Applications per job ad increase 0.5% for the month
The upward trend in job ad volumes in Australia slowed in August to 0.3% from 1.9% in July, according to the latest Seek Employment Report.
Tasmania and Victoria recorded the strongest month-on-month growth, 3.1% and 2.7% respectively, followed by the Australian Capital Territory (1.6%), New South Wales (0.9%) Queensland (0.4%) and South Australia (0.1%).
Jobs ads fell for the month in Western Australia, by 4.4%, and in the Northern Territory, by 6.7%.
“The hospitality and tourism industry recorded robust demand for workers for a second consecutive month, particularly in New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria,” said Seek head of employment analytics Leigh Broderick.
Ad volumes increased most sharply month-on-month for hospitality and tourism (6.4%), call centre and customer service (4.0%) and community services and development (3.2%).
The keenest falls in ad volumes were in advertising, arts and media (-13.4%), sports and recreation (-6.4%) and retail and consumer products (-5.2%).
The largest hiring industries were responsible for the overall slowdown in jobs ads growth, with manufacturing and logistics advertised positions down 1.3%, trades and services 1.0% lower and healthcare and medical falling 0.9%.
“Demand continues to be lower across the major industries, however some of those most impacted have started to recover,” Broderick said in a statement.
