SEEK recently came up with its monthly employment report for June 2021, which focused on the job trends (sector or industry-wise), job ads, as well as the number of applications. The report witnessed a significant increase in the number of job Ad posts - a significant 91.6% in June 2021 compared to June 2020, and 23.7% when compared to June 2019. Despite the increasing job availability in specific sectors, job seekers seem reluctant to apply and are merely going through the Ads without filling out applications.

On analyzing the report, Kendra Banks, Managing Director, SEEK ANZ said, “In the last few months, we have had between 39 and 42 million visits to our website per month.” According to her, this implied that Australians were still viewing job ads, but job seekers were simply not applying at the same rates as they were pre-COVID-19.

Regardless of a slight downfall (1.3%) in job numbers month-on-month, job advertisements have been on an uptrend for the last three months. Consequently, the majority of sectors have seen 37% to 42% record growth in Job advertisements, while professional service sectors such as Law, Human Resources, Marketing, Banking and Finance, Science, and Technology have observed stagnating growth, with a mere 1% hike.

Concerned about the gravity of the situation, Kendra Banks stated that, while there is 6% increment in the job applications month on month since the peak of the pandemic, this figure is the lowest that they have witnessed since 2012. The reasons behind such decline include job security for employees as well as a more cautious approach towards employability. As per the data, nearly 2 in 5 are cautious about job security, while around 1 in 3 are reluctant on altering employment.  

Only time will tell if these trends continue as we move into the new financial year. Considering the SEEK report analysis reveals that the attitude of Australian job seekers is rather cautious. Having faced the ups and downs brought along by the pandemic in the employment sector, they look more concerned on protecting their existing job rather than jumping to other alternatives and exploring available options.