Job ads rose for second consecutive month since 2022, driven by mining and renewable projects. Applications per job finally declined.
What’s happening: Australian job advertisements increased 0.3% in July, marking the first consecutive monthly growth since mid-2022, while salary growth slowed to its weakest pace in four years.
Why this matters: The shift signals a potential turning point in Australia’s labour market, with employers beginning to hire again even as wage pressures ease, suggesting economic conditions may be stabilising after months of uncertainty.
Australia’s job market is showing tentative signs of recovery, with employment advertisements climbing for the second consecutive month while salary growth reaches its slowest pace since 2021.
The latest SEEK Employment Report reveals job ads rose 0.3% in July, with all states and the Northern Territory contributing to national growth. Only the Australian Capital Territory recorded a decline, falling 1.5% month-on-month.
Applications finally decline
Perhaps most significantly for job seekers, the number of applications per job advertisement fell for the first time in over two years, dropping 0.3% despite remaining well above pre-COVID levels.
“While a 0.3% rise in ad volumes is marginal, it marks two months of growth, and extends the trend of stability seen since the beginning of the year,” says SEEK Senior Economist Dr Blair Chapman.
The growth reflects increasing demand ahead of new mining and renewable energy projects, particularly in South Australia and Western Australia, where skills shortages persist in industrial sectors.
Salary growth hits four-year low
While job opportunities increase, wage growth is moderating. SEEK’s Advertised Salary Index rose just 0.2% in July, marking the first time advertised salary growth has been below 0.3% for two consecutive months since 2021.
Annual growth has slowed to 3.3%, the weakest since August 2021, following eight months of steady growth between 3.6% and 3.7%.
Insurance leads pay rises
Insurance and superannuation emerged as the standout sector, recording 5.9% annual advertised salary growth and some of the fastest quarterly growth at 1.9%.
“This likely reflects the ongoing easing in labour market tightness, with employment growth 0.5 percentage points slower over the 12 months to June 2025 than it was to June 2024 and fewer people switching jobs,” Chapman explains.
Despite the slowdown, advertised salaries continue growing faster than living costs for employee households, which slowed to 2.6% year-on-year in the June quarter. A notable decline in mortgage interest charges, following the RBA’s cash rate cuts this year, mostly offset rises in other prices.
The data suggests Australia’s labour market is entering a new phase, with job market conditions stabilising after months of decline while wage pressures ease from their recent peaks.
This article incorporates data from SEEK’s Employment Report and Advertised Salary Index for July 2025.
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