Job advertisements across Australia fell by 2.3% over the year to October 2020 on a seasonally adjusted basis, according to the latest Vacancy Report, which is published monthly by the National Skills Commission.

The Report summarises the latest trends in the Internet Vacancy Index from three job boards: SEEK, CareerOne and Australian JobSearch. It explores the labour market at a detailed occupational and regional level.

The 2.3% reduction is largely driven by three of the eight broad occupational groups: managers (down by 20.3% or 4,100 job advertisements), clerical and administrative workers (down by 18.8% or 5,000 job advertisements) and professionals (down by 6.9% or 3,400 job advertisements).

On a month-to-month basis, recruitment activity increased by 9,100 or 6.2% nationally to now stand at 155,000 job advertisements. New job advertisements have now increased for six consecutive months.

Job ads were up for sales workers (11.6% or 1,300 job ads), labourers (up by 10.7% or 1,100 job advertisements) and community and personal service workers (up by 9.9% or 1,400 job advertisements

These increases highlight the ongoing recovery in recruitment activity since the April 2020 series low point, with job advertisements having more than doubled since that time (up by 83,300 job advertisements).

The Internet Vacancy Index data also showed data for skill level groups. The strongest increase was recorded for Skill Level 5 occupations (commensurate with Certificate I or secondary education level), up 2,300 job advertisements over the month.

Skill level groups with the largest falls in job ads include the higher-level education groups, Skill Level 2 occupations experienced the strongest decline of all skill level groups, down by 11.2% (or 1,800 job advertisements), followed by Skill Level 1, down by 10.2% (or 6,600 jobs advertisements).

In annual terms, job advertisements fell in Victoria, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory over the year to October 2020. Victoria recorded the strongest fall over the year, down by 23.3% or 10,000 job advertisements, followed by the ACT (down by 7.9% or 450 job advertisements) and New South Wales (3.0% or 1,600 job advertisements).

The remaining four states and the Northern Territory recorded increases in job advertisements over the year. Western Australia recorded the strongest increase (up by 24.9% or 3,800 job advertisements), and followed by Tasmania (17.8% or 290 job advertisements).