New data shows trend growth in new job ads has continued into 2014, and potentially reflects stability in the confidence of employers and job-seekers alike.
Jobs board SEEK released its figures for the three months to April 2014 (February – April), and overall listings rose by 2.8 per cent. Managing Director Joe Powell said it’s encouraging to see a continuation of hiring confidence, and a correction in Australia’s two-speed economy, with non-mining states now driving employment opportunities across the country.
SEEK’s data shows month-on-month new job growth in New South Wales of 2.4 per cent, Victoria at 1.3 per cent and South Australia at 1 per cent. New job ads declined by 3.6 per cent month-on-month in Western Australia, and 0.4 per cent in Queensland.
The jobs board’s employment index measures the ratio of new job ads on its website to the number of applications for those jobs, a key indicator to understanding the relationship between demand and supply for labour. In April, a 2.8 per cent national fall in the index was evident across all states.
Similarly, the just-released Clarius Skills Indicator, which tracks the availability of skilled labour in the Australian labour market, identified a number of industries tagged for skilled jobs growth in the next 12 months.
It showed the lower Aussie dollar should aid business activity in trade-exposed sectors outside the mining industry including agriculture, manufacturing, tourism and education.
It also identifies housing and infrastructure construction as ripe for jobs growth.
Kym Quick, CEO of the Clarius Group of recruitment companies, said many employers are currently reassessing their business plans and hiring strategies, and opting for a contracted labour force over permanent staff.
“Executives are asking recruiters to identify good talent in readiness for growth but they’re watching their cost base closely and opting for a flexible workforce that can quickly be turned on or off,” she said.
