Veterinary Employment Figures – 2026

Job data collected and tracked by Kookaburra Veterinary Employment for permanent vacancies in Australia reveals an easing of the shortage of veterinarians relative to the numbers of vacancies available, over the last 2 years. The hardest year to fill a vet vacancy was 2023, and since then, clinics have gradually been receiving more applicants and filling their vacancies in less time.

The bad news for vets graduating from university this year is that less clinics will now consider training a new grad. One conclusion that could be drawn from this is that many clinics don’t see value in employing a new graduate or perceive new grads as a burden on their practice, and they will try to avoid it if there are vets with some experience available. Alternatively, it’s possible that practices are already weighted heavily towards less experienced associates.

Kookaburra Vet Employment also has a limited amount of data on veterinary nurse and support staff vacancies. Anecdotal reports from clinics have suggested that it is increasingly difficult to source veterinary nursing staff this year, and this is supported by the increasing number of vacancies being advertised.

Vets

As of 26^th August 2026 there were 431 open vet vacancies advertised with Kookaburra. 78 jobs had been continuously advertised for over 8 months (18% ).

In the 3 months February, March, April 2026, 693 jobs were advertised.

• 51% of these were filled by 9^th of May
• 8% were removed because the clinic either gave up looking or restructured their clinic staff to cope, or had a downturn in business
• 41% were still available as of 9^th May

On 30th April 2023, 52 clinics had been advertising continuously for longer than 2 years without filling their vacancy, but by 26th August 2026, only 12 clinics had been continuously advertising for longer than 2 years without apparently filling their vacancy.

Vet Nurses

In March 2020 we had 236 vet nurse jobs listed.
In April 2021 we had 337 vet nurse jobs listed.
May 9^th 2023 we had 316 vet nurse jobs listed.
June 26^th 2024 we had 236 vet nurse jobs listed.
August 26^th 2026 we had 344 vet nurse jobs listed

Author:
Wendy Nathan
Kookaburra Veterinary Employment

This information includes the views and opinions of Kookaburra Veterinary Employment and is of a general nature only. Factual information is believed to be correct at the time of writing, however, should not be relied upon and any person should confirm details with the relevant authorities and through their own research prior to acting on any of the suggestions in this article.