Job ads rebounding across all states

Are better days ahead?

Job ads rebounding across all states

Barely a year after the pandemic caused economic downturn, Australia’s job market appears to be showing signs of bouncing back – albeit the rate of recovery differs by geography and industry. This rebound is evident in the “healthiest” job ads growth witnessed since the COVID-19 crisis began.

In February, the number of job postings increased 4.1% when compared with the previous month, suggesting businesses are getting ready to reinvest in talent. In addition to the monthly rise, the latest data also showed a 12.4% jump when figures are tracked year-on-year (February 2020). This is the fourth consecutive month of y/y job ads growth, according to employment marketplace SEEK, which compiled the data.

Read more: Will COVID-19 drastically impact recruitment plans?

The uptrend is seen throughout the country. “For the first time since before the pandemic, all states and territories saw year-on-year growth in job ads posted on seek.com.au,” said Kendra Banks, managing director of SEEK ANZ.

Source: SEEK

“New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory were the only two states, before last month, not to have returned to pre-COVID levels. In February, NSW saw an increase of 3.6% y/y, and ACT was 5.0% higher,” Banks said.

Read more: Recruitment challenges during COVID-19

Industries that buoyed 2021 growth figures included trades and services; hospitality and tourism; and health care and medical services. In these sectors, the following roles are reportedly the most in-demand:

Trades and services

  • Automotive tradespeople
  • Labourers
  • Electricians
  • Welders and boiler makers
  • Technicians
  • Carpenters and cabinet makers
  • Hair and beauty specialists

Hospitality and tourism

  • Chefs/cooks
  • Waiting staff
  • Bar and beverage staff
  • Managers
  • Guest services specialists

Health care and medical services

  • Physiotherapists
  • Occupational therapists
  • Aged-care nurses
  • Dental health professionals
  • Psychologists
  • Counsellors and social workers
  • General and surgical nurses

“Professional services is the only sector to still be showing a y/y decline; however, 10.1% is the smallest gap we have seen and is being more than made up for by the other sectors,” Banks said.

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