New job ads posted on job board Seek Australia in April 2021 saw its second consecutive record-breaking month. Seek job ads were up 263.7% compared to when the pandemic first hit in April 2020. Job ads were up 30.9% compared to April 2019.

When compared to the previous month job ads were up by 11.9% in April 2021.

Kendra Banks, Managing Director, SEEK ANZ, said, “For the second consecutive month, we have seen the highest number of job ads ever posted on seek.com.au. Traditionally at this time of year we would be talking about a quieter employment market due to the impact of the Easter holidays on recruitment – but to say this is not a typical year is an understatement.”

“The Covid bounce back continues at pace, and particularly in small and medium-sized businesses,” Banks said. “Job ad volumes in the Hospitality & Tourism industry have grown 21.7% month-on-month and are 16 times higher when comparing April 2021 to April 2020. As I referenced last month when we reported record-breaking figures, there are factors that are driving these strong numbers that are important to consider, including that many of the jobs currently being advertised are for roles that were displaced in the last year.”

All states and territories showed strong year-on-year and month-on-month growth.  Year-on-year the states of Victoria (346.6%) and Tasmania (346.5%) showed the strongest growth in job ads.

“Around this time last year, the first wave of restrictions were imposed, and each state and territory was similarly impacted. Victoria was subject to stricter and longer lockdowns, so it is particularly pleasing to see it has recovered well, recording the highest percentage increase month-on-month as well as showing the highest growth since this time last year,” Banks said. “This is a demonstration of the growing business confidence in the state and continued relaxation and removal of restrictions, particularly in the Melbourne CBD (Melbourne city centre).”