Australia in Focus: Job market looks 'very promising'

Australia's job market appears to be booming, with small businesses leading the hiring spree.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg told Sky News Australia how small businesses that faced headwinds earlier in the crisis are now "coming [back] better".

This trend follows reports of the country's jobless rate falling to a 13-year low of 4.6%.

About 180,000 more people are now employed, compared with figures from the start of the COVID pandemic.

Overall, a total of 485,000 jobs have been generated since September 2021, according to data from the Australian Taxation Office.

On the other hand, advertisements for job openings hit a record high of more than 250,000.

"We're starting to see these jobs coming back, and it's looking very promising for the Australian economy," Frydenberg said.

But while figures suggest a booming job market, the country is still "not out of this pandemic," he said. "There is no room for complacency, and we need to lock in this economic recovery."