Australian Job Market Shows Resilience with Steady Job Ad Growth in March 2025
In a sign of underlying strength in the Australian labour market, ANZ-Indeed Australian Job Ads rose by 0.4% month-on-month in March, following a 1.3% decline in February.
This modest increase comes as job advertisements have maintained remarkable stability, hovering within a range of 114 to 117 for seven consecutive months, despite being down 7.9% annually compared to March 2024. The data suggests Australia's employment landscape continues to demonstrate resilience in the face of economic pressures.
The Key Details:
Job advertisements have remained steady for seven months, tracking above long-run averages despite the annual decline
February's employment fell by 53,000, attributed primarily to increased retirements rather than layoffs
The unemployment rate held steady at 4.1% while underemployment dropped below 6% for the first time since February 2023
Regional shifts show Queensland dragging on job ads while New South Wales and Victoria demonstrate stronger job creation—reversing last year's trend
Growth sectors include retail, sales, administrative services and management, offsetting significant declines in education and therapy roles
Expert Insights:
"The labour market remained tight in February. Although employment fell by 53,000 in the month, this was likely due to a larger than usual number of people retiring," explains Aaron Luk, ANZ Economist. "The resilience in the level of job advertisements suggests the labour market will remain relatively tight in the near term. We continue to expect the unemployment rate to peak at a quarterly average of 4.2% in Q2 2025, before gradually falling to 3.9% towards the end of 2026."
Indeed Senior Economist Callam Pickering notes: "While Job Ads have been pretty stable in 2025, there have still been some large moves across regions and sectors. Queensland has been a big drag on Job Ads this year, offset by stronger job creation in New South Wales and Victoria. That's a reversal of last year's trend."
Why It Matters:
The stability in job advertisements despite economic headwinds points to fundamental resilience in Australia's labour market. With unemployment holding steady and underemployment improving to its best level in over two years, workers remain in a relatively strong position. For businesses and job seekers alike, the sectoral and regional shifts highlight the importance of adaptability in a changing economy. While tech sector positions show early signs of recovery after difficult years, the education sector faces significant challenges ahead. This mixed picture suggests Australia's employment landscape continues to evolve, with opportunities emerging in different sectors even as traditional strongholds face disruption.
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