Diwa Hopkins – RAI Senior Economist
Regional job vacancies continue their record-breaking streak to reach nearly 79,000 vacancies in November 2021. After topping levels not seen since the peak of the mining boom, job ads in regions continued rising, this time by 4,500 jobs in November (compared with an increase of 3,000 in October).
Labour shortages in regions are now further constraining the prospects of regional businesses and communities. Demand for professionals is strongest – ads for these jobs account for a quarter of all regional job vacancies. Add on demand for technicians and trades people, community and personal services workers and clerical and administrative workers, and these jobs account for nearly 70 per cent of all advertised positions
New South Wales and Victoria in particular, have come roaring back from their respective lockdowns, with the number of advertised vacancies in each state posting successive strong monthly gains since August and September. The top monthly growth spots are all in these states. In November 2021, the regional parts of all jurisdictions except the Northern Territory and Western Australia, saw advertised jobs well above previous peaks. And in these two jurisdictions, demand is rising such that vacancies are not far below previous records.
New South Wales and Victoria in particular, have come roaring back from their respective lockdowns, with the number of advertised vacancies in each state posting successive strong monthly gains since August and September. The top monthly growth spots are all in these states. In November 2021, the regional parts of all jurisdictions except the Northern Territory and Western Australia, saw advertised jobs well above previous peaks. And in these two jurisdictions, demand is rising such that vacancies are not far below previous records.
The growth in job vacancies was widespread across regional Australia, with only a handful of regions recording modest declines. Victoria stands out as the state in which all regions recorded a monthly rise in vacancies. Overall, the largest increases were in Gosford & Central Coast (up 15%), Gippsland (up 12%), and Illawarra & South Coast (up 11%).
Over 2021 so far, regional job vacancies have risen 45%. Growth through the year has been relatively uniform, with most jurisdictions recording increases in vacancies in the order of 40% to 50%. Regional WA and the ACT have not seen quite that degree of increase.
The five regions with the biggest jumps in vacancies from October to November 2021 were:
- Gosford & Central Coast in NSW with 15% more vacancies in November 2021 (1,975) than in October 2021 (1,716)
- Gippsland in Victoria up by 12% (2,784 compared to 2,504)
- Illawarra & South Coast in NSW up by 11% (2,960 compared to 2,666)
- Geelong & Surf Coast in Victoria up by 11% (3,043 compared with 2,743)
- Newcastle & Hunter NSW up by 11% (5,864 compared with 5,307)
The five regions with the biggest jumps in vacancies over the year to date are:
- Geelong & Surf Coast up by 64%
- Darwin up by 64%
- Sunshine Coast up by 57%
- Launceston & Northeast Tasmania up by 57%
- Ballarat & Central Highlands up by 57%
SOURCES The Internet Vacancy Index is updated monthly by the Department of Education Skills, Employment and Business (lmip.gov.au/default.aspx?LMIP/GainInsights/VacancyReport). The RAI has an interactive Regional Job Vacancy map of the data showing vacancies in 37 regions across Australia (Regional Jobs Vacancy Map).