Job advertisements in Australia have recorded their first back to back increases since October 2024.
The ANZ-Indeed Australian Job Ads index, released this week, showed a 3.2 percent month on month lift in February this year.
This followed an upwardly revised 5.2 percent rise in January.
ANZ Economist Aaron Luk said this was the first back-to-back monthly increase since 2024 and it took the series to its highest level since then.
“This pick‑up in Job Ads coincides with the unemployment rate holding at 4.1 percent in January 2026,” he said.
“The full-time equivalent employment to population ratio remains in the band that has traditionally been consistent with around target inflation and employment growth is running below population growth in annual terms.
“The participation rate has declined markedly over the past year, which suggests there is some labour supply ‘on the side-lines’.”
Indeed Senior Economist Callam Pickering said the New Year had coincided with renewed hiring vigour across the country.
“In February, Job Ads for nurses rose to its highest level in almost two years, while management opportunities rose to its highest level since September 2023,” he said.
“Retail also rose strongly, as did opportunities in administration. Growth in February was broad-based across the mainland states, with Tasmania growing at a slower pace. Job Ads in New South Wales rose the most, followed by Western Australia and Queensland.”
The full report is here.
