ABS data shows that job openings in Australia rebounded 2.9% in the May quarter.
Sydney (Reuters) – Australia’s job openings rebounded in the May quarter, led by vacancies in the construction and professional sectors, and despite a soft economy, there are signs of labor demand that remains resilient.
Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) figures show that the vacancy rate was 2.9 per cent in the three months to May, down 4.3 per cent in the previous quarter ended February.
Vacancies are still down 2.8% from May last year to 339,400, but this is the smallest drop in the past two years.
Private sector vacancies grew by 3.2%, while public sector job openings rose by 0.6%.
Of 8 of the 18 industries covered, the vacancy rate rose, with the largest percentage of construction and professional, scientific and technical services. The largest waterfalls are wholesale trade and electricity, gas, water and waste services.
The labor market has been unexpectedly resilient in recent months, with unemployment approaching a historic low of 4.1% even though the economy has grown almost entirely.
(Reported by Wayne Cole; Edited by Muralikumar Anantharaman)
