Olivier Internet Job Index report

Internet Job Index surveyed 105,371 positions vacant ads on commercial job sites in October and analysed them by state and industry sector.


Some sectors surged, while others languished, in a mixed job result for October, according to the new Olivier Internet Job Index. ìThe building boom was the big bang this month,î says Robert Olivier, a Director of the Olivier Recruitment Group, ìand the Tourism and Media sectors made significant gains, perhaps due to the Rugby World Cup. However some other sectors were very quiet.î

The seasonally adjusted Internet Job Index data shows an employment market that was level pegging, primarily due to the effect of the school holidays.

11 out of 21 industry sectors were up, but 10 went down. Overall there was a seasonally adjusted increase in ads of 0.1%. This new data gives mixed signals about an interest rate rise to the Reserve Bank.

ìAs a recruiter we knew that the school holidays took their toll on job ads, stalling the market’s momentum. There was a lull in the middle of the month,î Robert Olivier says. ìNow buoyancy has returned, although not quite as strongly.


ìOur week by week analysis of October showed that job numbers had largely recovered by the fourth week, but overall September was a stronger month. We may be seeing the effects of a two speed economy here.î

Some sectors were thriving during the month, including Building and Construction, which recorded a bumper 29.14% increase (seasonally adjusted). There has been a 45% increase in jobs in the past 12 months.

With the leveling off in housing prices, and the IMF’s concern about the Australian house price boom this is a real dilemma for the RBA. The loss of momentum in the job market, the need to dampen the housing boom, and the mixed signals from the US all add to the conundrum the Reserve Bank faces.

ìLooking forward we know that historically in October, November and December the raw job numbers drop away. But in seasonally adjusted terms the trend is still positive,î Robert Olivier says.

The broadly anticipated interest rate increase of 0.25% is unlikely to affect employers’ plans. ìHiring confidence is based on overall business confidence not just the cost of funds,î Robert Olivier.

The Advertising and Media sector rose 12.38% in the run up to Christmas promotions. The Rugby World Cup may have had an influence on those figures and in the Hospitality Tourism and Travel sector which grew a robust 8.40%. Engineering and mining dropped 8.49% in the month, perhaps reflecting the strength of the Australian dollar on commodities markets.

The IT sector came off the boil slightly, dropping 1.54%. The sector which once dominated the internet job market now ranks fourth, behind Trades and Services; Sales, Marketing and Customer Service; and Accounting.

While NSW and Victoria are enjoying some growth in the past month, Queensland now accounts for 22% of all jobs advertised on the net in Australia. ìQueensland is roaring,î Robert Olivier says, ìthis is because many ads that were in newspapers there are now being carried on the net, too.

ìQueensland employers are now drawing people out of southern states who are looking for a better climate and a lower cost of living. They can now find the jobs because they’re advertised on the net, not just in local Queensland newspapers.î



Robert Olivier is a Director of Olivier Recruitment Group, one of Australiaís Top 100 fastest growing companies, according to BRW. The Olivier Internet Job Index surveyed 105,371 Positions Vacant ads on commercial job sites in October and analysed them by state and industry sector.