026, against 3.1% in Moora and 1.5% in Chittering.3
Who employs people in the Wheatbelt?
The Wheatbelt's 42 shires are home to 79,885 people, up 1.4% in the year to 30 June 2025; Northam is the largest town, with 12,758 people in its shire.4 The region's strengths are agriculture and food, an integrated road and rail freight network, and its closeness to Perth.5
Nearly one in four working residents is in farming. Health care, schools, construction, shops and government follow, and mining employs 6% of residents.1
Share of employed residents by industry, Wheatbelt region (42 council areas), August 2021.1
| Industry | % of employed residents |
|---|---|
| Agriculture, forestry and fishing | 23.8% |
| Health care and social assistance | 9.1% |
| Education and training | 8% |
| Construction | 7% |
| Retail trade | 6.9% |
| Public administration and safety | 6.7% |
| Mining | 6% |
| Transport, postal and warehousing | 4.6% |
Which Wheatbelt towns are close to Perth, and which are not?
The Wheatbelt starts close to Perth. Toodyay, Bindoon, York and Northam are within about 100 km of the city, while Narrogin and Merredin are two to almost three times as far, so the same role can draw on very different pools depending on where it is based.
Residents at 30 June 2025, distance from Perth and modelled unemployment in the June quarter of 2026, by council area.3,4,6
| Council area (main town) | Residents | Distance from Perth | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toodyay | 5,251 | 86 km | 3.9% |
| Chittering (Bindoon) | 7,039 | 94 km | 1.5% |
| York | 3,677 | 96 km | 4.8% |
| Northam | 12,758 | 97 km | 5.1% |
| Moora | 2,421 | 174 km | 3.1% |
| Narrogin | 4,989 | 192 km | 4.3% |
| Dandaragan (Jurien Bay) | 4,089 | 224 km | 2.6% |
| Merredin | 3,365 | 260 km | 3.8% |
How hard is it to hire in the Wheatbelt?
More than half of employers find it hard. The Wheatbelt shares an employer survey with the Great Southern: in the year to August 2026, 53% of the region's employers who were recruiting or had recruited in the past month had difficulty recruiting, more than the 48% recorded across WA. A lack of suitable applicants topped their reasons, ahead of experience, technical skills and the location.2
The employment plan for the two regions describes an ageing population, young people moving away, fewer families farming across generations and difficulty attracting people to farm work. It lists housing and rental shortages, the cost of living, travel and getting a driver's licence among the barriers to recruiting staff.7 For towns close to Perth we can widen the search to the city's edge; for the eastern towns we plan for relocation from the start.
Which roles do we recruit in the Wheatbelt?
Open a role type for demand, shortage ratings and what to put in your brief. Shortage ratings are for 2026; we count an occupation as in shortage if it is rated in shortage nationally or in regional areas.
Farm management and agribusiness
Farm and station managers, agronomists, livestock managers, grain-handling and storage supervisors, and sales and operations staff for agribusinesses.
- Who hires
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing employed 7,756 Wheatbelt residents in August 2021, 23.8% of the employed workforce.1
- Local pressure
- The employment plan reports difficulty attracting people to farm work and a decline in families farming across generations.7
- Shortage
- Beef cattle, sheep, and mixed cattle and sheep farmers are not rated in shortage nationally.8
- What to put in your brief
- The enterprise and its size, the crops or stock, the season, accommodation, and the decisions the person will own.
Machinery, trades and transport
Mobile plant and machinery operators, general fitters, diesel mechanics, auto electricians, general electricians and truck drivers for farms, contractors, workshops, freight and mine sites.
- Demand
- Mobile plant operators averaged 31 online job ads a month to September 2026 in the Wheatbelt and Albany area, and automotive and engineering trades 59, the most advertised group.9
- Mining
- Mine sites in the Wheatbelt supported 3,041 full-time-equivalent jobs in 2024–25, down from 4,244, led by Yilgarn (1,551) and Dandaragan (792).10
- Shortage
- General fitters, diesel motor mechanics, general electricians, metal fabricators, earthmoving plant operators and general truck drivers are rated in shortage nationally.8
- Freight
- The region's integrated road and rail freight network is one of its listed strengths.5
- What to put in your brief
- The machinery or trade, the licences and tickets, the season or roster, the base town and any accommodation.
Health, aged care and disability support
Registered nurses, general practitioners, allied health professionals, and health administrators and managers, plus assistants in nursing and aged-care and disability support workers for hospitals, clinics and services.
- Who hires
- Health care and social assistance employed 2,972 Wheatbelt residents in August 2021, the second-largest industry.1
- Demand
- Medical practitioners and nurses averaged 40 online job ads a month to September 2026 in the Wheatbelt and Albany area, and carers and aides 39.9 The employment plan lists allied health among the region's shortages.7
- Shortage
- Aged care registered nurses, general practitioners, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and aged or disabled carers are rated in shortage nationally, and enrolled nurses in regional areas.8
- What to put in your brief
- The registration, the town and service, the shift or on-call pattern, housing, and who the person reports to.
Education, local government and office roles
Teachers, childcare workers, council engineers and planners, works managers, and administration and finance staff for schools, shires and businesses.
- Who hires
- Education and training employed 2,601 residents and public administration and safety 2,176 in August 2021.1
- Demand
- General-inquiry clerks, call-centre workers and receptionists averaged 49 online job ads a month to September 2026 in the Wheatbelt and Albany area.9
- Shortage
- Early childhood teachers, secondary school teachers and childcare workers are rated in shortage nationally; primary school teachers are not.8 Civil engineers are also rated in shortage nationally.8
- What to put in your brief
- The qualification, the shire or school, housing, and whether the role suits someone commuting from a nearby town.
Hiring graduates and local people in the Wheatbelt
Central Regional TAFE has Wheatbelt campuses in Northam, Merredin and Moora,11 and South Regional TAFE teaches in Narrogin.12 For graduate roles in agribusiness, engineering, health and local government, we look for graduates who grew up in the country or want a career outside the city, and we are clear with them about the town, housing and the support they will get.
How we help you hire in the Wheatbelt
You make the hiring decision and employ the person directly. We handle the search and the organising in between.
Distance, housing and relocation in the Wheatbelt
Toodyay, Bindoon, York and Northam are all within 100 km of Perth, while Narrogin is 192 km away and Merredin 260 km.6 We match the search to the town: for towns within 100 km of Perth we include candidates willing to drive from the city's eastern and northern suburbs, and for the central and eastern Wheatbelt we look for people ready to move and talk through housing first. If the right person needs a visa or sponsorship, our sister business Australian Immigration Agency can advise.
Looking for work in the Wheatbelt?
Farm and agribusiness staff, machinery operators, tradespeople, health workers, teachers, council and office professionals, and graduates can all register with Hire Australia. Tell us which towns suit you and the work you want. We'll talk with you about roles that fit.
Talk to us about your next Wheatbelt hire
Tell us about the role, the town or farm, the season, housing 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 hire staff in the Wheatbelt?
Often. In the Great Southern-Wheatbelt survey for the year to August 2026, 53% of employers who were recruiting or had recruited in the past month had difficulty recruiting, most often for a lack of suitable applicants.2 Hire Australia searches the Wheatbelt, Perth's edge and interstate, and plans for housing and relocation when the town is further out.
Does Hire Australia have an office in Northam or Narrogin?
No. Hire Australia is a regional recruitment specialist based in Brisbane, and we recruit for employers across regional Australia, including Northam, Narrogin, Merredin and Moora. We look for people already in the Wheatbelt and for people elsewhere who are ready to move. Call 1300 719 836 or send us the role details to start.
Does Hire Australia supply seasonal harvest and seeding crews?
No. Hire Australia recruits people you employ directly, for permanent roles such as farm managers, agronomists, machinery operators, mechanics and agribusiness staff. For short seasonal crews, a farm labour-hire provider is usually the better fit. Tell us about the role and we will say honestly which approach suits it.
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 the same way for a role in Northam, Narrogin or Merredin as anywhere else in regional Australia.
Does Hire Australia supply labour hire or temporary staff?
No. Hire Australia recruits people you employ directly, in permanent roles in the Wheatbelt. We don’t supply labour hire or temps, 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. That keeps the working relationship between you and your new employee from day one.
Can I register with Hire Australia for Wheatbelt work?
Yes. Register with Hire Australia and tell us the work you want and the towns that suit you, from Northam and York to Narrogin and Merredin. Farm and agribusiness staff, machinery operators, tradespeople, health workers, teachers and office professionals are all welcome. We'll talk with you about suitable roles.
Sources (12)
- Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2021 Census General Community Profile, Table G54 Industry of employment by age by sex, Local Government Areas. Data: Census night, 10 August 2021; employed residents by place of usual residence, summed over each region. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- Jobs and Skills Australia, Recruitment trends and employers' needs: State and Regional Snapshot update, Western Australia. Released 22 September 2026. Data: 12 months to August 2026; WA weighted (1,412 employers); regional samples small, unweighted, interpret with caution. 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: Year to 30 June 2025. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- Infrastructure WA, State Infrastructure Strategy: WA’s regions, Wheatbelt region. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- WA Country Health Service, WA Country Health Service: Wheatbelt regional profile (distance from Perth table). Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, Local Jobs Plan: Great Southern Wheatbelt Employment Region, WA (February 2026). 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 ↑
- 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 ↑
- Government of Western Australia, Department of Mines, Petroleum and Exploration, 2025 spatial and regional data file: mining employment by region and local government area. Files dated June 2026. Data: 2024-25 financial year average; full-time equivalent at mine sites, by site location. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- Central Regional TAFE, Central Regional TAFE: Campuses. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- South Regional TAFE, South Regional TAFE: Campuses. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑