Economists had forecast an increase of around 20,000, making September's decline a significant miss against expectations.
The September figures point to a recovery in recruitment following a weaker month in August. However, the improvement in hiring has not translated into comparable wage growth across the economy.
The revised action plan outlines measures to strengthen accountability, improve reporting processes and reinforce ethical conduct.
The pressure is also affecting retention, with nearly a third of regional employees, or around 703,000 workers, considering leaving their jobs within six to 12 months.
Remote-first or fully remote roles showed a smaller difference, accounting for 12% of women and 10% of men.
