Job ad volumes fall for second consecutive month in 2024
Job ads in Australia fell at a "slower" rate in May 2024, which marked the second consecutive monthly decline in job openings across the country.
The SEEK Employment Dashboard revealed a 0.6% dip in job ads, slightly slower than the 4.9% decline recorded in April 2024.
"Job ad volumes fell for a second consecutive month, but the rate of decline was markedly slower in May," said Kendra Banks, Managing Director, SEEK ANZ, in a statement.
Region, industry breakdown
By region, New South Wales and the Northern Territory marked the biggest drop in job ads with -1.7% and -1.1%, respectively.
On the other hand, Tasmania saw the biggest increase in job ads with 5.4%, with Banks attributing it to an increase in Healthcare and Medical roles.
Source: SEEK
The sectors reporting the biggest drop in monthly job ads include Science and Technology (-13.4%), as well as Consulting and Strategy (-7.3%), according to the report.
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The biggest monthly gainers in job opportunities include Real Estate and Property Sector (4.8%), as well as the Legal sector (4.2%). 
Source: SEEK
"With housing affordability and accessibility an ongoing issue for most of the country, demand for Real Estate & Property workers has been increasing steadily for the past half-year, and in May rose in all but one state," Banks said.
Applications per job ad
Meanwhile, applications per job posting continue to increase in April, according to SEEK, which records such data with a one-month lag. Applications went up 0.3% month-on-month and are now 59.3% higher year-on-year.
By industry, sectors that saw major gains in job application year-on-year include the Information and Communication Technology (112%), as well as the Consulting and Strategy sector (106%).
"Competition for roles within the Information and Communication Technology and Consultancy and Strategy industries continues to rise, with applications per job ad now double what they were in April 2023," Banks said.