The news: The Seek Employment Report found job advertisements fell 1.2% month-on-month in December and were down 3.5% year-on-year. Applications per job ad declined 0.3%, indicating a sharper than usual year-end decline in job seeking activity.
However, advertised salaries increased 0.3% month-on-month in December, with 2025 marking the most stable year for monthly advertised salary growth since the conception of the data series, according to the Seek Advertised Salary Index.
The context: The report found Victoria led the monthly decline in job advertisements, down 1.4%, while Queensland was the most stable, falling just 0.1% month-on-month, supported by rising demand in government and defence, trades and services, and the construction sector.
Consulting and strategy, along with human resources sector, recorded the strongest increase in job advertising in December, although growth remained subdued.
Annual advertised salary growth accelerated in the second half of 2025, rising 3.8% year-on-year in December.
What they said: “Hiring typically slows down ahead of the Christmas and New Year period and the 2025 slowdown was a little bigger than we’ve seen historically. January traditionally brings renewed momentum into the employment market, as businesses reemerge from holiday mode,” Seek senior economist Blair Chapman said.
“Whether the rebound in January is enough to see job ads trending up again will soon be seen.”
The source: Seek Employment Report