Western Australia was the best performed State in a national survey measuring the number of job advertisements in the past 12 months.
The Olivier Internet Job index showed that WA experienced a 44.66 per cent increase in the number of jobs advertised in the past 12 months, followed by New South Wales with 33.59 per cent, Victoria with 27.23 per cent and Queensland with 25.95 per cent.
The 12-month national figures show strong growth for jobs – up 27.19 per cent (seasonally adjusted) overall. Of the 21 job sectors surveyed, 18 rose over the period.
According the Olivier Group these figures represent the best job market since April 2001.
The best-performing sectors across the nation were: the transport industry with 98.5 per cent; the information technology and telecommunications industry, job ads for which increased by 81 per cent; and mining and engineering, which was up 56 per cent in the period June 2003 to June 2004.
The trades and services sector was one of only two sectors that declined, with the category of ‘other’ declining 7.1 per cent.
“It’s a bumper end to a booming year for job seekers,” Olivier Group director Robert Olivier said.
“This is a fantastic market for the passive job seekers to explore again. Those people who’ve been stuck in their jobs should realise that it’s now a booming market where their skills could be in demand.
“Those people making between $50,000 and $100,000 a year who are looking for a new job will certainly find something.
“And if you want to sit tight, negotiate a raise, there certainly isn’t a threat hanging over your head.”
Mr Olivier said there was good news for graduates as well, with graduate positions up 11.89 per cent in the month of June from the previous month.
“Graduate advertising is at a record high going against the usual softening after May,” he said.
“This is a very strong indication that employers are playing catch up in their hunt for top talent.”
The Olivier Internet Job Index surveys positions vacant advertisements on commercial job sites and analyses them by State and industry sector.
In June, the index surveyed 125,203 positions vacant job ads.
