If you’re ready to take the next step in your career, there’s some good news coming your way. Your opportunities on SEEK were at a seven-year high in August. Not since 2010 have conditions for candidates been so positive. It may be time to reach for your resume.

The latest data from SEEK Employment Trends shows opportunities rose by 13.2% year-on-year in August. Whether you’re in Tasmania or the Western Australia, your prospects were looking up as every state and territory recorded an increase in opportunities in SEEK.

Michael Ilczynski, Managing Director for SEEK Australia and New Zealand, says it’s a great time to be a job seeker in Australia.

 “These positive trends in advertising on SEEK point to an improving labour market and suggests that positive economic momentum, evident in the June quarter National Accounts GDP Report, is continuing into the second half of the year,” he says.

Mining on the rise

There were only four industries that experienced fewer job opportunities in August. These were Banking & Financial Services; Call Centre & Customer Service; Insurance & Superannuation and Advertising Arts & Media.

The vast majority of sectors recorded year-on-year growth in August and the Mining, Resources and Energy industry led the way again with opportunities on SEEK rising by 72% and the average advertised salary was $111,477.

Ilczynski say that while this increase was coming off a low base, it shows positive signs for the industry.

“The pick-up of exploration activities by mining companies, especially in Western Australia, after cutbacks over the past few years, is driving job advertising growth on SEEK across the Mining, Resources and Energy industry,” he says.

More opportunities in SEEK

If you’re looking for your next role in Australia’s Information & Communications Technology industry, you’ll be pleased to know it is among the greatest sources of employment opportunities on SEEK.  It saw year-on-year growth of 9% in August and the average advertised salary was $102,736.

The Trades & Services industry is another strong source of opportunities on SEEK. In August, your prospects in the industry rose again by 28% year-on-year and the average advertised salary was $64,376.

The Healthcare & Medical industry is also among the greatest sources of employment opportunities on SEEK and they grew even more in August. They were up by 10% year-on-year and the average advertised salary was $86,943.

Meanwhile, Education & Training saw a year-on-year lift of 3% and the average advertised salary was $83,098. Childcare and outside school hours care workers are the most sought-after professionals across the industry.

“Childcare is a booming sector across Australia,” says Ilczynski. “A recent review of the Australian Childcare industry by Colliers International in May 2016 revealed that 1.2 million children attend approximately 17,000 government-approved childcare services nationwide, and those numbers have grown substantially over the last five years, recording an annual growth rate of 4.6 per cent.”

Trends across the country

The positive results from SEEK were shared across the country.  Some regions even bounced back to their pre-GFC levels of advertising.

The positive results from SEEK were shared across the country. Some regions even bounced back to their pre-GFC levels of advertising.

Opportunities were high across the largest employment states of Victoria and NSW and the trend has been growing over the past four months. South Australia and ACT also delivered strong results relative to the past five years.

“Advertising trends continue to be very positive in NSW [up 7.4% year-on-year], Victoria [up 15.5% year-on-year], South Australia [up 19.5% year-on-year], and the ACT [up 3.6 % year-on-year],” says Ilczynski. “In these regions, the number of job ads on SEEK have all recovered to their pre-GFC levels.”

There was great news for candidates based in Tasmania and The Northern Territory – both recorded the highest growth in job opportunities of all states and territories in Australia.  Although the results were coming off a low base, Tasmania enjoyed 33.8% year-on-year growth while NT was up by recorded a 23.7%.

If you’re based in Queensland, you’ll be pleased to know the labour market has been recovering since April and your opportunities on SEEK grew by 20.3% year-on-year in August. Trades & Services remains its top industry to advertise, recording year-on-year growth of 44%.

“In WA, conditions were weaker but still positive, with job ads on SEEK up 14.8% year-on-year,” adds Ilczynski. “Fuelling this growth was strong advertising across Mining, Resources & Energy [up 52% year-on-year], trades and services [up 26% year-on-year] and Healthcare & Medical [up 6% year-on-year].

Job prospects on SEEK have reached their highest level in seven years, presenting candidates with increased job prospects and opportunities. If you have been thinking about making a career change or looking for a new role, this may be your time to act.