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SYDNEY - Job ads across Australia slipped last month, with employment growth tipped to slow as the tight labour market steadied.
Demand for workers is expected to be strongest in the less populated states and territories that have major investment projects.
The ANZ employment ads series showed the number of jobs advertised in major capital city newspapers and on the internet declined by 0.4 per cent to a seasonally adjusted weekly average of 247,853.
But the number of print and web ads was 33.1 per cent higher than in September last year.
Job ads in major daily newspapers fell by 0.7 per cent last month to an average of 20,115 a week, but were 1.8 per cent up on a year earlier.
Internet employment ads fell by 0.3 per cent to a weekly average of 227,738.
They were still 36.8 per cent higher than in September last year.
ANZ head of Australian economics Tony Pearson said employment growth would slow in coming months as labour market strength consolidated.
"This suggests some steadying in the demand for labour after a period when it has been rising very strongly," he said.
"The forward nature of the relationship between the job advertisements series and employment suggests that employment growth will continue to slow over coming months, although it will remain positive."
The fall in newspaper job advertisements last month was driven by declines in South Australia (down 5 per cent); New South Wales (which fell 3.6 per cent); and Western Australia (lower by 0.8 per cent).
It was offset partially by job advertising rises in Tasmania (up 2 per cent); Victoria (climbing 1.7 per cent); Queensland (increasing by 1.6 per cent); Australian Capital Territory (growing 0.7 per cent); and Northern Territory (rising by 0.1 per cent).
- AAP
