Employment Data Report - Job growth continues into 2018

• Job ads on SEEK up 14.7 per cent as of January 2018 compared to 12 months ago
• Top performing sectors include Mining, Resources & Energy, and Government & Defence

The latest SEEK data has revealed 14.7 per cent more new job ads on SEEK, as of January 2018 compared to 12 months ago.

The strongest sectors overall are Mining, Resources & Energy (54 per cent), Trades & Services (31 per cent), Engineering (25 per cent), Science & Technology (22 per cent) and Government & Defence (21 per cent).

Kendra Banks, Managing Director SEEK ANZ, says the outlook is bright for jobseekers, with those in certain sectors seeing a growing range of opportunities.

"We’re seeing a strong national demand for STEM skills – science, technology, engineering and mathematics – which reflects a global talent shortage. This ’talent shortage’ has been identified by Australian CEOs as one of their top business risk areas, but it also creates huge competitive job opportunities for Australians with engineering and IT skills," said Banks.

In terms of increased opportunity in Science and Technology roles, Victoria leads the market, with 30 per cent jobs growth. This is followed by a 24 per cent increase in QLD, and 21 percent in NSW.

“Another significant area of growth is evident in Government & Defence. This is driven by a strong increase in the large employing sub-sector of Local Government. Across Australia new job ads in Local Government are up 31 per cent with more than 1,200 opportunities available. Strong increases in job opportunities but off lower bases were seen in the Navy and Police & Corrections.”

Sport & Recreation, Banking & Financial Services and Real Estate & Property all showed relatively weak growth, while nationwide, the only sector to show a decline was Arts, Advertising & Media, which dropped 8 per cent y/y.

Figure 1. Job Ad Growth across Australian industries on SEEK, November 17 to January 2018 quarter compared to 12 months ago

STATES & TERRITORIES

New South Wales and Victoria saw steady month-on-month growth, up 0.2 per cent and 0.5 per cent respectively, following strong growth in December. The weakest performer was the ACT, recording an 8.2 per cent drop in January, down from 7.3 per cent growth in December.

INDUSTRY FOCUS – GOVERNMENT AND DEFENCE

A key performer among different sectors in January was Government and Defence, with 21 per cent y/y growth. The large advertising sectors of Local and State and Federal Government posted healthy increases in job opportunities up 31 per cent, 14 per cent and 16 per cent respectively.

According to the SEEK Laws of Attraction research, salary and compensation is still the stand out driver for candidates in the government and defence industry, ranking as number one for 17.1% of candidates. However, as many as two in three (64%) would be motivated by other financial compensation such as extra superannuation contributions.

Work-life balance was ranked number two (13.2%) among candidates and flexible working hours is particularly attractive. Job security came in third (12.2%) this year compared to 2012 and has swapped spots with career development, which is now the fourth driver of attraction.

Figure 4. Government and Defence change in new job ad opportunities by state

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