Banking
Australia Job Ads Fall 2.5% in August as Lockdowns Spread
Published by maria gbaf
Posted on September 6, 2021
2 min readLast updated: February 13, 2026
Add as preferred source on Google
Australia job ads fall 2.5% in August as lockdowns spread
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australian job advertisements slipped in August as coronavirus lockdowns spread from Sydney to Melbourne and Canberra, though the drop was minor compared to the losses seen during the first stage of the pandemic last year.
Monday’s figures from Australia and New Zealand Banking Group showed total job ads fell 2.5% in August from July, when they fell 1.3%.
At 195,995, ads were still up 79% on a year earlier when the labour market was recovering from a national pandemic lockdown which had shut many industries for a month. This time, around half the population are under some level of restrictions.
“Ads have been more resilient this time around – the cumulative 3.7% fall over the past two months was miniscule compared with the 64% plunge last year during the national lockdown,” said ANZ senior economist Catherine Birch.
“In a positive sign, Victoria’s new job ads rebounded in July following the state’s fourth lockdown, providing evidence that job ads and employment should recover quickly again once restrictions ease.”
The jobless rate has fallen by much more than expected this year to reach 4.6% in July, though the latest drop was partly due to people being unable to look for work and thus not being counted as unemployed. [nL1N2PQ03U]
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) is seeking to drive unemployment down to 4% or even lower in the hope of finally lifting wages growth after years of tepid gains.
The central bank holds its September policy meeting on Tuesday amid speculation it may delay a planned tapering of its bond buying programme due to the economic impact of the lockdowns.
(Reporting by Wayne Cole; Editing by Ana Nicolaci da Costa)
Frequently Asked Questions about Australia job ads fall 2.5% in August as lockdowns spread
1What was the percentage drop in job ads in August?
Job advertisements in Australia fell by 2.5% in August compared to July.
2How do current job ads compare to last year?
Despite the drop, job ads were still up 79% compared to a year earlier when the labor market was recovering from a national lockdown.
3What is the Reserve Bank of Australia's goal regarding unemployment?
The Reserve Bank of Australia aims to reduce unemployment to 4% or lower to stimulate wage growth after years of stagnation.
4What was the cumulative fall in job ads over the past two months?
The cumulative fall in job ads over the past two months was 3.7%, which is minor compared to the 64% drop during last year's national lockdown.
5What did the RBA consider in its September policy meeting?
The Reserve Bank of Australia was considering delaying a planned tapering of its bond buying program due to the economic impact of the lockdowns.
