South Australian job seekers have a renewed cause for optimism following a report showing a sharp increase in online job advertisements. According to latest data released by Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA), the number of online job vacancies in the state soared in August, signifying potential growth in employment opportunities.
The statistics provided by JSA highlight that South Australia experienced a 6.9 per cent rise in online job vacancies last month, a gain of approximately 900 jobs. This growth rate is over 2.1 percentage points higher than the national average. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) supports this positive trend, noting the total number of job vacancies in South Australia now stands at 21,500.
Interestingly, the data from JSA presents an encouraging scenario for those seeking higher-skilled roles. Vacancies requiring qualifications of Certificate 4 or higher surged by 9.4 per cent, representing 61 per cent of the state’s total job vacancies. This rate of increase notably exceeds the national rise, which sits at 6.0 per cent.
The South Australian Treasurer, Stephen Mullighan, commented on these developments, and the positive impact on the local job market. “South Australians now have even more opportunity to secure a job, with a significant rise in online advertisements in the past month,” he stated. Mullighan also highlighted the comparative strength of South Australia’s employment market, adding, “While the nation’s unemployment rate is rising, and ours with it, our jobs market remains amongst the best performing in the nation.”
The focus on higher-skilled, higher-paid job sectors such as defence and advanced manufacturing aligns with the strategies of the Malinauskas Government, aiming to boost local employment in critical industries. This move is in line with the government’s broader economic objectives. Mullighan reiterated, “Strong jobs growth is a key reason our state is ranked the best performing economy in the nation, and current job figures show there are still more than 20,000 jobs open to South Australians.”
Despite the positive monthly figures, the broader national context remains challenging, with the overall internet vacancies across Australia having declined by 16.9 per cent over the year. However, South Australia reported the smallest annual decline on the mainland, with online vacancies diminishing by just 4.8 per cent. The unemployment rate in South Australia held steady at a low 4.3 per cent last month, with the ABS scheduled to release up-to-date Labor Force Survey results later today.
