Canberra has a thriving job market

Ready for a bright, industrious future? Canberra is ready for you, too. With the lowest unemployment rate in the country , the highest average income and steady job growth, this is the city to find your future.

Canberra’s economy is one of the most resilient in the nation, and it’s underpinned by a diverse employment market where two out of every three jobs are in the private sector. This is a city where tertiary institutions, industry and government work closely together, creating opportunities for graduates across fields like science, research, education, health, business, politics and the arts.

Whether shaping policy at Parliament House, joining an innovative startup or building a creative career at the National Gallery of Australia, Canberra gives you countless ways to grow your skills and experience.

While studying at ANU, you will also be preparing for success in the professional world. In fact, graduates from ANU are the most employable graduates from all Australian universities.

Low crime rates for your peace of mind

Crime rates in Canberra are super low. You’re more likely to find a Canberran taking a 5am sunrise walk around Lake Burley Griffin with a coffee, or at a Canberra Raiders game at GIO Stadium.

Canberra is officially Australia's #1 safest city, with a crime index rating of 26 out of 100. That places it as the 49th safest city in the world.

This ranking comes from Compare the Market Australia, which analysed 6 years of public data from Numbeo’s crime index. The index draws on people’s perceptions of safety, including how secure they feel walking at night and concerns about property or violent crime.

Studying and living in a safe, supportive environment makes all the difference when you’re a student. It means you can focus on thriving and learning without worry and put your energy towards the right things.

Cultural institutions around every corner

In Canberra, you can peruse work by some of the world’s most renowned artists, read from Australia’s largest library, participate in interactive science experiments and stroll through more than one million tulips each spring.

What makes it different here is how close all of this feels. The big institutions that shape Australia aren’t tucked away – they’re part of everyday life.

You might head to a lecture in the morning, stop by an exhibition in the afternoon and still make it to the lake for sunset. This mix of national significance and everyday ease gives Canberra its character.

We are inclusive, diverse and proud

Canberra has always leaned into progress. It was the first place in Australia to legislate marriage equality, and the first city to mark Reconciliation Day – a public holiday that recognises the 1967 Referendum and the beginning of National Reconciliation Week.

That same spirit runs through daily life in the city. More than a quarter of the people living in Canberra were born overseas and thousands of international students from more than 100 countries arrive each year.

The result is a city that feels global in its outlook yet grounded in community. You see it in the embassies that line the streets, the crowds that gather for the annual Multicultural Festival and how national politics plays out on our doorstep.

What safety means for students

For students, Canberra has an ease that takes the stress out of daily life. Getting to and from class is simple, public transport is reliable and the city is designed to make moving around straightforward.

You can spend the morning studying on campus, wander into the city for lunch with friends then head out to explore on the weekend without worrying.

That sense of security sits quietly in the background, giving you the space to focus on study, friendships and all the small moments that make uni life feel amazing.