Aug-21 | Quarterly change | Annual change | |
---|---|---|---|
'000 | % | % | |
Private sector | 302.4 | -10.9 | 64.3 |
Public sector | 31.3 | 2.3 | 41.1 |
Private and public sectors | 333.7 | -9.8 | 61.8 |
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 August 2021 quarter are as follows:
- Total job vacancies were 333,700, a decrease of 9.8% from May 2021.
- Private sector vacancies were 302,400, a decrease of 10.9% from May 2021.
- Public sector vacancies were 31,300, an increase of 2.3% from May 2021.
Survey impacts
Continuing the use of forward factors for seasonal adjustment
Suspension of trend estimates
Survey responses remain high in August
Other measures of labour demand
Job vacancies over time
Job vacancies decreased by 9.8% (36,200 vacancies) in the three months to August 2021 (seasonally adjusted). The August vacancies reflect a point in time where many businesses were subject to restrictions, with a number of states in lockdown.
However, the level of job vacancies remained higher than they were six months ago, and were still 46.5% 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 also shows the extent of the acute reduction in labour demand in May 2020, as well as the subsequent change. 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. For August 2021, this number declined to 20.3% but remained 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 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
New South Wales | 12.1% | 5.8% | 11.6% | 15.1% | 19.6% | 22.9% | 19.4% |
Victoria | 11.2% | 6.0% | 11.5% | 15.5% | 18.0% | 22.0% | 18.8% |
Queensland | 10.4% | 10.5% | 13.7% | 12.9% | 17.4% | 22.6% | 26.9% |
South Australia | 8.1% | 2.9% | 8.8% | 9.1% | 15.7% | 15.6% | 13.1% |
Western Australia | 10.2% | 5.5% | 15.6% | 16.7% | 16.3% | 21.7% | 21.5% |
Tasmania | 8.3% | 4.5% | 10.7% | 14.2% | 17.8% | 21.8% | 15.1% |
Northern Territory | 9.2% | 6.7% | 20.7% | 21.0% | 21.8% | 26.5% | 20.8% |
Australian Capital Territory | 9.4% | 3.5% | 4.7% | 17.3% | 12.1% | 13.8% | 9.4% |
Australia | 11.0% | 6.5% | 12.1% | 14.7% | 18.1% | 22.0% | 20.3% |
Feb-20 | May-20 | Aug-20 | Nov-20 | Feb-21 | May-21 | Aug-21 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mining | 20.9% | 8.3% | 16.1% | 16.3% | 21.1% | 11.0% | 18.1% |
Manufacturing | 8.0% | 4.4% | 14.0% | 14.6% | 15.3% | 15.1% | 22.9% |
Electricity, gas, water and waste services | 10.2% | 11.8% | 21.9% | 18.5% | 13.9% | 12.8% | 9.9% |
Construction | 13.6% | 4.6% | 12.0% | 13.0% | 22.8% | 26.9% | 23.3% |
Wholesale trade | 14.6% | 14.1% | 14.0% | 17.8% | 15.2% | 23.6% | 22.3% |
Retail trade | 13.3% | 9.7% | 9.9% | 17.8% | 16.4% | 21.6% | 21.4% |
Accommodation and food services | 14.5% | 2.3% | 13.9% | 16.9% | 30.5% | 30.5% | 18.3% |
Transport, postal and warehousing | 5.3% | 4.1% | 10.7% | 4.3% | 20.2% | 22.0% | 15.7% |
Information media and telecommunications | 14.0% | 7.0% | 5.2% | 14.0% | 18.3% | 20.0% | 15.9% |
Financial and insurance services | 4.5% | 5.0% | 6.6% | 15.7% | 16.9% | 20.5% | 10.3% |
Rental, hiring and real estate services | 6.9% | 4.1% | 11.8% | 12.8% | 11.1% | 16.9% | 19.3% |
Professional, scientific and technical services | 9.4% | 9.2% | 14.8% | 14.2% | 14.5% | 16.4% | 15.4% |
Administrative and support services | 16.5% | 7.8% | 16.2% | 18.9% | 17.1% | 23.6% | 29.8% |
Public administration and safety | 31.3% | 22.6% | 27.9% | 35.4% | 30.0% | 42.2% | 29.8% |
Education and training | 7.5% | 4.0% | 10.8% | 5.2% | 8.6% | 11.5% | 9.7% |
Health care and social assistance | 8.2% | 6.5% | 8.9% | 13.6% | 13.4% | 23.3% | 21.2% |
Arts and recreation services | 3.4% | 0.5% | 2.1% | 21.0% | 3.1% | 14.0% | 9.3% |
Other services | 10.6% | 5.6% | 11.1% | 16.7% | 21.1% | 22.8% | 28.1% |
All industries | 11.0% | 6.5% | 12.1% | 14.7% | 18.1% | 22.0% | 20.3% |
Feb-20 | May-20 | Aug-20 | Nov-20 | Feb-21 | May-21 | Aug-21 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Replacement/resignations | 78.6% | 72.9% | 75.3% | 75.1% | 76.2% | 76.0% | 75.1% |
Increased workload | 35.9% | 32.0% | 36.7% | 41.3% | 44.5% | 45.4% | 42.3% |
Expansion of business | 25.4% | 15.7% | 19.9% | 21.2% | 25.4% | 26.8% | 25.3% |
Restructure | 16.6% | 14.1% | 14.6% | 16.8% | 14.0% | 14.3% | 15.7% |
Relocation | 0.8% | 0.7% | 1.0% | 0.6% | 0.8% | 0.7% | 0.8% |
Seasonal | 10.7% | 9.0% | 11.7% | 16.4% | 10.1% | 10.0% | 11.4% |
Special event | 1.5% | 2.7% | 3.0% | 2.3% | 2.1% | 2.1% | 2.5% |
Takeover | 1.1% | 0.7% | 1.5% | 1.0% | 1.0% | 1.4% | 1.4% |
Other | 6.5% | 11.6% | 11.9% | 10.9% | 8.8% | 10.3% | 11.8% |
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 | ||||||||||
May-20 | -49.9 | -51.9 | -34.3 | -41.6 | -39.1 | -45.7 | -39.7 | -46.2 | -45.8 | -43.3 |
Aug-20 | 56.4 | 59.5 | 67.0 | 83.2 | 91.4 | 84.7 | 146.3 | 57.2 | 67.1 | 59.6 |
Nov-20 | 32.9 | 27.6 | 13.7 | 24.6 | 16.2 | 50.4 | 0.1 | 40.4 | 24.6 | 23.0 |
Feb-21 | 13.6 | 12.4 | 11.8 | 24.2 | 6.8 | 10.2 | 13.1 | 3.5 | 12.3 | 13.9 |
May-21 | 20.0 | 33.4 | 25.6 | 10.4 | 15.6 | 14.4 | 5.1 | 7.2 | 22.1 | 28.0 |
Aug-21 | -15.6 | -7.1 | 5.0 | -15.8 | 12.7 | -10.3 | 21.1 | -8.8 | -5.2 | -9.8 |
Change from corresponding quarter of previous year | ||||||||||
Aug-19 | -8.5 | -7.6 | 12.8 | -3.5 | 2.1 | 20.3 | 20.6 | 12.5 | -2.2 | -1.9 |
Aug-20 | -14.6 | -25.2 | 7.8 | 10.2 | 21.9 | -6.1 | -1.8 | -25.6 | -8.1 | -8.0 |
Aug-21 | 53.0 | 77.7 | 67.5 | 44.0 | 61.7 | 70.0 | 44.0 | 42.0 | 62.0 | 61.8 |
Private sector
NSW | Vic | Qld | SA | WA | Tas | NT | ACT | Australia | Australia (Seasonally Adjusted) | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
% | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | |
Change from previous quarter | ||||||||||
May-20 | -53.2 | -54.8 | -34.3 | -48.1 | -39.2 | -46.6 | -39.0 | -48.8 | -48.1 | -45.3 |
Aug-20 | 64.5 | 67.4 | 71.1 | 104.7 | 95.7 | 82.0 | 186.8 | 46.2 | 74.3 | 65.6 |
Nov-20 | 35.4 | 30.0 | 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 | 5.0 | 17.8 | 8.7 | 0.7 | 12.9 | 14.5 |
May-21 | 19.5 | 36.1 | 27.8 | 8.1 | 17.7 | 14.6 | 9.1 | 10.5 | 23.3 | 29.9 |
Aug-21 | -17.0 | -8.5 | 5.4 | -17.1 | 12.1 | -16.4 | 21.1 | -8.4 | -6.0 | -10.9 |
Change from corresponding quarter of previous year | ||||||||||
Aug-19 | -11.0 | -7.1 | 11.3 | -8.0 | 2.4 | 25.1 | 14.3 | -2.9 | -3.8 | -3.6 |
Aug-20 | -15.9 | -27.3 | 11.0 | 11.7 | 23.3 | -6.5 | -1.7 | -27.4 | -8.2 | -8.2 |
Aug-21 | 55.0 | 82.3 | 68.8 | 46.0 | 60.8 | 72.9 | 39.5 | 65.1 | 64.5 | 64.3 |
Public sector
NSW | Vic | Qld | SA | WA | Tas | NT | ACT | Australia | Australia (Seasonally Adjusted) | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
% | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | |
Change from previous quarter | ||||||||||
May-20 | -20.2 | -26.1 | -34.3 | -2.7 | -37.1 | -40.8 | -41.5 | -38.8 | -26.5 | -27.0 |
Aug-20 | 14.0 | 16.1 | 26.4 | 14.3 | 43.8 | 99.1 | 37.8 | 83.5 | 24.6 | 23.0 |
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 | 10.0 |
Aug-21 | -1.8 | 9.4 | -1.5 | -6.0 | 20.3 | 48.9 | 21.0 | -10.2 | 3.6 | 2.3 |
Change from corresponding quarter of previous year | ||||||||||
Aug-19 | 20.9 | -12.1 | 29.2 | 30.6 | -1.5 | 0.7 | 73.6 | 67.2 | 14.7 | 14.8 |
Aug-20 | -3.4 | -2.6 | -22.3 | 2.6 | 3.5 | -3.9 | -2.1 | -22.1 | -7.1 | -6.9 |
Aug-21 | 37.3 | 41.7 | 50.0 | 32.4 | 74.9 | 55.3 | 69.3 | -2.1 | 41.0 | 41.1 |
Industry
May-20 | Aug-20 | Nov-20 | Feb-21 | May-21 | Aug-21 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mining | 4.3 | 5.6 | 6.3 | 7.5 | 8.3 | 8.4 |
Manufacturing | 7.0 | 13.5 | 15.3 | 16.6 | 20.7 | 23.2 |
Electricity, gas, water and waste services | 1.6 | 1.9 | 2.2 | 2.7 | 3.0 | 3.0 |
Construction | 8.3 | 15.9 | 17.9 | 26.7 | 29.9 | 23.2 |
Wholesale trade | 6.5 | 9.9 | 13.4 | 14.0 | 17.8 | 14.4 |
Retail trade | 11.4 | 18.5 | 25.7 | 24.9 | 34.3 | 33.6 |
Accommodation and food services | *5.0 | *13.5 | 22.4 | 27.6 | 38.2 | 27.6 |
Transport, postal and warehousing | 3.3 | 5.5 | 6.6 | 9.3 | 10.6 | 11.5 |
Information media and telecommunications | 2.0 | 2.4 | 2.7 | 3.8 | 3.7 | 3.5 |
Financial and insurance services | 7.8 | 12.3 | 12.8 | 14.7 | 17.9 | 15.8 |
Rental, hiring and real estate services | *1.0 | *3.6 | 4.4 | 4.6 | 7.8 | 5.8 |
Professional, scientific and technical services | 13.1 | 23.5 | 27.0 | 31.2 | 31.9 | 31.7 |
Administrative and support services | 17.5 | 24.2 | 26.8 | 28.6 | 35.2 | 36.8 |
Public administration and safety | 8.6 | 13.4 | 16.7 | 15.0 | 17.2 | 17.5 |
Education and training | 3.6 | 6.4 | 6.7 | 8.5 | 10.5 | 9.8 |
Health care and social assistance | 19.7 | 28.4 | 37.7 | 39.1 | 47.7 | 51.2 |
Arts and recreation services | **0.1 | **1.2 | 4.0 | 2.6 | 5.4 | 3.9 |
Other services | *3.6 | *8.3 | 10.6 | 13.6 | 15.4 | 16.0 |
* estimate has a relative standard error of 25% to 50% and should be used with caution
** estimate has a relative standard error greater than 50% and is considered too unreliable for general use
Downloads
Note
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.