Job ads on rise

While SEEK’s job advertisement figures double and triple count ads, they at least show there’s life in the employment market. That means it’s time to sharpen up that resume and start targeting new positions.

Data to be released today by SEEK shows that in the two weeks to June 7, job ad numbers climbed by 60.6 per cent, compared to the average number recorded through April.

It was the third consecutive fortnightly jump in ads, with the biggest improvements being recorded in Queensland, up by 82.2 per cent, and Tasmania, where ads were 86.3 per cent higher. In NSW, they climbed by 52.8 per cent, while in Victoria, they were up by 73.4 per cent. In South Australia, job ads rose by 66.1 per cent.

Ads for jobs in the hospitality sector have climbed sharply over the past fortnight as the economy starts to reopen.

Hospitality and tourism are leading the rise in ads, in line with a relaxation in social distancing restrictions that heavily affected the sector. There has also been a strong increase in trade services, healthcare and education.

SEEK ANZ managing director Kendra Banks said the figures were a positive sign for the jobs market.

“This data reaffirms our view that job ad volumes are recovering, although still in the early stages of recovery, and we will continue to monitor volumes for stability and consistency,” she said.

“Historically, job ad volumes tend to ease off towards the end of the financial year but are followed by a quick boost in July and August when hirers have re-set their budgets… we hope to see this translate into more jobs advertised in July.”

Despite the large increases, total ads are still more than 50 per cent lower in every state than before the advent of the pandemic, suggesting continuing softness in the national jobs market.

While substantial increases were found, in separate research NAB detected huge drops in some areas. Expenditure on motion picture services has all but disappeared due to the closure of the nation’s cinemas over recent months.

Spending on administrative services has tumbled by 85.2 per cent since the start of the year while rail transport spending has collapsed by more than 82 per cent.

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