Nov-21 | Quarterly Change | Annual Change | |
---|---|---|---|
('000) | % | % | |
Private sector | 361.7 | 19.4 | 58.5 |
Public sector | 34.3 | 9.7 | 34.5 |
Private and public sectors | 396.1 | 18.5 | 56.1 |
Job Vacancies, Australia
Results of the quarterly Job Vacancies Survey containing estimates of job vacancies classified by industry, sector and state/territory.
Key statistics
The seasonally adjusted estimates for the November 2021 quarter are as follows:
- Total job vacancies were 396,100, an increase of 18.5% from August 2021.
- Private sector vacancies were 361,700, an increase of 19.4% from August 2021.
- Public sector vacancies were 34,300, an increase of 9.7% from August 2021.
Survey impacts
Continuing use of forward factors for seasonal adjustment
In the May 2020 Job vacancies release, the ABS changed the method used to produce seasonally adjusted estimates from the ‘concurrent’ method to the ‘forward factors’ method. The forward factors approach is better suited to managing large movements at the end point of series and ensures that large movements do not have a disproportionate influence on the seasonal factors.
Given the large movements in the labour market during the COVID-19 period and the continuing use of a forward factors approach to seasonal adjustment, the ABS undertook an extensive annual review of its seasonally adjusted job vacancies series, prior to the release of the job vacancies May 2021 estimates. Static forward factors for the next 12 months were calculated through this annual process and were used from the May 2021 release.
For further information on seasonal adjustment during a period of uncertainty please see: Seasonal adjustment throughout periods of significant disruption and uncertainty | Australian Bureau of Statistics (abs.gov.au).
Suspension of trend estimates
Since May 2020, trend estimates have been suspended for all job vacancies series. The reinstatement of trend series will be reviewed in future cycles.
Survey response remains high in November
Responses for the Job Vacancies Survey November 2021 quarter remained high. The ABS would like to thank the Australian business community for their continued support in responding to our surveys during such a challenging time, given how critically important this information is.
Other measures of labour demand
In addition to Job Vacancies, there are a number of non-ABS indicators that measure labour demand using alternative concepts, sources and methods. These are also widely used as leading indicators of employment. Prominent examples include the ANZ Job Advertisement Series, the SEEK Employment Report, and the National Skills Commission's Internet Vacancy Index.
Measures of job vacancies and job advertisements will differ for a number of reasons. One of the key differences is that job vacancies includes jobs for which job advertisements are undertaken but also include jobs where other recruitment approaches are exclusively used, such as word of mouth or social media. According to the National Skills Commission's Recruitment Experiences and Outlook Survey, 22 per cent of jobs are not advertised (i.e. recruitment is done through word of mouth alone or by considering people who approach the business). For further details on recruitment practices, please see the Employers' Recruitment Insights.
Furthermore, job vacancies count every position advertised within a single notice, while some job advertisements may be used to fill multiple positions.
Job vacancies over time
Job vacancies increased by 18.5% (61,900 vacancies) in the three months to November 2021 (seasonally adjusted). The rise in job vacancies reflects the easing of lockdowns that were in effect in August.
The level of job vacancies in November 2021 was 74.2% higher than in February 2020, prior to the start of the pandemic. The ongoing high level of vacancies reflects the pace of recovery in labour demand from the fall in May 2020, as well as a number of industries indicating labour shortages, particularly for lower paid jobs.
The Job Vacancy Survey was suspended between August 2008 to August 2009 (inclusive).
Businesses reporting vacancies
The number of businesses reporting at least one vacancy shows the extent of the acute reduction in labour demand in May 2020, as well as the subsequent change since then. In May 2020, a much lower proportion of businesses reported at least one vacancy (6.5%). By May 2021, this had increased to 22.0% of businesses. In November 2021, this number was slightly lower (20.9%) but remained considerably higher than February 2020 (11.0%), which was prior to the impact of COVID-19.
Feb-20 | May-20 | Aug-20 | Nov-20 | Feb-21 | May-21 | Aug-21 | Nov-21 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
% | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | |
New South Wales | 12.1 | 5.8 | 11.6 | 15.1 | 19.6 | 22.9 | 19.4 | 22.3 |
Victoria | 11.2 | 6 | 11.5 | 15.5 | 18 | 22 | 18.8 | 21.2 |
Queensland | 10.4 | 10.5 | 13.7 | 12.9 | 17.4 | 22.6 | 26.9 | 20 |
South Australia | 8.1 | 2.9 | 8.8 | 9.1 | 15.7 | 15.6 | 13.1 | 14.7 |
Western Australia | 10.2 | 5.5 | 15.6 | 16.7 | 16.3 | 21.7 | 21.5 | 19.5 |
Tasmania | 8.3 | 4.5 | 10.7 | 14.2 | 17.8 | 21.8 | 15.1 | 18.5 |
Northern Territory | 9.2 | 6.7 | 20.7 | 21 | 21.8 | 26.5 | 20.8 | 23.1 |
Australian Capital Territory | 9.4 | 3.5 | 4.7 | 17.3 | 12.1 | 13.8 | 9.4 | 13.4 |
Australia | 11 | 6.5 | 12.1 | 14.7 | 18.1 | 22 | 20.3 | 20.7 |
Feb-20 | May-20 | Aug-20 | Nov-20 | Feb-21 | May-21 | Aug-21 | Nov-21 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
% | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | |
Mining | 20.9 | 8.3 | 16.1 | 16.3 | 21.1 | 11 | 18.1 | 17.1 |
Manufacturing | 8 | 4.4 | 14 | 14.6 | 15.3 | 15.1 | 22.9 | 24.9 |
Electricity, gas, water and waste services | 10.2 | 11.8 | 21.9 | 18.5 | 13.9 | 12.8 | 9.9 | 21.3 |
Construction | 13.6 | 4.6 | 12 | 13 | 22.8 | 26.9 | 23.3 | 21.5 |
Wholesale trade | 14.6 | 14.1 | 14 | 17.8 | 15.2 | 23.6 | 22.3 | 20.5 |
Retail trade | 13.3 | 9.7 | 9.9 | 17.8 | 16.4 | 21.6 | 21.4 | 15.9 |
Accommodation and food services | 14.5 | 2.3 | 13.9 | 16.9 | 30.5 | 30.5 | 18.3 | 30.9 |
Transport, postal and warehousing | 5.3 | 4.1 | 10.7 | 4.3 | 20.2 | 22 | 15.7 | 17.3 |
Information media and telecommunications | 14 | 7 | 5.2 | 14 | 18.3 | 20 | 15.9 | 15.5 |
Financial and insurance services | 4.5 | 5 | 6.6 | 15.7 | 16.9 | 20.5 | 10.3 | 5.5 |
Rental, hiring and real estate services | 6.9 | 4.1 | 11.8 | 12.8 | 11.1 | 16.9 | 19.3 | 15.1 |
Professional, scientific and technical services | 9.4 | 9.2 | 14.8 | 14.2 | 14.5 | 16.4 | 15.4 | 16.6 |
Administrative and support services | 16.5 | 7.8 | 16.2 | 18.9 | 17.1 | 23.6 | 29.8 | 30.5 |
Public administration and safety | 31.3 | 22.6 | 27.9 | 35.4 | 30 | 42.2 | 29.8 | 27.5 |
Education and training | 7.5 | 4 | 10.8 | 5.2 | 8.6 | 11.5 | 9.7 | 9.1 |
Health care and social assistance | 8.2 | 6.5 | 8.9 | 13.6 | 13.4 | 23.3 | 21.2 | 26.7 |
Arts and recreation services | 3.4 | 0.5 | 2.1 | 21 | 3.1 | 14 | 9.3 | 6.7 |
Other services | 10.6 | 5.6 | 11.1 | 16.7 | 21.1 | 22.8 | 28.1 | 25.4 |
All industries | 11 | 6.5 | 12.1 | 14.7 | 18.1 | 22 | 20.3 | 20.7 |
Feb-20 | May-20 | Aug-20 | Nov-20 | Feb-21 | May-21 | Aug-21 | Nov-21 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
% | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | |
Replacement/resignations | 78.6 | 72.9 | 75.3 | 75.1 | 76.2 | 76.0 | 75.1 | 77.4 |
Increased workload | 35.9 | 32.0 | 36.7 | 41.3 | 44.5 | 45.4 | 42.3 | 45.9 |
Expansion of business | 25.4 | 15.7 | 19.9 | 21.2 | 25.4 | 26.8 | 25.3 | 25.7 |
Restructure | 16.6 | 14.1 | 14.6 | 16.8 | 14.0 | 14.3 | 15.7 | 13.8 |
Relocation | 0.8 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 0.5 |
Seasonal | 10.7 | 9.0 | 11.7 | 16.4 | 10.1 | 10.0 | 11.4 | 19 |
Special event | 1.5 | 2.7 | 3.0 | 2.3 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.5 | 2.4 |
Takeover | 1.1 | 0.7 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.6 |
Other | 6.5 | 11.6 | 11.9 | 10.9 | 8.8 | 10.3 | 11.8 | 12 |
Businesses may have multiple reasons for reporting job vacancies
Proportions are of businesses that reported at least one vacancy
States and territories
NSW | Vic | Qld | SA | WA | Tas | NT | ACT | Australia | Australia (Seasonally adjusted) | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
% | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | |
Change from previous quarter | ||||||||||
Aug-20 | 56.4 | 59.5 | 67 | 83.2 | 91.4 | 84.7 | 146.3 | 57.2 | 67.1 | 59.7 |
Nov-20 | 32.9 | 27.6 | 13.7 | 24.6 | 16.2 | 50.4 | 0.1 | 40.4 | 24.6 | 22.9 |
Feb-21 | 13.6 | 12.4 | 11.8 | 24.2 | 6.8 | 10.2 | 13.1 | 3.5 | 12.3 | 13.7 |
May-21 | 20 | 33.4 | 25.6 | 10.4 | 15.6 | 14.4 | 5.1 | 7.2 | 22.1 | 28.3 |
Aug-21 | -15.6 | -7.1 | 5 | -15.8 | 12.7 | -10.3 | 21.1 | -8.8 | -5.2 | -9.7 |
Nov-21 | 27 | 30.4 | -0.4 | 31.9 | 16.9 | 17.3 | 1.5 | 23.9 | 20.1 | 18.5 |
Change from corresponding quarter of previous year | ||||||||||
Nov-19 | -4 | -2.4 | 3.7 | 6.2 | -3.9 | 0.5 | -8.9 | 10.2 | -1.4 | -1.6 |
Nov-20 | 3.1 | -2.9 | 22.4 | 36.9 | 45.3 | 42.1 | 22.1 | 2.3 | 12 | 11.9 |
Nov-21 | 46.2 | 81.6 | 46.8 | 52.5 | 62.7 | 32.6 | 46.1 | 25.4 | 56.1 | 56.1 |
Private sector
NSW | Vic | Qld | SA | WA | Tas | NT | ACT | Australia | Australia (Seasonally adjusted) | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
% | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | |
Change from previous quarter | ||||||||||
Aug-20 | 64.5 | 67.4 | 71.1 | 104.7 | 95.7 | 82 | 186.8 | 46.2 | 74.3 | 65.6 |
Nov-20 | 35.4 | 30 | 12.1 | 25.2 | 16.1 | 53.2 | -2.9 | 62.1 | 25.6 | 23.9 |
Feb-21 | 15.4 | 12.6 | 11.7 | 30.2 | 5 | 17.8 | 8.7 | 0.7 | 12.9 | 14.2 |
May-21 | 19.5 | 36.1 | 27.8 | 8.1 | 17.7 | 14.6 | 9.1 | 10.5 | 23.3 | 30.2 |
Aug-21 | -17 | -8.5 | 5.4 | -17.1 | 12.1 | -16.4 | 21.1 | -8.4 | -6 | -10.8 |
Nov-21 | 30.3 | 31.8 | -2 | 34.4 | 17.4 | 16 | 3.6 | 26.1 | 21.1 | 19.4 |
Change from corresponding quarter of previous year | ||||||||||
Nov-19 | -6.2 | -1.3 | 2.3 | 3.3 | -6 | -4.7 | -5 | -0.5 | -2.9 | -3.1 |
Nov-20 | 3.2 | -3.8 | 23.9 | 40.6 | 49 | 48.1 | 16.9 | 13.9 | 12.9 | 12.8 |
Nov-21 | 49.2 | 84.7 | 47.6 | 56.7 | 62.7 | 31 | 48.9 | 28.4 | 58.5 | 58.5 |
Public sector
NSW | Vic | Qld | SA | WA | Tas | NT | ACT | Australia | Australia (Seasonally adjusted) | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
% | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | |
Change from previous quarter | ||||||||||
Aug-20 | 14 | 16.1 | 26.4 | 14.3 | 43.8 | 99.1 | 37.8 | 83.5 | 24.6 | 23 |
Nov-20 | 13.9 | 8.5 | 34.7 | 21.2 | 17.9 | 36.3 | 16.7 | -1.2 | 15.7 | 15.2 |
Feb-21 | -2.1 | 10.7 | 12.1 | -11.5 | 33.4 | -31.7 | 33.4 | 12.5 | 6.5 | 8.9 |
May-21 | 25.4 | 7.8 | 0.8 | 31.3 | -7.6 | 11.9 | -10.1 | -1.9 | 10.4 | 10 |
Aug-21 | -1.8 | 9.4 | -1.5 | -6 | 20.3 | 48.9 | 21 | -10.2 | 3.6 | 2.3 |
Nov-21 | -1.2 | 16.1 | 23.7 | 16.5 | 9.5 | 24.4 | -8.3 | 16.9 | 10.4 | 9.7 |
Change from corresponding quarter of previous year | ||||||||||
Nov-19 | 22.3 | -12.7 | 19.8 | 23.7 | 25.5 | 31.3 | -27.4 | 43 | 13 | 13.1 |
Nov-20 | 2.6 | 6.5 | 7.8 | 18.4 | 7 | 16.3 | 53.3 | -22.4 | 4.7 | 4.6 |
Nov-21 | 19.1 | 51.6 | 37.7 | 27.2 | 62.4 | 41.8 | 33.1 | 15.8 | 34.5 | 34.5 |
Industry
Aug-20 | Nov-20 | Feb-21 | May-21 | Aug-21 | Nov-21 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mining | 5.6 | 6.3 | 7.5 | 8.3 | 8.4 | 9.7 |
Manufacturing | 13.5 | 15.3 | 16.6 | 20.7 | 23.2 | 29.5 |
Electricity, gas, water and waste services | 1.9 | 2.2 | 2.7 | 3 | 3 | 3.5 |
Construction | 15.9 | 17.9 | 26.7 | 29.9 | 23.2 | 30 |
Wholesale trade | 9.9 | 13.4 | 14 | 17.8 | 14.4 | 16.7 |
Retail trade | 18.5 | 25.7 | 24.9 | 34.3 | 33.6 | 36 |
Accommodation and food services | 13.5 | 22.4 | 27.6 | 38.2 | 27.6 | 45.8 |
Transport, postal and warehousing | 5.5 | 6.6 | 9.3 | 10.6 | 11.5 | 13.3 |
Information media and telecommunications | 2.4 | 2.7 | 3.8 | 3.7 | 3.5 | 4.7 |
Financial and insurance services | 12.3 | 12.8 | 14.7 | 17.9 | 15.8 | 17 |
Rental, hiring and real estate services | *3.6 | 4.4 | 4.6 | 7.8 | 5.8 | 8.5 |
Professional, scientific and technical services | 23.5 | 27 | 31.2 | 31.9 | 31.7 | 37.1 |
Administrative and support services | 24.2 | 26.8 | 28.6 | 35.2 | 36.8 | 39.9 |
Public administration and safety | 13.4 | 16.7 | 15 | 17.2 | 17.5 | 18.9 |
Education and training | 6.4 | 6.7 | 8.5 | 10.5 | 9.8 | 10.2 |
Health care and social assistance | 28.4 | 37.7 | 39.1 | 47.7 | 51.2 | 60.2 |
Arts and recreation services | 1.2 | 4 | 2.6 | 5.4 | 3.9 | 7.4 |
Other services | 8.3 | 10.6 | 13.6 | 15.4 | 16 | 16.1 |
All figures are original
* estimate has a relative standard error of 25% to 50% and should be used with caution
Data Downloads
Changes to Excel file format on the ABS website
In line with updating to more recent technology formats, the ABS will progressively transition to releasing Excel files in the .XLSX format. This means that timeseries spreadsheets in the suite of labour statistics releases will be progressively upgraded from .XLS files to .XLSX files.
While this change will improve usability, it may also require changes to automated macros or similar programs that users may have in place that call on the current file extension format.
For Job Vacancies, this change will take effect from the release of November data on 12 January 2022. Previously released data will not change.
Changes will be reflected in other labour statistics from the following dates:
- Labour Force, released on 16 December 2021
- Employee Earnings and Hours, to be released on 19 January 2022
- Average Weekly Earnings, to be released on 24 February 2022
- Labour Account, to be released on 9 March 2022
- Industrial Disputes, to be released on 10 March 2022
Some labour statistics, such as Weekly Payroll Jobs and Wages in Australia, already publish Excel data in .XLSX format. No changes will be required for those releases.
Trend estimates suspension
Trend estimates have been suspended from May 2020 for all job vacancies series due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the labour market.
Time series spreadsheets
Table 1. Job vacancies, state and territories ('000)
Table 2. Job vacancies, private sector, state and territories ('000)
Table 3. Job vacancies, public sector, state and territories ('000)
Table 4. Job vacancies, industry, Australia ('000) - original
All Time Series
Previous catalogue number
This release previously used catalogue number 6354.0.