Yahoo Finance Tradies, IT specialists in high demand as job ads fall
Job ads took a hit in August with rolling lockdowns keeping hiring subdued but there is still opportunity for jobseekers as we head towards our vaccination target.
The latest SEEK Employment Report shows that national job ads dropped by 5.3 per cent compared to July.
But despite the decline in job ads remain 15.2 per cent higher nationally than in the same month in 2019.
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“COVID-19 restrictions continued to have a major impact on the labour market in August 2021. Perhaps unsurprisingly, states and territories under the strictest lockdowns each saw a decline in job ad volumes,” Kendra Banks, Managing Director, SEEK ANZ, said.
New South Wales and Victoria saw the most significant drops in volume down 10.7 per cent and 6.3 per cent month-on-month, respectively.
“In July, despite a two-week restriction period, Victoria experienced an increase in the number of job ads posted during the month, however with the lockdown extended throughout the whole month of August, job ad numbers have now declined,” Banks said.
“This demonstrates that short lockdowns don’t have too much of an impact on the labour market, but when extended, more businesses start to put hiring plans on hold.”
The data comes before the Australian Bureau of Statistics releases its weekly payroll jobs report later today.
It will give a guide to the impact of having half the population under coronavirus restrictions.
The full labour force report for August is due next Thursday.
3 industries in desperate need of workers
There are still plenty of opportunities for jobseekers across the country.
The top three industries with the most jobs on SEEK nationally right now are:
Trades & Services with roles in automotive trades, labourers, electricians, welders & boiler makers, technicians, carpentry & cabinet making, and hair & beauty services.
Healthcare & Medical with roles in physiotherapy, occupational therapy & rehabilitation, aged care nursing, dental, psychology, counselling & social work and general & surgical nursing.
Information & Communications Technology with roles for developers/ programmers, software engineers, help desk & IT support and programme & project management
3 industries hardest hit by lockdowns
On the flipside, the industries that have been hit the hardest in August were customer-facing roles.
In New South Wales, industries that contributed the most to the month on month decline were:
Administration & Office Support (down 15.9 per cent)
Community Services & Development (down 15.6 per cent)
Trades & Services (down 8.1 per cent)
In Victoria, industries that contributed the most to the decline were:
Hospitality & Tourism (down 33.1 per cent)
Trades & Services (down 6.5 per cent)
Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics (down 6.6 per cent)
Across the country, the industries that experiences the largest volume drop month on month were:
Hospitality & Tourism (down 19 per cent)
Trades & Services (down 7.3 per cent)
Retail & Consumer Products (down 8.9 per cent).
“In August we have again seen the stark impact of COVID-19 restrictions,” Banks said.
“South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory had increases in job ad volumes. Conversely, levels in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and the ACT have declined following various increases in local restrictions and lockdowns.”
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