business
Online Radio Growth Reshapes Perth Job and Talent Market
Digital stations are pulling skilled workers away from traditional media roles and into new positions across the city.
How we reported this
Online radio listenership in Western Australia jumped 25 percent year on year through June 2026, pulling Perth media professionals into digital roles at a faster rate than broadcast outlets can replace them.
The shift matters now because national advertising spend has moved online faster than expected, with Perth agencies reporting a 40 percent drop in traditional radio bookings since January. Local employers are racing to fill gaps in streaming production and data analytics before the next financial year budget cycle locks in.
Northbridge and Leederville see hiring spike
RTRFM 92.1 in Northbridge has added four new digital producers since March, while a smaller operator launched last month from a converted warehouse on Oxford Street in Leederville. Both sites now list positions for podcast editors and audience analysts on Seek, with starting salaries listed between $78,000 and $92,000. Several graduates from Edith Cowan University’s media program in Mount Lawley have already taken those roles rather than applying to commercial stations in East Perth.
Industry data released this week by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation shows Perth accounted for 18 percent of all new online radio job postings nationally in the second quarter. The same report recorded a 12 percent decline in conventional radio vacancies in the same period.
Companies still hiring should post roles by the end of July if they want to compete for talent before university placements begin in August. Workers with basic audio editing skills are advised to update profiles on LinkedIn with streaming platform experience before the next round of agency tenders closes in September.