The number of job ads posted both online and in Australian newspapers rose by almost 20% in February, recovering from a fall of 8% in the previous month, according to data from an ANZ survey.
The total number of job ads placed in major metropolitan newspapers went up to 159,778. Newspaper ads grew by 13.1%, and internet ads saw a surge of 19.6%. The February numbers were just 2.3% lower than in the same month last year, after being 26% lower in January.
"Total job advertisements are continuing to improve month-on-month from their cyclical low point last year," commented ANZ chief economist Warren Hogan. "This has already translated into solid employment growth and reduced unemployment, even through a period of relatively strong labour force growth," he added.
Queensland was the only state that did not record an increase in newspaper job advertisements, but rather a 6.3% fall. The largest spike in ads was recorded in resource-rich Western Australia, with 22%, followed by South Australia with 19.5%, Victoria with 19.3% and New South Wales with 14.3%.
"In the near term, the forward indicators appear positive for more employment growth through the first half of 2010, although probably at a slower pace than seen over the past four months," stated Hogan.
