More Than Power: What’s Really Driving Jobs in the Latrobe Valley

The Latrobe Valley has always been the engine room of Victoria — but these days, it’s more than just power stations and coal mines. Across towns like Traralgon, Morwell and Moe, there’s a growing mix of local jobs in healthcare, retail, education, construction, and community services.

It’s a region that’s changing — and fast. And with it, so is the local job market.

What’s Driving Jobs in the Valley?

While the Valley is still known for powering Victoria, the real employment story these days is in health and social services. According to the 2021 Census, the top employing industries in the Latrobe Valley include:

• Hospitals (except psychiatric) – 6.1%
• Other social assistance services – 3.3%
• Supermarkets and grocery stores – 3.1%
• Takeaway food services – 3.0%
• Primary education – 2.9%

Healthcare clearly leads the way, with hospitals and social services employing more locals than the power sector. Education also plays a key role, particularly in primary schools and training institutions. It’s a shift that reflects how the local economy is evolving toward long-term, community-driven services.

Occupational data backs this up. The most common job types in the region include trades, professionals, community service workers, and admin roles — highlighting a workforce that’s hands-on, practical, and deeply embedded in the community.

• Technicians and trades workers – 16.7%
• Professionals – 16.1%
• Clerical and admin workers – 13.7%
• Community and personal service workers – 13.3%

It’s a diverse and practical workforce — and it’s growing.

What We’re Seeing on Gippslander

As Gippsland’s local job board, we get a front-row view of what employers are looking for — and what jobs people want.

Right now, we’re seeing strong demand across:

• Healthcare and medical
• Community and social services
• Retail and hospitality
• Maintenance and cleaning
• Construction and trade

And the best part? These jobs are all local. No commuting to Melbourne. No fly-in-fly-out. Just solid, local roles that help build stronger communities — and keep talent in Gippsland.

Town by Town: Traralgon, Morwell, Moe

Every town plays a role in the Valley’s economy:

• Traralgon is the region’s commercial heart. Government offices, schools, major retail chains and services all operate here. It’s a strong base for both white-collar and hands-on work.
• Morwell still has links to the power industry, but healthcare, education and community programs are now big players. Government services are also a key employer.
• Moe offers a solid mix of aged care, retail, education, and trades. It’s a practical town with steady demand for everyday roles that keep things moving.

Together, these towns are helping shape the new economy of the Latrobe Valley — one that’s more balanced, resilient, and regionally focused.

Why Gippslander Exists

We started Gippslander because locals needed something better — a way to find real jobs, close to home, with businesses who value local workers.

Whether you’re looking for work, or looking to hire, we’re here to make the connection.

No algorithms, no big-city pricing, no nonsense. Just a local platform, built for local people.

References:

• Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2021 Census – Latrobe Valley