Job ads on Australian job board Seek are up 6.5% year-on-year in January 2021.

This is the third consecutive month of y/y job ad growth. At the same time, Seek job ads were up by 4.0% month-on-month.

“In a very encouraging start to the year, we are continuing to see positive job ad growth nationally,” Kendra Banks, Managing Director, SEEK ANZ, said. “Traditionally, we would see a drop in new job ad growth throughout December, and into the start of January. Pleasingly, in 2021, businesses have been looking to hire from the very first week of the year. 

Most states saw an increase in new job ads compared to January 2020.

“Tasmania, Northern Territory, Western Australia, South Australia, and Queensland all have job ad volumes significantly higher than in January 2020,” Banks said. “Despite New South Wales and the ACT (Australian Capital Territory) having job ad levels lower than this time last year, both are at the highest levels since the pandemic began and have steadily recovered.”

“We know from 2020 that when a lockdown occurs, a swift and immediate impact on job ad volumes usually follows. The recent restrictions that were imposed in Perth at the start of this month may also have an impact on job ad volumes in WA (Western Australia) in February’s data,” Banks said.

The top three industries that are making a positive contribution to the growth of job ads year-on-year are trades & services, manufacturing, transport & logistics, and hospitality & tourism.  Trades & services are up 40.9% up year-on-year, manufacturing, transport & logistics is up 31.0% year-on-year and hospitality & tourism is up 30.5% year-on-year.