Job ads on Australian job board Seek are up 1.0% year-on-year in November 2020. This is the first year-on-year increase in new job ads since before the pandemic.

The 1.0% job ad growth was driven by industries recruiting later into the year than usual. This is likely due to the easing of restrictions, border openings and people being able to travel which are all boosting business confidence.

The Northern Territory saw the biggest increase in job ads on a regional basis (17.8%). While the Australian Capital Territory saw the biggest decline at 8.9%.

On a month-to-month basis, Seek job ads were up by 8.6%.

Hiring in some industries has continued later into the year than usual, particularly in Hospitality & Tourism which experienced the highest month-on-month job ad volume growth.

For a third month running, the top three states that contributed the most to month-on-month growth in job ads were Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland.

Victoria experienced the biggest month-on-month rise of 20.2%, its third consecutive month of double-digit growth.

South Australia job ads slowed in November when temporary restrictions were introduced but still ended the month with an overall m/m increase of 2.5%.

While jobseeker traffic remains consistent year-on-year applications volumes are down. This is most notable in trades & services, manufacturing, transport & logistics, hospitality & tourism and retail.