Australian job ads fall 2.5% in August as lockdowns spread

[SYDNEY] Australian job advertisements slipped in August as coronavirus lockdowns spread from Sydney to Melbourne and Canberra, though the drop was minor compared to the losses seen during the first stage of the pandemic last year.

Monday's figures from Australia and New Zealand Banking Group showed total job ads fell 2.5 per cent in August from July, when they fell 1.3 per cent.

At 195,995, ads were still up 79 per cent on a year earlier when the labour market was recovering from a national pandemic lockdown which had shut many industries for a month. This time, around half the population are under some level of restrictions.

"Ads have been more resilient this time around - the cumulative 3.7 per cent fall over the past two months was miniscule compared with the 64 per cent plunge last year during the national lockdown," said ANZ senior economist Catherine Birch.

"In a positive sign, Victoria's new job ads rebounded in July following the state's fourth lockdown, providing evidence that job ads and employment should recover quickly again once restrictions ease."

The jobless rate has fallen by much more than expected this year to reach 4.6 per cent in July, though the latest drop was partly due to people being unable to look for work and thus not being counted as unemployed.

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) is seeking to drive unemployment down to 4 per cent or even lower in the hope of finally lifting wages growth after years of tepid gains.

The central bank holds its September policy meeting on Tuesday amid speculation it may delay a planned tapering of its bond buying programme due to the economic impact of the lockdowns.

REUTERS