SA and Tasmania are most job-starved states: Report

Start-ups desperate to recruit staff should consider candidates in job-starved states such as South Australia, where more than five jobseekers are vying for each job vacancy, new research reveals. 

According to CareerOne analysis of the latest jobs data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the ratio between unemployed people and job vacancies in South Australia is the second highest in the nation.

The data shows only Tasmania has more jobseekers (6.2) for every vacant position, suggesting start-ups should hone in on these states as they attempt to build their workforce.

Meanwhile, jobseekers in Western Australia have the best chance of securing work in Australia, with just 1.5 jobseekers for every position vacant.

Nationwide, the number of jobseekers in the hunt for employment has climbed, with figures showing 3.2 jobseekers are chasing each job vacancy, compared to 3.0 in 2010.

According to Wendy-Jayne Williams, chief executive of employment and training provider Jobs Statewide, based in South Australia, the job market is becoming increasingly competitive.

“Employers are in a strong position to pick and choose from a wider range of candidates for each vacancy,” she says.

Figures from Roy Morgan reveal finance and insurance workers are struggling to secure employment, as are workers in retail, community services and general services.

The boom in mining jobs – of 18% over the past year – masks falls of more than 6% in finance and insurance, in wholesale and property and business services, the data reveals.

Meanwhile, almost 16% of retail workers, 17% of workers in hospitality and recreation, and 8.8% of community service workers say they are underemployed, according to the data.

The slowdown in the demand for workers was further highlighted by recently-released job vacancy figures, which suffered the biggest annual fall in nine years.

The figures, released by the ABS, show job vacancies in Australia fell 3.3% in the three months to November, bringing the overall growth rate down by 6.3%.

According to the latest Job Advertisement Series, released by ANZ today, the number of job advertisements on the internet and in newspapers fell 0.9% in December compared to November.

Total job advertisements were 2.6% lower than in December 2010; the first negative annual growth rate since February 2012.

Katie Dean, ANZ head of Australian economics, says job advertising continues to weaken in New South Wales and Victoria – the country’s two most populous states.

“This most likely reflects ongoing consolidation in the manufacturing and retail sectors, as well as some pullback in advertising for professional services,” Dean said in a statement.

“Job advertising also remains weak in the other non-mining states and territories, contracting in Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory.”

“The fall in job advertising in South Australia in December, meanwhile, suggests that strong resource-related activity in this region is so far not enough to offset weakness in other parts of this economy.”

This article first appeared StartupSmart.