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Key takeaways
- Prime industrial space remains tight in the major eastern seaboard markets.
- Automation is moving beyond the largest operators into mid-tier warehouses.
- Container throughput remains concentrated in a small number of major ports.
- Online retail volumes have normalised after the pandemic surge.
Industrial property
Prime industrial vacancy in Sydney's outer west and Melbourne's west has remained historically low, which continues to influence where new distribution centres — and therefore warehouse jobs — are located. Rent growth has moderated from its peak.
Automation
Goods-to-person systems, conveyor-fed put walls and autonomous mobile robots are increasingly viable for sites with high SKU counts and pick volumes. Mid-tier third-party logistics providers are generally investing in modular automation rather than fully automated facilities, which changes the skill mix rather than removing roles outright.
Port performance
Container volumes remain concentrated in the major container ports. Truck turnaround times have improved with vehicle booking system reforms but remain a pressure point for carriers during peak windows.
Online retail
After the 2020–2022 surge, online retail's share of total Australian retail has stabilised. Parcel volumes continue to grow at a slower rate, which is changing how logistics providers plan flexible labour and seasonal capacity.
Sources and review
Last reviewed by the Aussie Transport Jobs editorial team.
Limitations: Property, port and retail figures move frequently and vary by source. Check the linked official statistics for current numbers.
Official sources
- Australian Bureau of Statistics (opens in a new tab)
- Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics (BITRE) (opens in a new tab)
- Australian Government — Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development (opens in a new tab)