Australia Job Ads Rise 1.8% MoM

ANZ–Indeed Australian Job Ads rose 1.8% mom in May 2026, rebounding from a 0.6% decline in the prior month and marking the first gain since February. The increase was driven by stronger demand in food preparation, education, nursing, and construction-related roles. In contrast, transport and driving job ads fell sharply for a second consecutive month, likely reflecting disruptions linked to the Middle East conflict. ANZ economist Madeline Dunk noted that restrictive interest rates are expected to slow economic growth in the coming months, which should lead job ads to trend lower and the unemployment rate to gradually edge higher. Compared with a year earlier, job ads increased 2.0% and remained 15.1% above their decade-long average, indicating that labour demand continues to be relatively resilient despite signs of cooling.

ANZ–Indeed Australian Job Ads fell 0.8% month-on-month in April 2026, easing from March’s 3.2% contraction, the steepest decline in six months, while marking a second consecutive contraction. The latest data suggested labour demand may be starting to soften, as higher borrowing costs and ongoing geopolitical uncertainties weigh on hiring appetite. The pullback was largely driven by hospitality, particularly restaurants and cafés, where food preparation roles declined notably. In contrast, the tech sector, spanning software development and data analytics, remained among the strongest performers so far this year, continuing to show resilience despite broader moderation. On an annual basis, job ads slipped 1.4%, indicating a mild cooling trend. However, postings still stood 12.5% above their long-term decade average, pointing to an underlying labour market that remains relatively tight even as momentum begins to ease.

ANZ-Indeed Australian Job Ads slipped 3.1% month-on-month in March 2026, reversing February’s 16-month high of 3.2% and signaling the first decline in three months. The drop also marked the steepest decrease since last September, suggesting that surging global energy costs are starting to weigh on business confidence and hiring intentions. Weakness was concentrated in education, nursing, personal care, and retail, offsetting gains in project management and engineering roles. Meanwhile, job ads in sectors more exposed to the Middle East conflict, such as logistics and transport, were largely unchanged, pointing to a cautious but not yet deteriorating outlook in those industries.