Australian Unemployment Rate up to 4.5%

Unemployment rate remained steady at 4.5%. The male unemployment rate increased by 0.3 percentage points to 4.4%, and the female unemployment rate decreased by 0.3 percentage points to 4.5%.

The following is an unedited transcript of the news release from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. TREND ESTIMATES (MONTHLY CHANGE) Employment increased to 10,749,400  Unemployment increased to 498,100  Unemployment rate remained steady at 4.4%  Patricipation rate remained steady at 65.0% SEASONALLY ADJUSTED ESTIMATES (MONTHLY CHANGE) EMPLOYMENT  decreased by 1,200 to 10,742,300. Full-time employment decreased by 43,900 to 7,640,200 and part-time employment increased by 42,800 to 3,102,200.  UNEMPLOYMENT increased by 2,600 to 501,100. The number of persons looking for full-time work increased by 2,600 to 349,400 and the number of persons looking for part-time work remained steady at 151,700. UNEMPLOYMENT RATE remained steady at 4.5%. The male unemployment rate increased by 0.3 percentage points to 4.4%, and the female unemployment rate decreased by 0.3 percentage points to 4.5%. PARTICIPATION RATE decreased by 0.1 percentage point to 65.0%. Available at: http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs%40.nsf/mf/6202.0

Australia employment falls as expected in Nov

For details of this report, follow the link to the copywritten article

Australia September Unemployment Up 0.2% At 4.3%, Total Employment Up Slightly

The unemployment rate in Australia increased to a seasonally adjusted 4.3 percent in September, according to data released Thursday by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The increase of 0.2 percent matched the forecasts of most economists.

The number of employed Australians rose modestly, but the number employed in full time jobs was down.

The Bureau said total employment increased by 2,200 workers to 10.737 million. Full time employment decreased by 15,400 to 7.7 million, while part-time employment rose 17,700 to just over 3 million. Economists had projected no change in total employment.

The labor market participation rate for September was 65.1 percent, unchanged from the August rate, and just below analysts' estimates of 65.2 percent.

Starbucks cuts 1,000 management positions, 180 layoffs in Seattle

SEATTLE -- Starbucks is cutting 1,000 management positions as part of its plan to cut costs and transform the coffee company.
CEO Howard Schultz announced the cuts today to employees.
A Starbucks spokeswoman in Seattle, Bridget Baker, says 550 of the positions are layoffs and the other jobs being cut are unfilled positions. She says 180 of the layoffs are the headquarters and regional offices in Seattle. The rest are at other Starbucks offices around the world.
This is in addition to jobs that are being lost at the 600 coffee shops Starbucks is closing in the United States.
Earlier today Starbucks also announced it's closing 61 stores in Australia.

Australia Posts Positive Employment Data

hu, Jul 10 2008, 11:37 GMTby Andrei Pehar
fxKnight.com
29,800 new jobs were created Down Under last month, a number nearly three times the amount analysts had been expecting. 25,600 were lost during the previous month. The overall unemployment rate dropped slightly from 4.3% to 4.2%.The employment news brings some light to an otherwise fairly negative week for the continent, which saw consumer sentiment drop by another 6.7% (it dropped 5.6% the prior month), and home loans drop by 7.9%, nearly double past month's decline of 4.2% (a figure which already includes a revision to the downside). Business confidence came it at -9, compared with -4 the month before.

Australian Leading Employment Indicator Falls In July

Australia’s Department of Employment said Wednesday that its leading indicator of employment fell to a negative 0.060 in July from a revised positive 0.117 in June.
The indicator has now fallen for six consecutive months, confirming a slowing in the pace of employment growth below its long-term trend of 2.5% a year, the department said.
The indicator measures four weighted time-series variables: ANZ newspaper job ads, Dun & Bradstreet employment expectations, the Westpac-Melbourne Institute leading index of economic activity survey, and the Westpac-Melbourne Institute consumer sentiment survey.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics will issue June employment data Thursday. Economists expect a 7,500 increase in employment over the month, well below the 15,000 per month needed to keep the unemployment rate steady over time.
Employment contracted by 20,000 in May, spooking financial markets and prompting the Reserve Bank of Australia to warn about tentative signs of a slowdown in job creation.
Source: http://www.djnewswires.com/eu

Mitsubishi Motors axes Australian plant with 930 layoffs

Mitsubishi Motors axes Australian plant with 930 layoffs

Unemployment down to 4.3%

Interest rates look set to rise next month as tight labour market conditions continue to fan inflationary pressures in the economy.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) today released figures showing the unemployment rate fell to 4.3% in December, from 4.5% the previous month.

A total of 20,100 people joined the workforce in December, including 6,300 full-time and 13,800 part-timers, after an impressive rise in November when 47,600 found new jobs.

However, the strong employment growth is somewhat of a double-edged sword.

The further tightening in labour market conditions presents a risk of a wages blow-out - a situation that would add to inflationary pressures already evident in the economy and boost the case for another rate hike.

"Although jobs growth slowed in December, the gain in employment remained solid, keeping labour market conditions as tight as a drum and, therefore, maintaining upside pressure on wages," JPMorgan economist Helen Kevans said.

"Rising labour costs, combined with healthy corporate pricing power and firm domestic demand, will add to broader inflation pressures," she said.

Ms Kevans said whether or not the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) hikes rates in February will largely hinge on December quarter consumer price index figures to be published next Wednesday.

If if core and underlying inflation growth is above the RBA's target band of between two and three per cent, as many economists expect, the central bank is likely to raise the cash rate by 25 basis points to 7%.

However, Ms Kevans said RBA officials will also take note of the outcome of the next US Federal Reserve meeting on January 30, at which it is expected to cut interest rates.

Some pundits have even suggested the Fed - the US equivalent of the RBA - could cut rates by as much as 0.75% in an effort to stimulate a US economy already teetering on the brink of recession.

"Signs that the Fed will continue to cut US interest rates aggressively in coming months may make the RBA reluctant to hike interest rates at its February meeting," Ms Kevans said.

"Domestic conditions alone, however, undoubtedly warrant an imminent rate hike from the RBA."

Su-Lin Ong, a senior economist and fixed income strategist with investment bank RBC Capital Markets, said it would be a "very close" call.

"Today's data largely confirm what we - and the RBA - already know," Ms Ong said.

"Reflecting the strength of the overall economy, the labour market remains exceptionally strong and healthy, and the buoyant leading indicators suggest that this picture is unlikely to change anytime soon.

"Indeed, the multi-decade low in the unemployment rate highlights the very tight state of the labour market and the constraints that face an economy which has just entered its 17th consecutive year of growth.

"(But) domestic resilience and inflation risks will be weighed against intensifying concerns over US growth, global credit concerns, and defacto tightening by the key domestic lenders."

The RBA board next meets on interest rates on February 5 with its decision to be announced the same day.

Jobless rate rises despite booming market - ABS data

Gerard McManus and John Ferguson, with wires

November 08, 2007 11:45am
UNEMPLOYMENT has increased slightly to 4.3 per cent in October despite a booming jobs market, figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show.

The unemployment rate inched up from 4.2 per cent in September, which was a 33-year low.

The male unemployment rate increased by 2 basis points to 4.0 per cent and the female unemployment rate rose 1 basis point to 4.8 per cent.

Total employment rose a seasonally adjusted 12,900 jobs to 10,533,800.

Economists had expected total employment to rise by 20,000 jobs and a jobless rate of 4.2 per cent.

But the jobs market is booming. Full-time employment increased by 70,600 to 7.59 million and part-time employment fell 57,700 jobs to 2.95 million.

The participation rate in October was unchanged at 65 per cent.

The latest economic data came as John Howard and Peter Costello have apologised to millions of Australians hit by the sixth interest rate rise since the last election.

The Government worked frantically to prevent a voter backlash over the latest rise, the first during a federal election campaign, as economists warned of more ahead.

Its efforts included an unexpected promise to offer up to 12 months' "grandparent leave" when a grandchild is born, the chance for workers to double their holidays by taking them at half pay, and a year's unpaid parental leave for both mums and dads.

But the main focus yesterday was on mortgages. Both the PM and the Treasurer acknowledged the latest 0.25 point rate rise would hurt.

"I would say to the borrowers of Australia who are affected by this change that I am sorry about that, and I regret the additional burden that will be put upon them as a result," Mr Howard said.

Labor leader Kevin Rudd attacked the Government, repeating that the PM had broken a 2004 poll promise to keep rates low.

The Reserve Bank announced it had lifted its official cash rate to 6.75 per cent. The standard variable rate will be 8.57 per cent, adding just over $50 a month to the repayment on an average Victorian new home loan of $300,000.

Banks are expected to pass on the rate rise as soon as this week.

In December 2004, the average monthly repayment on a $300,000 loan was $2133. Today it is $2429 - a difference of $296 a month.

Treasurer Peter Costello also apologised for interest rates being at an 11-year high.

"Of course I'm sorry that people have to pay more on their mortgages," Mr Costello said.

"It's not something I enjoy, and I know they won't enjoy it."

But Mr Costello said Labor had not offered a single idea on how to keep inflation low, which was the key to keeping a lid on rates.

He said interest rates were still lower than at any time under the previous Labor government.

But Mr Rudd described the latest rate rise as a personal "breach of trust" by the Prime Minister.

"Mr Howard today was still arguing the toss about whether in fact his promise to Australians back in 2004 was seriously meant or not," Mr Rudd said.

"Well, working families did take Mr Howard seriously.

"They voted for him, and he has breached trust with them on the core undertaking on interest rates."

Shadow treasurer Wayne Swan said the Government had ignored 20 Reserve Bank warnings in three years that Australia was suffering from a skilled labour shortage.

"The Government has been inactive and complacent about skills shortages and infrastructure bottlenecks that are putting upwards pressure on inflation," Mr Swan said.

Mr Howard said a statement by RBA governor Glenn Stevens that labour costs had been contained was an endorsement for the Government's workplace laws.

"That to me is a big tick for the Government's industrial relations policy, and a big warning sign to any change in that industrial relations policy," the PM said.

The surprise policy softening of WorkChoices enraged business groups but won grudging support from unions.

Workplace Relations Minister Joe Hockey unveiled the policy without fanfare yesterday during a debate in Canberra with Labor's IR spokeswoman Julia Gillard.

Under the new workplace plan, grandparents working in firms of more than 100 employees would be entitled to take up to 52 weeks' unpaid leave.

ABC radio presenter Jon Faine claimed yesterday that earlier this year, in an off-air conversation, Mr Costello told him rates would not rise in November.

But Mr Costello dismissed the claim saying anything he had said on rates was all on the public record.

GM's Holden to lay-off 600 workers

In the news: General Motors Corp.s GM Australian unit has announced last Monday that it will shed 15% of its workforce at its Elizabeth plant in South Australia State by the end of April. GM Holden Ltd. will offer voluntary redundancy packages to 600 workers who will be included in the 15% labor cut that GMs Australia subsidiary will implement at its plant, north of Adelaide. Such is the result of improved efficiency of its automated assembly which allows the auto maker to maintain production with fewer workers.

But according to some analysts the cutting down of workers by GMs Australian unit was due to the decline in sales of Holdens locally built Commodore range as Australian consumers opt for smaller and more fuel efficient vehicles.

According to Rod Keane Holden executive director, manufacturing operations in an interview with reporters in Adelaide, If Holden is to remain as one of the worlds most competitive and flexible plants we need to be as efficient as possible. And at this stage we have more resources than we need to achieve that.?Holden announced the job cut at a meeting participated by both white and blue collar workers. The automaker has given the workers until March 21 to decide whether they would accept the redundancy and retraining packages offered by the automaker.

Keane also added that no jobs would be lost at Holdens Melbourne engine manufacturing plant. It should be noted that Holden has already laid off 1400 jobs at its Elizabeth plant in August of 2005. Holden has currently 4050 employees and will be reduced further by shedding 600 workers resulting to 3450 workers at the plant. Keane also said that it is not guaranteed if there wont be any more job cuts in the future. You cant rule out anything in this business, obviously the market changes. We can never guarantee what the future holds.?br />
The decision for the job cut was also due to the decision of the company to end its production of the older VZ Commodore range and to focus on the production of its new VE models which according to the automaker is much easier to make.

For the past years Holden has invested A$532 million in the plant which has been described by Holden as one of the worlds most flexible and efficient plants. It is expected that production output will decline after the layoff from the current 620 cars to 520 cars a day and will return to its maximum capacity of 620 cars by October. Keane also said that they are expecting to produce 145,000 cars for this year.

The layoffs will surely humiliate Federal Industry, Tourism and Resources Minister Ian Macfarlane who even went to Detroit early this year just to report to GMworlds largest automaker and producer of quality GM fuel pumps --- and Ford Motor Co. that Australia is expecting more in return for the A$7.3 billion Automotive Competitiveness and Investment Scheme that would support the industry through 2015.

In a statement made by Macfarlane last Monday, Globally, the automotive industry is going through challenging times and the Australian industry is not immune to this. Holden is recognizing this and is making the difficult commercial decisions it needs to make to stay competitive in a tough environment.?br />

Similarly the layoff of the 600 workers will definitely hurt the federal Liberal National coalition government during the election in South Australia State where Holden is currently the largest private employer. The Elizabeth plant is situated in the seat of Wakefield which is held with a 0.7% margin while most of the plants workers live in nearby Makin electorate which held by a 1% margin. The car making industry of Australia employs about 70,000 workers which represents about 0.8% of Australias total workforce as of August of 2006.
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Unemployment at 33-year low

AUSTRALIA'S unemployment rate has fallen to a 33-year low of 4.2 per cent, giving the Howard Government further scope to campaign on its success in creating jobs.

Prime Minister John Howard this week said he wanted Australia to become a full-employment economy, and that the election would be a "referendum on which party is best equipped to achieve this goal".

Economists say the unemployment rate could drop to 3 per cent early next year.

The downside for the Government is that the tight labour market makes another election-year rate rise likely.

The September labour force figures show Victoria's unemployment rate is also at a record low, falling to 4.2 per cent — the lowest since the Bureau of Statistics started recording monthly figures in 1978.

The jobs figures show an extra 13,000 jobs created in the month — below market expectations of a gain of 20,000 — taking total employment to 10.5 million. Full-time employment fell by 17,200, but this was offset by a rise in part-time employment of 30,100. The participation rate fell slightly to 65 per cent.

The Coalition argues that the jobs growth is a result of its strong economic management and that WorkChoices has kept wage pressures contained.

Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Joe Hockey said that since March last year, when the Howard Government introduced the industrial relations laws, 430,700 jobs had been created. "Ultimately having a strong economy means that you have more jobs," he said.

But Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd argued that the growth in jobs had been driven by the resources boom. He said the Government wanted to take responsibility for positive jobs growth but had failed to take responsibility for higher interest rates.

Economists say rates could be increased again as early as next month if inflation data to be released on October 24 is above the Reserve Bank's target. Citi's director of economics, Stephen Halmarick, said the unemployment rate would be steady for the next few months but would move below 4 per cent by early next year.

"It will have a three in front of it in early 2008," he said. "The Reserve Bank's got more work to do. We think there will be two rate rises by early next year.

"The Reserve Bank has a view that wages pressures are higher than the official numbers are showing, and there's an argument that the Government's industrial relations changes could be helping as well (in containing pressures)."

Macquarie Bank interest rate strategist Rory Robertson said a sharp rise in the dollar would make the Reserve Bank more cautious about increasing rates again, but if the underlying inflation figures were 0.9 per cent in the quarter, it would have no choice but to raise rates. The dollar was at a 23-year high last night, reaching US90.57¢.


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Employment expected to rise solidly

October 10, 2007
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Another strong labour force report is expected, which will add to the risk of higher interest rates, possibly as early as next month.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics data was expected to show a further 20,000 rise in employment for the month of September, on top of the 31,900 established in August, economists said.

Some 170,000 jobs have been created so far this year.

The jobless rate is forecast to remain steady at a 33-year low of 4.3 per cent for a fifth straight month despite this expected employment increase.

This was because more people were likely to become officially unemployed searching for a job under the government's Welfare to Work scheme, economists said.

Prime Minister John Howard said earlier this week he wanted Australia to become a full-employment economy and that the election would be a "referendum on which party is best equipped to achieve this goal".



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Job boom in regional Victoria

UNEMPLOYMENT has reached a record low in regional Victoria, according to state Treasurer John Lenders.

Mr Lenders said unemployment in regional areas had slumped to a record 4.6 per cent.
Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that in the year to August, regional Victoria's employment grew by 4.1 per cent.

The state had the second highest regional growth rate in Australia, behind resource-rich country Queensland.

"The unemployment rate is down 0.8 percentage points in the quarter to 4.6 per cent which is the lowest unemployment rate on record for country Victoria," Mr Lenders said.

The strongest performing areas were the Central Highlands-Wimmera, which recorded employment growth of 2.6 per cent and Goulburn-Ovens-Murray, which grew by 2.1 per cent.
Both were record jumps in employment.

Global Manpower Employment Outlook Survey Reveals Strong Hiring Plans Ahead for Japan, Germany, India, Sweden and Australia

Employment up by nearly 32,000

A strong rise in employment in August means inflationary pressures will continue to pre-occupy the Reserve Bank of Australia, some economists believe.

The number of Australian residents with jobs rose by 31,900 (0.3 per cent) in August, seasonally adjusted, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said.

The rise, nearly twice what economists had expected, was dominated by full-time employment which was up by 29,100 (0.4 per cent).

Unemployment was at a 33-year low of 4.3 per cent for the fourth month in a row.
The figures are consistent with the spurt in economic growth starting in the December quarter of last year and continuing, according to the national accounts released on Tuesday, into the June quarter of this year.

There are some doubts over the economic outlook, thanks to weakness in the US economy and a rise in market interest rates around the world in response to the US sub-prime housing loans crisis.

This has led to some speculation that the RBA, along with other central banks, might cut their official interest rates to bring market rates back down.

That is undoubtedly a possibility, although it would be a high-risk option for the RBA.
The labour force figures confirm there is little margin for error for the RBA, as it ponders the inflationary risks posed by the strong growth in economic output and employment, and potential for those risks to be exacerbated by a rate cut that might turn out to be unnecessary.

The futures market still gives a rate hike by the year's end a better chance than a cut, pricing the cash rate for December at 6.57 per cent, compared with its current target of 6.50 per cent.

Jobs market tighter still

August 9, 2007 - 11:57AM

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A further 21,800 jobs were added to an already tight labour market in July, supporting the Reserve Bank of Australia's (RBA) decision to lift interest rates yesterday.

But despite this employment rise, the jobless rate held steady at a seasonally adjusted 4.3 per cent in July, reflecting the addition of 30,000 single parents seeking work as part of the Federal Government's welfare for work reforms, economists say.

The seasonally adjusted rise in employment was mostly full-time workers, according to data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics today.

Economists forecasts had centred on a 25,000 employment rise and a jobless rate of 4.4 per cent.

The RBA raised interest rates for the first time since November last year yesterday, citing renewed price pressures in the economy.

This lifted the cash rate to a near 11-year high of 6.50 per cent from 6.25 per cent.

Economists say there is the risk of a further rate rise late this year, or in the early part of 2008.

Among the states, the jobless rate in NSW remained at 4.7 per cent in July, while in Victoria it fell to 4.4 per cent from 4.6 per cent.

In Queensland the unemployment rate was 3.6 per cent compared with 3.5 per cent previously, in South Australia it rose to 4.9 per cent from 4.8 per cent, and in Western Australia it dropped to 3.3 per cent from 3.8 per cent.

In Tasmania, the rate fell to 4.8 per cent from 5.2 per cent, in the Northern Territory it stayed at 4.6 per cent and in the ACT it remained at 3.0 per cent.

Jobs data shows strong NSW economy: govt

Unemployment in NSW has edged up from 33-year lows to 4.3 per cent in June.

The latest national jobs figures, released on Thursday, show that 34,300 full-time jobs were lost last month.

But more than 1,100 residents a week, on average, still entered the workforce in the past year, said NSW Treasurer Michael Costa.

He said that in NSW, employment was at record levels and the unemployment rate was the lowest since June 1981.

"In 2006-07, employment in NSW grew by more than 58,000 jobs, an increase of 1.8 per cent on the previous financial year," he said.

"That's more than 1,100 jobs a week."

"Today's figures demonstrate once again the strength and soundness of the NSW economy."

Cleantech or Status quo Jobs?

by Nick BruseOne of the most exciting aspects of the cleantech/sustainability sector are the opportunities presented to create completely new industries over the coming years.

Transforming the way we approach housing, feeding and powering our society. Whilst at the same time attempting to maintain the quality of life, and I emphasis 'quality' not gluttony, and improve the standard of life for the developing world.

As an optimist I believe that humanity can take on this challenge, with a realistic understanding that its going to take a lot of hard work, innovation and leadership. What frustrates me is when conservative governments stand up and expouse that by leaving our old industries behind we will force our economies to suffer and jobs to be lost.

This is the mantra that we have heard in Australia time and time again under the Howard Government. What i would like to hear in Australia is that with our high quality research institutions, and plethora of cleantech startups we are now putting our hand up to be a leader in clean technology.

So my next question is, how many jobs is the cleantech sector including the jobs that will be created through carbon emissions trading, for auditing and assessment, and how does this compare with and emission intensive industry like coal mining.I hunted down some information on the Australian Coal Industries employment statistics and here's what i found.

Around 30,000 people were employed at Australian black coal mines at the end of 2005. This represents a return to levels not previously seen since the mid 1990's - the most recent peak being around 26,000 in 1996. Along with the decline in the number of underground mines, employment at underground mines declined significantly over the past decade - from around 11,000 in 1996 to just over 9,000 in 2005 - a drop of about 20 per cent. Employment in open-cut mines on the other hand increased from just under 15,000 to over 19,000 (30%) in the same period. 2006 statistics Australian Coal Association

Now I assuming that these figures don't include all the jobs in processing and handling. Possibly another 20-50% the figure. Now at this point the data on cleantech jobs is fairly hard to find, as we are talking about multi-industry analysis, and new industries sectors like emissions trading.

But i have found some stats from a Sustainable Energy Industries Report 2000 Total direct employment in the sustainable energy industry [in Australia] is in the order of 22,800 in 1999-2000 and 25,600 in 2000-2001. This represents an annual growth rate of 12%. The total employment effect of the sustainable energy industry on the economy is in the order of 64,000 in 1999-2000 and 72,000 in 2000-2001.Now there is 6 years between these reports but i think we can assume that the sector in renewable energy has increased somewhat.

Now theres not a huge amount of difference between these figures, So when the government talks about jobs what really is it talking about. My guess is that its talking not purely about economic losses from reducing the mining of carbon and our exports, but what its actually worried about is due to the nature of the way in which the coal mining industry differs from the renewables industry.

Centralised vs distributed. Fuel intensive vs Technology Intensive.My gut feeling is that with coal mining being centralised around mines and distribution routes that means you make policy decisions on coal mining that you affect centralised populations of voters, all in one electorate. When you make decisions about the renewable energy industry you are actually talking about a broad range of technologies associated with many different services providers spread over a broad number of electorates.

Hence decisions on coal mining can flip an electorate to the opposition very quickly, whereas decisions to renewables have only until now had a marginal effect on individual electorates. Sentiment is changing substantially that the federal government can no longer hide behind this dynamic much longer. I don't wish job losses on coal mining towns, but i do wish for the correct decisions to be made to not sell out the future of all Australians for short term political favour.

I'm interested in comments on this article, what's the status in Europe, India, China or the United States. How do other issues of energy security and economic security bear out regarding job creation in these regions.

Nick Bruse runs Strike Consulting, a growth venture consultancy specialising in the cleantech sector and hosts the cleantech show, a weekly podcast of interviews with leaders involved in clean technology research, entrepreneurship, commentary and investment.

Skilled vacancies fell 0.8%: govt data

Skilled vacancies fell 0.8 per cent in June, the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) data shows.

Its skilled vacancies index in June was 99.7, 6.2 per cent lower than in June 2006.
The annual fall in the index was largely due to a 10.5 per cent fall in skilled trade vacancies.
Vacancies fell for the three broad occupations in June.

Professionals were down 1.5 per cent, associate professionals fell 4.4 per cent and trades were off 1.0 per cent.

Skilled vacancies for 12 occupational groups fell in June, while six rose.

The largest fall was for medical and science technical officers, which were down 9.4 per cent. Wood trades were down 9.3 per cent, and marketing and advertising professionals were 6.3 per cent lower.

The strongest increase was for science professionals, which were up 5.4 per cent. This was followed by electrical and electronic trades, which rose 2.0 per cent, while automotive trades were up 1.9 per cent.

The Northern Territory and three states recorded increases in skilled vacancies in June.
The strongest rise was in the NT, which were up 1.5 per cent, followed by Victoria, up 1.2 per cent, Queensland up 0.5 per cent and South Australia up 0.2 per cent.

Over the month, falls in skilled vacancies were recorded for NSW, down 3.8 per cent, while Western Australia fell 2.8 per cent and Tasmania declined 1.6 per cent.
Over the year to June, increases in skilled vacancies were recorded in Queensland, which rose 14.2 per cent, while in SA they were up 12.7 per cent, and rose 9.2 per cent in both Tasmania and the NT.

However, in the year to June, they fell 21 per cent in NSW, 17.1 per cent in Western Australia and 12.9 per cent in Victoria.