{"id":44602,"date":"2026-06-08T09:22:31","date_gmt":"2026-06-07T23:22:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/digitalnomadshq.com.au\/?page_id=44602"},"modified":"2026-06-08T11:00:51","modified_gmt":"2026-06-08T01:00:51","slug":"australian-search","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/digitalnomadshq.com.au\/research\/australian-search\/","title":{"rendered":"National Search Demand"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"44602\" class=\"elementor elementor-44602\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fa0636e e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"fa0636e\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e18d4d8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"e18d4d8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<!DOCTYPE html>\n<html lang=\"en-AU\">\n<head>\n  <meta charset=\"UTF-8\">\n  <meta name=\"viewport\" content=\"width=device-width, initial-scale=1\">\n  <meta name=\"description\" content=\"Across six Australian markets and 21 industries, local-service search demand peaked in early 2025, then fell 38% in 2026 \u2014 every single market declined. The national roll-up.\">\n  <link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/digitalnomadshq.com.au\/research\/australian-search\/\">\n  <meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\">\n  <meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_AU\">\n  <meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"DNHQ\">\n  <meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/digitalnomadshq.com.au\/research\/australian-search\/\">\n  <meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Australian local-service search demand fell 38% in 2026\">\n  <meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Six markets, 21 industries, 28 months. Demand peaked early 2025 then fell 38% \u2014 all six markets down. The national search-demand roll-up.\">\n  <meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\">\n  <meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"Australian local-service search demand fell 38% in 2026\">\n  <meta name=\"twitter:description\" content=\"Six markets, 21 industries: demand peaked early 2025, then fell 38% \u2014 every market down together.\">\n\n  <link rel=\"preconnect\" href=\"https:\/\/fonts.googleapis.com\">\n  <link rel=\"preconnect\" href=\"https:\/\/fonts.gstatic.com\" crossorigin>\n  <link rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"https:\/\/fonts.googleapis.com\/css2?family=Barlow+Condensed:wght@400;500;600;700;800&family=Inter+Tight:wght@400;500;600;700&display=swap\">\n\n  <style>\n\/* ============================================================\n * AUSTRALIAN SEARCH DEMAND \u2014 NATIONAL ROLL-UP, 2026\n * All styles scoped under `.dn-scope`. Self-contained file.\n * Design mirrors the State of AI Search report for consistency:\n * same tokens, typography scales, and TOC pattern.\n * ============================================================ *\/\n\n\/* \u2500\u2500\u2500 Brand tokens \u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500 *\/\n:root {\n  --dn-ink: #002A45;\n  --dn-paper: #F7F5F0;\n  --dn-paper-warm: #E5E0D5;\n  --dn-muted: #6B7785;\n  --dn-rule: rgba(0, 42, 69, 0.12);\n  --dn-rule-soft: rgba(0, 42, 69, 0.06);\n  --dn-blue: #86A4EF;\n  --dn-blue-dark: #6985BA;\n  --dn-yellow: #FDE39C;\n  --dn-yellow-dark: #F5C238;\n  --dn-green: #CDFFB6;\n  --dn-green-dark: #87D259;\n  --dn-red: #F78E8D;\n  --dn-red-text: #D9645F;\n  --dn-display: \"Barlow Condensed\", \"Oswald\", \"Arial Narrow\", sans-serif;\n  --dn-ui: \"Inter Tight\", \"Inter\", system-ui, -apple-system, \"Segoe UI\", sans-serif;\n}\n\n\/* \u2500\u2500\u2500 Reset (scoped) \u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500 *\/\n.dn-scope, .dn-scope * { box-sizing: border-box; }\n.dn-scope {\n  -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;\n  -moz-osx-font-smoothing: grayscale;\n  overflow-x: clip;\n  font-family: var(--dn-ui);\n  color: var(--dn-ink);\n  background: var(--dn-paper);\n  min-height: 100vh;\n  font-size: 16px;\n  line-height: 1.5;\n}\n.dn-scope p, .dn-scope li { overflow-wrap: break-word; word-wrap: break-word; }\n.dn-scope ul, .dn-scope ol { margin: 0; padding: 0; }\n.dn-scope li { list-style: none; }\n.dn-scope a { color: var(--dn-ink); text-decoration: underline; }\n\n\/* Host-page table reset *\/\n.dn-scope table, .dn-scope thead, .dn-scope tbody, .dn-scope tr,\n.dn-scope th, .dn-scope td {\n  background: transparent !important;\n  border: none !important;\n  margin: 0;\n}\n.dn-scope table { border-collapse: collapse !important; border-spacing: 0 !important; }\n.dn-scope tr:nth-child(even), .dn-scope tr:nth-child(odd) { background: transparent !important; }\n\n\/* \u2500\u2500\u2500 Container \u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500 *\/\n.dn-scope .container {\n  max-width: 1180px;\n  margin: 0 auto;\n  padding-left: 20px;\n  padding-right: 20px;\n}\n@media (min-width: 640px) {\n  .dn-scope .container { padding-left: 32px; padding-right: 32px; }\n}\n\n\/* \u2500\u2500\u2500 Descriptor (eyebrow) \u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500 *\/\n.dn-scope p.dn-descriptor,\n.dn-scope .dn-section p.dn-descriptor {\n  display: inline-flex;\n  align-items: center;\n  gap: 8px;\n  font-family: var(--dn-ui);\n  font-size: 11px;\n  font-weight: 700;\n  letter-spacing: 0.18em;\n  text-transform: uppercase;\n  color: var(--dn-ink);\n  margin: 0;\n  line-height: 1.4;\n  max-width: none;\n}\n.dn-scope .dn-descriptor .dot { display: none; }\n\n\/* \u2500\u2500\u2500 Breadcrumb \u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500 *\/\n.dn-scope .dn-breadcrumb {\n  padding-top: 80px;\n  padding-bottom: 24px;\n  font-family: var(--dn-ui);\n  font-size: 13px;\n  letter-spacing: 0.04em;\n  color: var(--dn-muted);\n  display: flex;\n  align-items: center;\n  gap: 8px;\n}\n.dn-scope .dn-breadcrumb a {\n  color: var(--dn-muted);\n  text-decoration: none;\n  transition: color 0.15s;\n}\n.dn-scope .dn-breadcrumb a:hover { color: var(--dn-ink); }\n.dn-scope .dn-breadcrumb-sep { color: var(--dn-muted); opacity: 0.5; }\n.dn-scope .dn-breadcrumb-current { color: var(--dn-ink); font-weight: 600; }\n\n\/* \u2500\u2500\u2500 Hero \u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500 *\/\n.dn-scope .dn-page-hero {\n  padding-top: 32px;\n  padding-bottom: 48px;\n  max-width: 880px;\n}\n.dn-scope .dn-page-title {\n  font-family: var(--dn-display);\n  font-size: clamp(36px, 5vw, 60px);\n  font-weight: 700;\n  line-height: 1.02;\n  letter-spacing: -0.02em;\n  text-transform: uppercase;\n  color: var(--dn-ink);\n  margin: 20px 0 0;\n  text-wrap: balance;\n}\n.dn-scope .dn-page-lede {\n  font-family: var(--dn-ui);\n  font-size: clamp(17px, 1.6vw, 20px);\n  line-height: 1.5;\n  font-weight: 400;\n  color: rgba(0, 42, 69, 0.8);\n  margin: 24px 0 0;\n  max-width: 720px;\n  text-wrap: balance;\n}\n\n\/* \u2500\u2500\u2500 Body layout, TOC sidebar + content \u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500 *\/\n.dn-scope .dn-body-grid {\n  display: grid;\n  gap: 32px;\n  grid-template-columns: 1fr;\n  padding-bottom: 64px;\n}\n.dn-scope .dn-body-grid > * { min-width: 0; }\n@media (min-width: 1024px) {\n  .dn-scope .dn-body-grid {\n    grid-template-columns: 220px 1fr;\n    gap: 48px;\n  }\n}\n\n\/* \u2500\u2500\u2500 TOC sidebar \u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500 *\/\n.dn-scope .dn-toc { display: none; }\n@media (min-width: 1024px) {\n  .dn-scope .dn-toc {\n    display: block;\n    position: sticky;\n    top: 24px;\n    align-self: start;\n    max-height: calc(100vh - 48px);\n    overflow-y: auto;\n    padding-right: 8px;\n    padding-top: 100px;\n  }\n}\n.dn-scope .dn-toc-label {\n  font-family: var(--dn-ui);\n  font-size: 12px;\n  font-weight: 600;\n  letter-spacing: 0.22em;\n  text-transform: uppercase;\n  color: var(--dn-muted);\n  margin: 0;\n}\n.dn-scope .dn-toc-list {\n  margin-top: 16px;\n  display: flex;\n  flex-direction: column;\n  gap: 4px;\n  border-left: 1px solid var(--dn-rule);\n  padding-left: 14px;\n}\n.dn-scope .dn-toc-item {\n  display: flex;\n  align-items: baseline;\n  gap: 8px;\n  font-family: var(--dn-ui);\n  font-size: 14px;\n  line-height: 1.35;\n  color: var(--dn-muted);\n  font-weight: 500;\n  text-decoration: none;\n  padding: 8px 0;\n  transition: color 0.15s, opacity 0.15s;\n}\n.dn-scope .dn-toc-item-n {\n  font-variant-numeric: tabular-nums;\n  font-weight: 600;\n  font-size: 11px;\n  color: var(--dn-muted);\n  letter-spacing: 0.04em;\n  flex-shrink: 0;\n  width: 18px;\n}\n.dn-scope .dn-toc-item:hover { color: var(--dn-ink); }\n.dn-scope .dn-toc-item.active,\n.dn-scope .dn-toc-item.active .dn-toc-item-n {\n  color: var(--dn-yellow-dark);\n  font-weight: 700;\n}\n\n\/* TOC mobile button + overlay *\/\n.dn-scope .dn-toc-mobile-btn {\n  display: flex;\n  align-items: center;\n  justify-content: space-between;\n  width: 100%;\n  padding: 14px 18px;\n  background: #FFFFFF;\n  border: 1px solid var(--dn-rule);\n  border-radius: 12px;\n  font-family: var(--dn-ui);\n  font-size: 14px;\n  font-weight: 600;\n  color: var(--dn-ink);\n  cursor: pointer;\n  margin-bottom: 24px;\n}\n@media (min-width: 1024px) { .dn-scope .dn-toc-mobile-btn { display: none; } }\n.dn-scope .dn-toc-mobile-btn:hover { background: var(--dn-paper); }\n.dn-scope .dn-toc-overlay {\n  display: none;\n  position: fixed;\n  inset: 0;\n  z-index: 999;\n  background: rgba(0, 42, 69, 0.94);\n  padding: 24px 20px;\n  overflow-y: auto;\n}\n.dn-scope .dn-toc-overlay[data-open] { display: block; }\n.dn-scope .dn-toc-overlay-close {\n  background: transparent;\n  border: 1px solid rgba(247,245,240,0.4);\n  color: var(--dn-paper);\n  padding: 8px 14px;\n  border-radius: 999px;\n  font-family: var(--dn-ui);\n  font-size: 13px;\n  font-weight: 600;\n  cursor: pointer;\n  margin-bottom: 24px;\n}\n.dn-scope .dn-toc-overlay a {\n  display: flex;\n  align-items: baseline;\n  gap: 10px;\n  padding: 12px 0;\n  border-bottom: 1px solid rgba(247,245,240,0.12);\n  color: var(--dn-paper);\n  text-decoration: none;\n  font-family: var(--dn-ui);\n  font-size: 15px;\n  font-weight: 500;\n}\n.dn-scope .dn-toc-overlay a .dn-toc-item-n { color: rgba(247,245,240,0.5); }\n\n\/* \u2500\u2500\u2500 Main content column \u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500 *\/\n.dn-scope .dn-content { max-width: 760px; }\n\n\/* \u2500\u2500\u2500 Generic section \u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500 *\/\n.dn-scope .dn-section {\n  padding-top: 56px;\n  padding-bottom: 16px;\n  scroll-margin-top: 24px;\n  border-top: 1px solid var(--dn-rule-soft);\n}\n.dn-scope .dn-section:first-of-type { border-top: none; padding-top: 8px; }\n@media (min-width: 1024px) {\n  .dn-scope .dn-section:first-of-type { padding-top: 80px; }\n}\n.dn-scope .dn-section-h {\n  font-family: var(--dn-display);\n  font-size: clamp(26px, 3.2vw, 38px);\n  font-weight: 700;\n  line-height: 1.05;\n  letter-spacing: -0.015em;\n  text-transform: uppercase;\n  color: var(--dn-ink);\n  margin: 14px 0 24px;\n  text-wrap: balance;\n}\n.dn-scope .dn-section p {\n  font-family: var(--dn-ui);\n  font-size: 16px;\n  line-height: 1.65;\n  color: var(--dn-ink);\n  margin: 16px 0 0;\n}\n.dn-scope .dn-section p strong { color: var(--dn-ink); font-weight: 700; }\n.dn-scope .dn-section ul { margin: 16px 0 0; }\n.dn-scope .dn-section ul li {\n  font-family: var(--dn-ui);\n  font-size: 16px;\n  line-height: 1.6;\n  color: var(--dn-ink);\n  padding-left: 18px;\n  position: relative;\n  margin-top: 10px;\n}\n.dn-scope .dn-section ul li::before {\n  content: \"\";\n  position: absolute;\n  left: 0;\n  top: 0.65em;\n  width: 6px;\n  height: 6px;\n  background: var(--dn-yellow-dark);\n  border-radius: 1px;\n}\n\n\/* \u2500\u2500\u2500 Hero stat card \u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500 *\/\n.dn-scope .dn-stat-card {\n  margin-top: 28px;\n  background: linear-gradient(180deg, #FFFFFF 0%, var(--dn-paper) 100%);\n  border: 1px solid var(--dn-rule);\n  border-radius: 24px 0 24px 0;\n  padding: 32px 28px;\n  position: relative;\n  overflow: hidden;\n}\n@media (min-width: 640px) {\n  .dn-scope .dn-stat-card { padding: 44px 36px; }\n}\n.dn-scope .dn-stat-card::before {\n  content: \"\";\n  position: absolute;\n  inset: 0;\n  background: radial-gradient(circle at 100% 0%, rgba(245,194,56,0.10), transparent 55%);\n  pointer-events: none;\n}\n.dn-scope .dn-stat-card-main {\n  display: flex;\n  flex-direction: column;\n  align-items: flex-start;\n  gap: 4px;\n  position: relative;\n}\n.dn-scope .dn-section p.dn-stat-card-value,\n.dn-scope p.dn-stat-card-value {\n  font-family: var(--dn-display);\n  font-size: clamp(88px, 14vw, 156px);\n  font-weight: 800;\n  line-height: 0.9;\n  letter-spacing: -0.04em;\n  color: var(--dn-yellow-dark);\n  margin: 0;\n  font-variant-numeric: tabular-nums;\n  text-shadow: 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.02);\n  max-width: none;\n}\n.dn-scope .dn-section p.dn-stat-card-label,\n.dn-scope p.dn-stat-card-label {\n  font-family: var(--dn-ui);\n  font-size: clamp(15px, 1.4vw, 18px);\n  font-weight: 600;\n  line-height: 1.35;\n  color: var(--dn-ink);\n  margin: 12px 0 0;\n  max-width: 34ch;\n}\n.dn-scope .dn-stat-card-meta {\n  margin-top: 32px;\n  padding-top: 24px;\n  border-top: 1px solid var(--dn-rule);\n  display: grid;\n  grid-template-columns: repeat(2, minmax(0, 1fr));\n  gap: 18px 24px;\n  position: relative;\n}\n@media (min-width: 640px) {\n  .dn-scope .dn-stat-card-meta { grid-template-columns: repeat(4, minmax(0, 1fr)); }\n}\n.dn-scope .dn-stat-card-meta > div { display: flex; flex-direction: column; gap: 4px; }\n.dn-scope .dn-meta-label {\n  font-family: var(--dn-ui);\n  font-size: 10px;\n  font-weight: 700;\n  letter-spacing: 0.16em;\n  text-transform: uppercase;\n  color: var(--dn-muted);\n}\n.dn-scope .dn-meta-value {\n  font-family: var(--dn-display);\n  font-size: clamp(20px, 2vw, 26px);\n  font-weight: 800;\n  color: var(--dn-ink);\n  font-variant-numeric: tabular-nums;\n  letter-spacing: -0.01em;\n  line-height: 1;\n}\n\n\/* \u2500\u2500\u2500 Trend chart (inline SVG) \u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500 *\/\n.dn-scope .dn-trend {\n  margin-top: 24px;\n  padding: 20px 14px 16px;\n  background: #FFFFFF;\n  border: 1px solid var(--dn-rule-soft);\n  border-radius: 16px;\n}\n@media (min-width: 640px) { .dn-scope .dn-trend { padding: 28px 24px 20px; } }\n.dn-scope .dn-trend svg { width: 100%; height: auto; display: block; overflow: visible; }\n.dn-scope .dn-trend text { font-family: var(--dn-ui); }\n.dn-scope .dn-trend .axis { fill: var(--dn-muted); font-size: 11px; font-weight: 600; }\n.dn-scope .dn-trend .ann { fill: var(--dn-ink); font-size: 11px; font-weight: 700; }\n.dn-scope .dn-trend-cap {\n  margin-top: 14px;\n  font-family: var(--dn-ui);\n  font-size: 12px;\n  line-height: 1.5;\n  color: var(--dn-muted);\n}\n\n\/* \u2500\u2500\u2500 Two-row compare block \u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500 *\/\n.dn-scope .dn-md-block { margin-top: 24px; padding: 24px; background: #FFFFFF; border: 1px solid var(--dn-rule-soft); border-radius: 16px; display: grid; gap: 18px; }\n@media (min-width: 640px) { .dn-scope .dn-md-block { padding: 28px; } }\n.dn-scope .dn-md-row { display: grid; grid-template-columns: minmax(84px, auto) 1fr minmax(64px, auto); gap: 14px; align-items: center; }\n.dn-scope .dn-md-label { font-family: var(--dn-ui); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 600; color: var(--dn-ink); letter-spacing: 0.02em; }\n.dn-scope .dn-md-bar-wrap { height: 14px; background: var(--dn-rule-soft); border-radius: 7px; overflow: hidden; min-width: 0; }\n.dn-scope .dn-md-bar-fill { display: block; height: 100%; border-radius: 7px; }\n.dn-scope .dn-md-pct { font-family: var(--dn-display); font-size: clamp(22px, 2.6vw, 28px); font-weight: 800; color: var(--dn-yellow-dark); text-align: right; font-variant-numeric: tabular-nums; letter-spacing: -0.02em; line-height: 1; white-space: nowrap; }\n\n\/* \u2500\u2500\u2500 Data table \u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500 *\/\n.dn-scope .dn-domain-table {\n  margin-top: 24px;\n  background: #FFFFFF;\n  border: 1px solid var(--dn-rule-soft);\n  border-radius: 16px;\n  overflow: hidden;\n}\n.dn-scope .dn-domain-table table { width: 100%; }\n.dn-scope .dn-domain-table thead th {\n  font-family: var(--dn-ui);\n  font-size: 10px;\n  font-weight: 700;\n  letter-spacing: 0.16em;\n  text-transform: uppercase;\n  color: var(--dn-muted);\n  padding: 16px 14px 10px;\n  text-align: left;\n}\n.dn-scope .dn-domain-table thead th.num { text-align: right; }\n.dn-scope .dn-domain-table tbody td {\n  padding: 12px 14px;\n  font-family: var(--dn-ui);\n  font-size: 14px;\n  color: var(--dn-ink);\n  border-bottom: 1px solid var(--dn-rule-soft) !important;\n}\n.dn-scope .dn-domain-table tbody tr:last-child td { border-bottom: none !important; }\n.dn-scope .dn-domain-table tbody td.num { text-align: right; font-variant-numeric: tabular-nums; }\n.dn-scope .dn-domain-table tbody td.strong { font-weight: 700; }\n.dn-scope .dn-domain-table tbody td.up { color: var(--dn-green-dark); font-weight: 700; }\n.dn-scope .dn-domain-table tbody td.down { color: var(--dn-red-text); font-weight: 700; }\n.dn-scope .dn-domain-table.scrollx { overflow-x: auto; -webkit-overflow-scrolling: touch; }\n.dn-scope .dn-domain-table.scrollx table { min-width: 580px; }\n.dn-scope .dn-cap { margin-top: 12px; font-family: var(--dn-ui); font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5; color: var(--dn-muted); }\n.dn-scope .dn-domain-table thead tr.grp-row th { padding: 16px 14px 2px; text-align: center; font-size: 9px; letter-spacing: 0.14em; }\n.dn-scope .dn-domain-table thead tr.grp-row th:first-child { text-align: left; }\n.dn-scope .dn-domain-table thead tr.hdr-row th { padding: 2px 14px 10px; }\n\n\/* \u2500\u2500\u2500 Horizontal-bar chart block (CPC) \u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500 *\/\n.dn-scope .dn-pagetype-block { margin-top: 24px; padding: 24px; background: #FFFFFF; border: 1px solid var(--dn-rule-soft); border-radius: 16px; display: grid; gap: 13px; }\n@media (min-width: 640px) { .dn-scope .dn-pagetype-block { padding: 28px; } }\n.dn-scope .dn-pagetype-row { display: grid; grid-template-columns: minmax(104px, auto) 1fr minmax(56px, auto); gap: 14px; align-items: center; }\n.dn-scope .dn-pagetype-label { font-family: var(--dn-ui); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 600; color: var(--dn-ink); }\n.dn-scope .dn-pagetype-bar-wrap { height: 12px; background: var(--dn-rule-soft); border-radius: 6px; overflow: hidden; min-width: 0; }\n.dn-scope .dn-pagetype-bar-fill { display: block; height: 100%; border-radius: 6px; }\n.dn-scope .dn-pagetype-pct { font-family: var(--dn-display); font-size: clamp(18px, 2vw, 23px); font-weight: 800; color: var(--dn-ink); text-align: right; font-variant-numeric: tabular-nums; letter-spacing: -0.02em; line-height: 1; white-space: nowrap; }\n.dn-scope .dn-chart-legend { display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; gap: 10px 18px; margin-top: 16px; }\n.dn-scope .dn-chart-legend-item { display: inline-flex; align-items: center; gap: 6px; font-family: var(--dn-ui); font-size: 12px; font-weight: 600; color: var(--dn-muted); }\n.dn-scope .dn-chart-legend-item .sw { width: 11px; height: 11px; border-radius: 2px; flex-shrink: 0; display: inline-block; }\n\n\/* \u2500\u2500\u2500 Actions list \u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500 *\/\n.dn-scope .dn-actions { margin-top: 24px; counter-reset: action; }\n.dn-scope .dn-actions li {\n  counter-increment: action;\n  position: relative;\n  padding: 20px 22px 20px 64px;\n  margin-top: 12px;\n  background: #FFFFFF;\n  border: 1px solid var(--dn-rule-soft);\n  border-radius: 12px;\n  font-family: var(--dn-ui);\n  font-size: 15px;\n  line-height: 1.6;\n  color: var(--dn-ink);\n}\n.dn-scope .dn-actions li::before {\n  content: counter(action);\n  position: absolute;\n  left: 22px;\n  top: 18px;\n  font-family: var(--dn-display);\n  font-size: 32px;\n  font-weight: 800;\n  color: var(--dn-yellow-dark);\n  line-height: 1;\n  width: 30px;\n  text-align: center;\n  letter-spacing: -0.02em;\n}\n\n\/* \u2500\u2500\u2500 Page CTA \u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500 *\/\n.dn-scope .dn-page-cta { padding-top: 64px; padding-bottom: 64px; margin-top: 24px; border-top: 1px solid var(--dn-rule); }\n.dn-scope .dn-page-cta-buttons { margin-top: 24px; display: flex; gap: 12px; flex-wrap: wrap; }\n.dn-scope .dn-cta-btn {\n  display: inline-flex;\n  align-items: center;\n  gap: 8px;\n  padding: 14px 24px;\n  font-family: var(--dn-ui);\n  font-size: 14px;\n  font-weight: 700;\n  letter-spacing: 0.04em;\n  text-transform: uppercase;\n  border-radius: 16px;\n  text-decoration: none;\n  transition: opacity 0.15s, transform 0.15s;\n}\n.dn-scope .dn-cta-btn--primary { background: var(--dn-ink); color: var(--dn-paper); }\n.dn-scope .dn-cta-btn--outline { background: transparent; color: var(--dn-ink); border: 1px solid var(--dn-ink); }\n.dn-scope .dn-cta-btn:hover { opacity: 0.9; }\n.dn-scope .dn-arrow-icon {\n  display: inline-block;\n  width: 1em; height: 0.7em;\n  vertical-align: middle;\n  margin: 0 0.1em;\n  background-color: currentColor;\n  -webkit-mask: url('https:\/\/digitalnomadshq.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/arrow.svg') no-repeat center \/ contain;\n  mask: url('https:\/\/digitalnomadshq.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/arrow.svg') no-repeat center \/ contain;\n  flex-shrink: 0;\n}\n\n\/* \u2500\u2500\u2500 Footer \u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500 *\/\n.dn-scope .dn-footer { background: var(--dn-paper-warm); padding: 32px 0; margin-top: 48px; }\n.dn-scope .dn-footer p { font-family: var(--dn-ui); font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.55; color: var(--dn-muted); margin: 0; max-width: 880px; }\n.dn-scope .dn-footer a { color: var(--dn-muted); text-decoration: underline; }\n\n<\/style>\n\n  <script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n  \"@graph\": [\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Dataset\",\n      \"name\": \"The State of Australian Search Demand (2026) | DNHQ Research\",\n      \"description\": \"Across six Australian markets and 21 industries, local-service search demand peaked in early 2025, then fell 38% in 2026 \\u2014 every single market declined. The national roll-up.\",\n      \"url\": \"https:\/\/digitalnomadshq.com.au\/research\/australian-search\/\",\n      \"creator\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n        \"name\": \"Digital Nomads HQ\",\n        \"url\": \"https:\/\/digitalnomadshq.com.au\/\"\n      },\n      \"temporalCoverage\": \"2024-01\/2026-04\",\n      \"measurementTechnique\": \"Google Keyword Planner search volume and top-of-page CPC via DataForSEO\",\n      \"variableMeasured\": [\n        \"Monthly local-service search volume\",\n        \"Top-of-page cost-per-click (AUD)\"\n      ],\n      \"isAccessibleForFree\": true\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Article\",\n      \"headline\": \"Australian search demand peaked in 2025, then fell 38% across every market\",\n      \"description\": \"Across six Australian markets and 21 industries, local-service search demand peaked in early 2025, then fell 38% in 2026 \\u2014 every single market declined. The national roll-up.\",\n      \"mainEntityOfPage\": \"https:\/\/digitalnomadshq.com.au\/research\/australian-search\/\",\n      \"author\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n        \"name\": \"Digital Nomads HQ\",\n        \"url\": \"https:\/\/digitalnomadshq.com.au\/\"\n      },\n      \"publisher\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n        \"name\": \"Digital Nomads HQ\"\n      },\n      \"datePublished\": \"2026-05-01\"\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"BreadcrumbList\",\n      \"itemListElement\": [\n        {\n          \"@type\": \"ListItem\",\n          \"position\": 1,\n          \"name\": \"DNHQ Research\",\n          \"item\": \"https:\/\/digitalnomadshq.com.au\/research\/\"\n        },\n        {\n          \"@type\": \"ListItem\",\n          \"position\": 2,\n          \"name\": \"Australia (national)\",\n          \"item\": \"https:\/\/digitalnomadshq.com.au\/research\/australian-search\/\"\n        }\n      ]\n    }\n  ]\n}\n  <\/script>\n<\/head>\n<body>\n<div class=\"dn-scope\">\n\n  <nav class=\"container dn-breadcrumb\" aria-label=\"Breadcrumb\">\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/digitalnomadshq.com.au\/research\/\">DNHQ Research<\/a>\n    <span class=\"dn-breadcrumb-sep\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\u203a<\/span>\n    <span class=\"dn-breadcrumb-current\">Australian Search Demand<\/span>\n  <\/nav>\n\n  <header class=\"container dn-page-hero\">\n    <p class=\"dn-descriptor\"><span class=\"dot\"><\/span>DNHQ Research \u00b7 National demand roll-up \u00b7 May 2026<\/p>\n    <h1 class=\"dn-page-title\">Australian search demand peaked in 2025, then fell 38% across every market<\/h1>\n    <p class=\"dn-page-lede\">Across six markets and 21 industries, local-service search demand built through 2024, peaked in early 2025, then fell 38% in 2026, and not one market escaped. We tracked it month by month from January 2024 to April 2026. This is the national picture, and why it lines up so precisely with the arrival of AI search.<\/p>\n  <\/header>\n\n  <div class=\"container dn-body-grid\">\n    <nav class=\"dn-toc\" aria-label=\"On this page\">\n      <p class=\"dn-toc-label\">On this page<\/p>\n      <ol class=\"dn-toc-list\">\n        <li><a class=\"dn-toc-item\" href=\"#headline\" data-toc=\"headline\"><span class=\"dn-toc-item-n\">01<\/span>The headline number<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a class=\"dn-toc-item\" href=\"#curve\" data-toc=\"curve\"><span class=\"dn-toc-item-n\">02<\/span>The national curve<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a class=\"dn-toc-item\" href=\"#bycity\" data-toc=\"bycity\"><span class=\"dn-toc-item-n\">03<\/span>Every market fell<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a class=\"dn-toc-item\" href=\"#byindustry\" data-toc=\"byindustry\"><span class=\"dn-toc-item-n\">04<\/span>Industries hit hardest<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a class=\"dn-toc-item\" href=\"#meaning\" data-toc=\"meaning\"><span class=\"dn-toc-item-n\">05<\/span>What it means<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a class=\"dn-toc-item\" href=\"#actions\" data-toc=\"actions\"><span class=\"dn-toc-item-n\">06<\/span>What to do about it<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a class=\"dn-toc-item\" href=\"#cta\" data-toc=\"cta\"><span class=\"dn-toc-item-n\">07<\/span>Methodology & more<\/a><\/li>\n      <\/ol>\n    <\/nav>\n    <div>\n      <button type=\"button\" class=\"dn-toc-mobile-btn\" id=\"toc-mobile-btn\"><span>Jump to section<\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\">\u25be<\/span><\/button>\n      <div class=\"dn-content\">\n\n        <section id=\"headline\" class=\"dn-section\">\n          <p class=\"dn-descriptor\"><span class=\"dot\"><\/span>01 \u00b7 The headline number<\/p>\n          <h2 class=\"dn-section-h\">Australian search demand fell 38% in 2026<\/h2>\n          <div class=\"dn-stat-card\">\n            <div class=\"dn-stat-card-main\">\n              <p class=\"dn-stat-card-value\">\u221238%<\/p>\n              <p class=\"dn-stat-card-label\">drop in local-service search demand across six Australian markets, Jan\u2013Apr 2026 vs 2025<\/p>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"dn-stat-card-meta\">\n              <div><span class=\"dn-meta-label\">Year before (24\u219225)<\/span><span class=\"dn-meta-value\">+25%<\/span><\/div>\n              <div><span class=\"dn-meta-label\">Net vs 2024<\/span><span class=\"dn-meta-value\">\u221223%<\/span><\/div>\n              <div><span class=\"dn-meta-label\">Markets measured<\/span><span class=\"dn-meta-value\">6<\/span><\/div>\n              <div><span class=\"dn-meta-label\">Markets that fell<\/span><span class=\"dn-meta-value\">6 of 6<\/span><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n          <\/div>\n          <p>We tracked more than 80 service keywords in each of six Australian markets, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and the Sunshine Coast, across 21 industries, month by month, from January 2024 to April 2026. This page rolls all of it up into one national picture.<\/p>\n          <p><strong>Demand surged, then collapsed.<\/strong> Across the six markets combined, search volume rose +25% from 2024 to 2025, peaked, then fell 38% in 2026, finishing about 23% below its early-2024 level. The same arc, up then sharply down, repeats in market after market.<\/p>\n          <p><strong>The most striking thing isn't the size of the fall, it's the uniformity.<\/strong> Every one of the six markets declined in 2026. Across all 123 market-and-industry combinations we measured, 120 fell. When demand drops by a third or more in the same twelve-month window across six independent geographies and almost every industry at once, it isn't local conditions, it's the search engine. The break coincides with Google's AI Overviews scaling across Australia, now appearing on roughly 38% of results nationally, absorbing the informational searches that used to be typed, repeated, and clicked.<\/p>\n        <\/section>\n\n        <section id=\"curve\" class=\"dn-section\">\n          <p class=\"dn-descriptor\"><span class=\"dot\"><\/span>02 \u00b7 The national curve<\/p>\n          <h2 class=\"dn-section-h\">One shape, six markets, repeated<\/h2>\n          <p>Total monthly search volume across all six markets and 21 industries, every month from January 2024 to April 2026. Demand climbed to a <strong>peak of about 791,930 searches in September 2025<\/strong>, then fell away through 2026 to around 345,160 by April.<\/p>\n          <div class=\"dn-trend\">\n            <svg viewBox=\"0 0 760 300\" role=\"img\" aria-label=\"Total monthly Australian local-service search volume, 2024-01 to 2026-04.\">\n              <line x1=\"44\" y1=\"250.0\" x2=\"744\" y2=\"250.0\" stroke=\"rgba(0,42,69,0.18)\" stroke-width=\"1\"\/>\n              <line x1=\"44\" y1=\"175.9\" x2=\"744\" y2=\"175.9\" stroke=\"rgba(0,42,69,0.07)\" stroke-width=\"1\"\/>\n              <line x1=\"44\" y1=\"101.8\" x2=\"744\" y2=\"101.8\" stroke=\"rgba(0,42,69,0.07)\" stroke-width=\"1\"\/>\n              <line x1=\"44\" y1=\"27.8\" x2=\"744\" y2=\"27.8\" stroke=\"rgba(0,42,69,0.07)\" stroke-width=\"1\"\/>\n              <text class=\"axis\" x=\"38\" y=\"253.0\" text-anchor=\"end\">0<\/text>\n              <text class=\"axis\" x=\"38\" y=\"178.9\" text-anchor=\"end\">267k<\/text>\n              <text class=\"axis\" x=\"38\" y=\"104.8\" text-anchor=\"end\">533k<\/text>\n              <text class=\"axis\" x=\"38\" y=\"30.8\" text-anchor=\"end\">800k<\/text>\n              <path d=\"M44.0 94.5 L69.9 108.1 L95.9 104.1 L121.8 100.1 L147.7 100.5 L173.6 113.1 L199.6 108.4 L225.5 115.2 L251.4 120.6 L277.3 110.8 L303.3 119.6 L329.2 119.5 L355.1 87.3 L381.0 72.5 L407.0 34.5 L432.9 64.5 L458.8 88.3 L484.7 125.0 L510.7 124.3 L536.6 129.9 L562.5 30.0 L588.4 124.6 L614.4 156.2 L640.3 166.3 L666.2 138.3 L692.1 138.9 L718.1 109.7 L744.0 154.1 L744.0 250 L44.0 250 Z\" fill=\"#86A4EF\" fill-opacity=\"0.18\"\/>\n              <path d=\"M44.0 94.5 L69.9 108.1 L95.9 104.1 L121.8 100.1 L147.7 100.5 L173.6 113.1 L199.6 108.4 L225.5 115.2 L251.4 120.6 L277.3 110.8 L303.3 119.6 L329.2 119.5 L355.1 87.3 L381.0 72.5 L407.0 34.5 L432.9 64.5 L458.8 88.3 L484.7 125.0 L510.7 124.3 L536.6 129.9 L562.5 30.0 L588.4 124.6 L614.4 156.2 L640.3 166.3 L666.2 138.3 L692.1 138.9 L718.1 109.7 L744.0 154.1\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"#6985BA\" stroke-width=\"2.5\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-linecap=\"round\"\/>\n              <circle cx=\"562.5\" cy=\"30.0\" r=\"4\" fill=\"#F5C238\" stroke=\"#FFFFFF\" stroke-width=\"1.5\"\/>\n              <text class=\"ann\" x=\"562.5\" y=\"20.0\" text-anchor=\"middle\">Peak \u00b7 Sep &#8217;25 \u00b7 792k<\/text>\n              <circle cx=\"744\" cy=\"154.1\" r=\"4\" fill=\"#6985BA\" stroke=\"#FFFFFF\" stroke-width=\"1.5\"\/>\n              <text class=\"ann\" x=\"744\" y=\"146.1\" text-anchor=\"end\">Apr &#8217;26 \u00b7 345k<\/text>\n              <text class=\"axis\" x=\"44.0\" y=\"270\" text-anchor=\"start\">Jan &#8217;24<\/text>\n              <text class=\"axis\" x=\"355.1\" y=\"270\" text-anchor=\"middle\">Jan &#8217;25<\/text>\n              <text class=\"axis\" x=\"666.2\" y=\"270\" text-anchor=\"middle\">Jan &#8217;26<\/text>\n              <text class=\"axis\" x=\"744.0\" y=\"270\" text-anchor=\"end\">Apr &#8217;26<\/text>\n            <\/svg>\n            <p class=\"dn-trend-cap\">Total monthly search volume across six markets (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Sunshine Coast), 21 industries. Source: Google Keyword Planner via DataForSEO. Peak September 2025 \u2248 791,930\/mo; April 2026 \u2248 345,160\/mo.<\/p>\n          <\/div>\n          <p>This is a single, national-scale signal. Six metros that compete in different industries, at different sizes, with different seasonality, all trace the same line: a build through 2024, a peak in early-to-mid 2025, and a steep, sustained decline through 2026.<\/p>\n        <\/section>\n\n        <section id=\"bycity\" class=\"dn-section\">\n          <p class=\"dn-descriptor\"><span class=\"dot\"><\/span>03 \u00b7 Every market fell<\/p>\n          <h2 class=\"dn-section-h\">Not one market bucked the trend<\/h2>\n          <p>Here is each market's total monthly search demand (summed across all tracked categories) for 2024, 2025 and 2026, with the 2026 change and the net move on 2024. Every row is red in 2026.<\/p>\n          <div class=\"dn-domain-table scrollx\">\n            <table>\n              <thead>\n                <tr class=\"grp-row\"><th><\/th><th colspan=\"3\">Avg monthly searches (all categories)<\/th><th colspan=\"2\">Change<\/th><\/tr>\n                <tr class=\"hdr-row\"><th>Market<\/th><th class=\"num\">2024<\/th><th class=\"num\">2025<\/th><th class=\"num\">2026<\/th><th class=\"num\">2025 &#8594; 2026<\/th><th class=\"num\">Net vs 2024<\/th><\/tr>\n              <\/thead>\n              <tbody>\n                <tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/digitalnomadshq.com.au\/research\/sydney-search\/\">Sydney<\/a><\/td><td class=\"num\">126,845<\/td><td class=\"num\">148,868<\/td><td class=\"num strong\">93,979<\/td><td class=\"num down\">\u221237%<\/td><td class=\"num down\">\u221226%<\/td><\/tr>\n                <tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/digitalnomadshq.com.au\/research\/melbourne-search\/\">Melbourne<\/a><\/td><td class=\"num\">105,220<\/td><td class=\"num\">137,829<\/td><td class=\"num strong\">83,721<\/td><td class=\"num down\">\u221239%<\/td><td class=\"num down\">\u221220%<\/td><\/tr>\n                <tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/digitalnomadshq.com.au\/research\/perth-search\/\">Perth<\/a><\/td><td class=\"num\">96,741<\/td><td class=\"num\">124,357<\/td><td class=\"num strong\">78,932<\/td><td class=\"num down\">\u221237%<\/td><td class=\"num down\">\u221218%<\/td><\/tr>\n                <tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/digitalnomadshq.com.au\/research\/brisbane-search\/\">Brisbane<\/a><\/td><td class=\"num\">95,854<\/td><td class=\"num\">128,845<\/td><td class=\"num strong\">75,241<\/td><td class=\"num down\">\u221242%<\/td><td class=\"num down\">\u221222%<\/td><\/tr>\n                <tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/digitalnomadshq.com.au\/research\/adelaide-search\/\">Adelaide<\/a><\/td><td class=\"num\">66,836<\/td><td class=\"num\">83,812<\/td><td class=\"num strong\">57,068<\/td><td class=\"num down\">\u221232%<\/td><td class=\"num down\">\u221215%<\/td><\/tr>\n                <tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/digitalnomadshq.com.au\/research\/sunshine-coast-search\/\">Sunshine Coast<\/a><\/td><td class=\"num\">42,414<\/td><td class=\"num\">43,317<\/td><td class=\"num strong\">24,176<\/td><td class=\"num down\">\u221244%<\/td><td class=\"num down\">\u221243%<\/td><\/tr>\n              <\/tbody>\n            <\/table>\n          <\/div>\n          <p><strong>The eastern capitals fell hardest on a net basis<\/strong>, Sydney (\u221226%) and Brisbane (\u221222%) lead the decline since 2024, while the smaller markets, Adelaide and the Sunshine Coast, were more mixed: Adelaide's drop was the mildest of the capitals, but the Sunshine Coast fell furthest of all once its 2024 property-search boom unwound. The direction, though, never changes. All six are down.<\/p>\n        <\/section>\n\n        <section id=\"byindustry\" class=\"dn-section\">\n          <p class=\"dn-descriptor\"><span class=\"dot\"><\/span>04 \u00b7 The industries hit hardest<\/p>\n          <h2 class=\"dn-section-h\">Where the demand went, by industry<\/h2>\n          <p>The same 21 industries, totalled across all six markets. Pest Control, Lawyers and Web Design are the biggest local-service search categories in the country; the 2026 column shows how broadly the decline reached.<\/p>\n          <div class=\"dn-domain-table scrollx\">\n            <table>\n              <thead>\n                <tr class=\"grp-row\"><th><\/th><th colspan=\"3\">Avg monthly searches (6 markets)<\/th><th><\/th><\/tr>\n                <tr class=\"hdr-row\"><th>Industry<\/th><th class=\"num\">2024<\/th><th class=\"num\">2025<\/th><th class=\"num\">2026<\/th><th class=\"num\">2025 &#8594; 2026<\/th><\/tr>\n              <\/thead>\n              <tbody>\n                <tr><td>Pest Control<\/td><td class=\"num\">76,754<\/td><td class=\"num\">77,152<\/td><td class=\"num strong\">57,397<\/td><td class=\"num down\">\u221226%<\/td><\/tr>\n                <tr><td>Lawyers<\/td><td class=\"num\">56,661<\/td><td class=\"num\">92,636<\/td><td class=\"num strong\">40,822<\/td><td class=\"num down\">\u221256%<\/td><\/tr>\n                <tr><td>Web Design<\/td><td class=\"num\">38,394<\/td><td class=\"num\">61,476<\/td><td class=\"num strong\">36,775<\/td><td class=\"num down\">\u221240%<\/td><\/tr>\n                <tr><td>Cleaning Services<\/td><td class=\"num\">50,205<\/td><td class=\"num\">62,367<\/td><td class=\"num strong\">36,206<\/td><td class=\"num down\">\u221242%<\/td><\/tr>\n                <tr><td>Mortgage Brokers<\/td><td class=\"num\">53,928<\/td><td class=\"num\">64,324<\/td><td class=\"num strong\">33,847<\/td><td class=\"num down\">\u221247%<\/td><\/tr>\n                <tr><td>Plumbers<\/td><td class=\"num\">34,522<\/td><td class=\"num\">42,554<\/td><td class=\"num strong\">31,347<\/td><td class=\"num down\">\u221226%<\/td><\/tr>\n                <tr><td>Painters<\/td><td class=\"num\">24,949<\/td><td class=\"num\">30,454<\/td><td class=\"num strong\">20,076<\/td><td class=\"num down\">\u221234%<\/td><\/tr>\n                <tr><td>Real Estate<\/td><td class=\"num\">32,350<\/td><td class=\"num\">30,350<\/td><td class=\"num strong\">19,560<\/td><td class=\"num down\">\u221236%<\/td><\/tr>\n                <tr><td>Electricians<\/td><td class=\"num\">16,779<\/td><td class=\"num\">26,756<\/td><td class=\"num strong\">18,147<\/td><td class=\"num down\">\u221232%<\/td><\/tr>\n                <tr><td>Pilates<\/td><td class=\"num\">22,366<\/td><td class=\"num\">26,697<\/td><td class=\"num strong\">18,053<\/td><td class=\"num down\">\u221232%<\/td><\/tr>\n                <tr><td>SEO Agency<\/td><td class=\"num\">10,161<\/td><td class=\"num\">24,323<\/td><td class=\"num strong\">15,872<\/td><td class=\"num down\">\u221235%<\/td><\/tr>\n                <tr><td>Accountants<\/td><td class=\"num\">20,286<\/td><td class=\"num\">23,923<\/td><td class=\"num strong\">15,300<\/td><td class=\"num down\">\u221236%<\/td><\/tr>\n                <tr><td>Vets<\/td><td class=\"num\">25,375<\/td><td class=\"num\">20,870<\/td><td class=\"num strong\">14,698<\/td><td class=\"num down\">\u221230%<\/td><\/tr>\n                <tr><td>Mechanics<\/td><td class=\"num\">17,045<\/td><td class=\"num\">19,304<\/td><td class=\"num strong\">14,115<\/td><td class=\"num down\">\u221227%<\/td><\/tr>\n                <tr><td>Yoga<\/td><td class=\"num\">19,997<\/td><td class=\"num\">17,852<\/td><td class=\"num strong\">10,874<\/td><td class=\"num down\">\u221239%<\/td><\/tr>\n                <tr><td>Buyers Agents<\/td><td class=\"num\">11,598<\/td><td class=\"num\">12,673<\/td><td class=\"num strong\">9,183<\/td><td class=\"num down\">\u221228%<\/td><\/tr>\n                <tr><td>Dentists<\/td><td class=\"num\">8,786<\/td><td class=\"num\">10,158<\/td><td class=\"num strong\">6,631<\/td><td class=\"num down\">\u221235%<\/td><\/tr>\n                <tr><td>Air Conditioning<\/td><td class=\"num\">6,279<\/td><td class=\"num\">8,496<\/td><td class=\"num strong\">5,711<\/td><td class=\"num down\">\u221233%<\/td><\/tr>\n                <tr><td>Digital Marketing<\/td><td class=\"num\">5,110<\/td><td class=\"num\">9,068<\/td><td class=\"num strong\">4,571<\/td><td class=\"num down\">\u221250%<\/td><\/tr>\n                <tr><td>Google Ads<\/td><td class=\"num\">1,787<\/td><td class=\"num\">4,043<\/td><td class=\"num strong\">3,179<\/td><td class=\"num down\">\u221221%<\/td><\/tr>\n                <tr><td>Paid Marketing<\/td><td class=\"num\">578<\/td><td class=\"num\">1,552<\/td><td class=\"num strong\">753<\/td><td class=\"num down\">\u221251%<\/td><\/tr>\n              <\/tbody>\n            <\/table>\n          <\/div>\n          <p>High-consideration, research-heavy categories, mortgage broking, law, accounting, the ones where an AI Overview can answer the opening question (\"how much can I borrow\", \"do I need a will\", \"what can I claim\") show some of the sharpest falls. The transactional, find-a-provider categories held up comparatively better, which is exactly the pattern the AI-search data predicts.<\/p>\n        <\/section>\n\n        <section id=\"meaning\" class=\"dn-section\">\n          <p class=\"dn-descriptor\"><span class=\"dot\"><\/span>05 \u00b7 What it means<\/p>\n          <h2 class=\"dn-section-h\">A platform shift, not a market cycle<\/h2>\n          <p>It's tempting to read a demand drop as a soft economy or a quiet patch. But economies don't cool by the same third, in the same months, in six different cities and twenty different industries simultaneously. That synchronisation is the fingerprint of a change at the platform level, and the platform changed: 2025\u201326 is when Google's AI Overviews went from experiment to default across Australian search.<\/p>\n          <p>The mechanism is straightforward. When the answer appears at the top of the page, a share of searches that once turned into a click, or into a second, more specific search, now end at the overview. Fewer queries are logged, so reported search volume falls, even if underlying intent hasn't. For businesses, the demand was never only about volume; it's about who captures the attention that remains. Increasingly, that's whoever the AI cites.<\/p>\n          <p><strong>Two honest caveats.<\/strong> Some of the fall is normalisation after an unusually strong 2025, and Google periodically revises its volume figures. We can't isolate those from the AI effect with volume data alone. But the matched-window method, the breadth across markets, and the timing all point the same way, and they line up precisely with our <em>State of AI Search<\/em> finding that AI Overviews now sit on roughly 38% of Australian results.<\/p>\n        <\/section>\n\n        <section id=\"actions\" class=\"dn-section\">\n          <p class=\"dn-descriptor\"><span class=\"dot\"><\/span>06 \u00b7 What to do about it<\/p>\n          <h2 class=\"dn-section-h\">Five takeaways, wherever you operate<\/h2>\n          <ol class=\"dn-actions\">\n            <li><strong>Re-baseline your demand assumptions.<\/strong> If your forecasts or SEO business cases were built on 2025 search volumes, they're now too high almost everywhere. Re-pull your category and market at least twice a year and plan against the trend, not a peak.<\/li>\n            <li><strong>Make AI-answer visibility a tracked metric.<\/strong> Classic rank tracking no longer captures what's happening above the organic results. Measure whether you're cited in AI Overviews for your key queries, in every market you serve, and treat that as the new page-one.<\/li>\n            <li><strong>Shift content from explainer to answer.<\/strong> The categories falling hardest are the research-heavy ones AI summarises best. Structure content as direct, citable answers with real numbers and local specifics, rather than long \"ultimate guide\" articles the AI simply absorbs.<\/li>\n            <li><strong>Double down on transactional and local intent.<\/strong> \"[service] [city\/suburb]\" queries are the most resilient surface in every market, the searches AI is least able to satisfy. They're where the clicks still live. It is the focus of our <a href=\"https:\/\/digitalnomadshq.com.au\/seo-agency\/\">SEO<\/a> work.<\/li>\n            <li><strong>Price paid search locally.<\/strong> Cost-per-click varies enormously by market and category, with no national rule of thumb that holds. Set bids and budgets off the figures for the specific market you're advertising in. It is how our team runs <a href=\"https:\/\/digitalnomadshq.com.au\/google-ads-management\/\">Google Ads management<\/a> for clients.<\/li>\n          <\/ol>\n        <\/section>\n\n        <section id=\"cta\" class=\"dn-page-cta\">\n          <p class=\"dn-descriptor\"><span class=\"dot\"><\/span>Methodology &amp; more<\/p>\n          <h2 class=\"dn-section-h\">How we built this, and where to go next<\/h2>\n          <p><strong>Method:<\/strong> monthly Google search volume for 80-plus geo-qualified service keywords in each of six markets (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Sunshine Coast) across 21 industries, January 2024 to April 2026, via Google Keyword Planner data (DataForSEO). Year-on-year figures compare matched January\u2013April windows; national figures sum the six markets. Volumes are reported in coarse buckets, so we lean on matched-window trends rather than single points. Per-market deep-dives are available for each city.<\/p>\n          <p>This roll-up is the companion to our <em>State of AI Search<\/em> work, the same six markets, viewed through what people search for rather than what the results page now looks like.<\/p>\n          <div class=\"dn-page-cta-buttons\">\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/digitalnomadshq.com.au\/state-of-ai-search\/\" class=\"dn-cta-btn dn-cta-btn--primary\">Read the AI search study <span class=\"dn-arrow-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><\/a>\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/digitalnomadshq.com.au\/aio-audit\/\" class=\"dn-cta-btn dn-cta-btn--outline\">Get a free AIO audit <span class=\"dn-arrow-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><\/a>\n          <\/div>\n          <div class=\"dn-related-research\" style=\"margin-top:30px;padding-top:22px;border-top:1px solid #e5e7eb;font-size:15px;line-height:1.75;\">\n            <p style=\"margin:0 0 8px;font-weight:700;\">Read the city deep-dives<\/p>\n            <p style=\"margin:0;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/digitalnomadshq.com.au\/research\/sydney-search\/\">Sydney<\/a> &middot; <a href=\"https:\/\/digitalnomadshq.com.au\/research\/melbourne-search\/\">Melbourne<\/a> &middot; <a href=\"https:\/\/digitalnomadshq.com.au\/research\/brisbane-search\/\">Brisbane<\/a> &middot; <a href=\"https:\/\/digitalnomadshq.com.au\/research\/perth-search\/\">Perth<\/a> &middot; <a href=\"https:\/\/digitalnomadshq.com.au\/research\/adelaide-search\/\">Adelaide<\/a> &middot; <a href=\"https:\/\/digitalnomadshq.com.au\/research\/sunshine-coast-search\/\">Sunshine Coast<\/a><\/p>\n          <\/div>\n        <\/section>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"dn-toc-overlay\" id=\"toc-overlay\" role=\"dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\">\n    <button type=\"button\" class=\"dn-toc-overlay-close\" id=\"toc-overlay-close\">Close \u2715<\/button>\n    <a href=\"#headline\"><span class=\"dn-toc-item-n\">01<\/span>The headline number<\/a>\n    <a href=\"#curve\"><span class=\"dn-toc-item-n\">02<\/span>The national curve<\/a>\n    <a href=\"#bycity\"><span class=\"dn-toc-item-n\">03<\/span>Every market fell<\/a>\n    <a href=\"#byindustry\"><span class=\"dn-toc-item-n\">04<\/span>Industries hit hardest<\/a>\n    <a href=\"#meaning\"><span class=\"dn-toc-item-n\">05<\/span>What it means<\/a>\n    <a href=\"#actions\"><span class=\"dn-toc-item-n\">06<\/span>What to do about it<\/a>\n    <a href=\"#cta\"><span class=\"dn-toc-item-n\">07<\/span>Methodology & more<\/a>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <footer class=\"dn-footer\">\n    <div class=\"container\">\n      <p>\u00a9 2026 DNHQ. All rights reserved. <em>The State of AI Search for Australian SMEs, 2026<\/em> and its underlying datasets are the proprietary intellectual property of DNHQ Pty Ltd. Search-volume and cost data sourced from Google Keyword Planner via DataForSEO. Brief quotation permitted with attribution; reproduction or redistribution without prior written consent prohibited. Press &amp; licensing: <a href=\"mailto:research@dnhq.com.au\">research@dnhq.com.au<\/a>.<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/footer>\n<\/div>\n<script>\n(function(){\n  var btn = document.getElementById('toc-mobile-btn');\n  var overlay = document.getElementById('toc-overlay');\n  var close = document.getElementById('toc-overlay-close');\n  if (btn && overlay) {\n    btn.addEventListener('click', function(){ overlay.setAttribute('data-open',''); document.body.style.overflow = 'hidden'; });\n  }\n  if (close && overlay) {\n    close.addEventListener('click', function(){ overlay.removeAttribute('data-open'); document.body.style.overflow = ''; });\n  }\n  if (overlay) {\n    overlay.querySelectorAll('a').forEach(function(a){\n      a.addEventListener('click', function(){ overlay.removeAttribute('data-open'); document.body.style.overflow = ''; });\n    });\n  }\n  var sections = document.querySelectorAll('section[id]');\n  if (sections.length && 'IntersectionObserver' in window) {\n    var obs = new IntersectionObserver(function(entries){\n      var visible = entries.filter(function(e){ return e.isIntersecting; });\n      if (!visible.length) return;\n      visible.sort(function(a,b){ return a.boundingClientRect.top - b.boundingClientRect.top; });\n      var id = visible[0].target.getAttribute('id');\n      document.querySelectorAll('.dn-toc-item.active').forEach(function(el){ el.classList.remove('active'); });\n      var link = document.querySelector('[data-toc=\"' + id + '\"]');\n      if (link) link.classList.add('active');\n    }, { rootMargin: '-20% 0px -60% 0px', threshold: 0 });\n    sections.forEach(function(s){ obs.observe(s); });\n  }\n})();\n<\/script>\n<\/body>\n<\/html>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>DNHQ Research \u203a Australian Search Demand DNHQ Research \u00b7 National demand roll-up \u00b7 May 2026 Australian search demand peaked in 2025, then fell 38% across every market Across six markets and 21 industries, local-service search demand built through 2024, peaked in early 2025, then fell 38% in 2026, and not one market escaped. We tracked [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":44608,"parent":44537,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_header_footer","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-44602","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/digitalnomadshq.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/44602","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/digitalnomadshq.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/digitalnomadshq.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/digitalnomadshq.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/digitalnomadshq.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44602"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/digitalnomadshq.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/44602\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":44690,"href":"https:\/\/digitalnomadshq.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/44602\/revisions\/44690"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/digitalnomadshq.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/44537"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/digitalnomadshq.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/44608"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/digitalnomadshq.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44602"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}