Positive signs for job seekers with more listings online and more employers increasing headcounts

SIGNS are very positive for Australian jobseekers with listings up and hiring intentions strong. These are the states and the sectors where the jobs are.

THINGS are looking up for Australian jobseekers with more SEEK listings online and more employers planning to increase headcounts than a year ago.

The SEEK Employment Report for February reveals 8 per cent growth in new listings on the job site compared to the same period last year.

SEEK Australia and New Zealand managing director Michael Ilczynski said the boost was fuelled by continued uplift in South Australia (listings up 21 per cent year on year) and Victoria (10 per cent), as well as the recovery of advertising in Queensland (9.3 per cent) and Western Australia (7.5 per cent).

Advertising was up 9.9 per cent in the Australian Capital Territory, 5.7 per cent in New South Wales, 4.9 per cent in Northern Territory, and 4.8 per cent in Tasmania.

RELATED: Home loan fears linked to employment

Jobs listings online have increased and employers and more employers are planning to increase headcounts.

“Across Queensland and WA, the industry offering the most job opportunities on SEEK this February was trades and services,” Mr Ilczynski said.

The average advertised annual salary in this industry was $62,573 and $71,266 in Queensland and WA, respectively.

Queensland’s most sought trades and services workers were automotive mechanics, electricians and labourers, while in WA, they were automotive mechanics; fitters, turners and machinists; and electricians.

Nationally, the mining, resources and energy industry experienced the strongest growth in job ads, up 66 per cent year on year.

“A sustained hiring trend we’re seeing at present is a demand for multiskilled mining professionals that also possess ‘softer skills,’ such as team leadership and communication. Hirers are looking for people that fulfil duties beyond the specific job requirements,” Mr Ilczynski said.

Mining, resources and energy job listings have made a come back. Picture: istock

In WA alone there were more than 500 job opportunities on SEEK for mining engineers.

Across all industries, Mr Ilczynski said it was a hirer’s market in NSW, Tasmania, the ACT and NT but there were reasonable competition conditions for job seekers and employers Victoria, Queensland, SA and WA.

Meanwhile, the ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey reveals 15 per cent of interviewed Australian employers intend to increase their headcounts in the next quarter.

Although the resulting national Net Employment Outlook (those intending to hire minus those intending to fire) is unchanged since last quarter at 9 per cent, Australia has the largest NEO growth year on year in the Asia Pacific region (up 5 per cent).

Australia is followed by New Zealand (up 4 per cent), Taiwan (up 3 per cent) and Japan (up 1 per cent) while India and Singapore have less optimistic employment outlooks with NEOs of -20 per cent and -2 per cent, respectively.

Manpower Australia general manager Jamie Butterworth said Australia’s NEO for the same time last year was 4 per cent, which was its weakest reported hiring intention in two and a half years.

Australia is coming off a low base.

“At that time, the nation was preparing for an election and the unknown result may have impacted business confidence and hiring intentions,” he said.

“Organisations were repositioning for the future and seeking efficiencies which led to a short-term reduction in hiring. This led to a heavy demand for specialist roles that would improve organisational efficiencies across areas such as mobility and digital transformation. What we are seeing now is that this process is continuing in terms of hiring intentions and a significant focus on digital transformation.

“Australia is experiencing the best year-over-year growth in five years, with a resulting national NEO of 9 per cent, up five percentage points year over year.”

More Australian employers are planning to hire than fire next quarter. Picture: iStock.

Q2 2017 Net Employment Outlook (NEO) by state and territory

NATIONAL +9%

SA +7%

QLD +9%

TAS +11%

VIC +10%

NT +7%

WA +6%

NSW +14%

ACT +14%

SOURCE: ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey

Q2 2017 Net Employment Outlook (NEO) by sector

Finance, insurance and real estate +7%

Manufacturing +8%

Mining and construction +12%

Public administration +7%

Services +15%

Transportation and utilities +12%

Wholesale trade and retail trade +5%

SOURCE: ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey

We’ve joined forces with Australia’s number one employment website SEEK. When you place a job ad in the paper you get a listing on SEEK as well, from only $389. To book, visit newsjobs.com.au or call 1300 555 627.