The return of job advertising levels to pre-COVID 19 levels sees Queensland joining South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania and Northern Territory as the states and territories that are showing more job ads than pre-COVID levels.

In Victoria job ads have jumped to 76% of pre-COVID levels, 20-percentage points higher than four weeks ago, and approaching similar percentages to New South Wales.

SEEK says roles within professional services have the furthest to recover nationally with job ads at 65% of pre-COVID levels.

Kendra Banks, Managing Director, SEEK ANZ said the job advertising level for the two weeks is the highest national job ad figure since COVID began having an impact in March.

“We have often talked about the close correlation between restrictions easing and more jobs advertised, and this is again evident. The relaxation of restrictions in Victoria from 18 October and the announcement of further restrictions easing now allowing retail and hospitality, in particular, to re-open in the run-up to Christmas has led to strong growth in Victorian job ad volumes,” Banks said.

“In the last four weeks, Victoria has had a 20-percentage point increase from 56% to 76% of job ads when compared to pre-COVID levels.

“This growth in job ads for Victoria in the last week brings job ad percentage levels to a similar level with New South Wales and the ACT. If job ads continue to trend upwards in line with restriction lifting, then we will see Victoria overtake New South Wales in terms of percentage of jobs compared to pre-COVID levels in the coming month. In the last fortnight, job ads in New South Wales were at 84% of pre-COVID levels and continues to climb steadily.

“Across Australia, roles in the Professional Services sector continue to have the furthest to recover with job ads at just 65% of pre-COVID levels. This explains some of why New South Wales, ACT and Victoria are lagging the other states as they had more Professional Services roles pre-COVID, mainly in the metro areas. For example, in February, Professional Services made up 34% of New South Wales’ sector mix, currently, that is 24%, and for Victoria, it was 27% and now 21%.”

“Professional Services roles are more traditionally office-based roles, contrary to operational roles where the link between customer and fulfilment is very close. When we experience a difficult economic outlook, businesses tend to hold off in recruiting the sorts of roles that make up Professional Services and so will take longer to regain ground.”

“The Consumer Services sector is at 89% of pre-COVID levels, and this should increase as restrictions for retail and hospitality ease in Victoria, as we fast approach the festive season,” Banks concluded.