New IVI data available for the first time

Vacancy Report June 2024

A new dimension to the Internet Vacancy Index (IVI) offers improved geographic refinement and comparability to other data products. The June IVI release features the Australian Bureau of Statistic’s Statistical Area Level 4 (SA4) for the first time.

National online job ads decreased last month, down by 4.2% or 10,100 in seasonally adjusted terms. Though job ads remain about 30% higher than in 2019, June recorded the strongest monthly decline since September 2022.

Online job ads were down in all states and territories, major occupation and skill level groups with Tasmania recording the biggest drop, followed by the Northern Territory. Among major occupation and skill level groups, Community and Personal Service Workers and Skill Level 2 occupations recording the strongest declines.

Online job ads decreased at a similar rate across capital cities (down by 14.8%) and regional Australia (14.6%) over the year.

Monthly spotlight – Boomtown Buzz: Unpacking changing demand patterns in thriving regional labour markets

The new dimension of Internet Vacancy Index results using the ABS’s SA4 regions represents a meaningful enhancement of these data. Not only does the new dimension offer greater geographical detail over the existing ‘IVI regions’ classification, but it is also now easier to align Internet Vacancy Index results with other data products. This includes the myriad of SA4 level data produced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and Jobs and Skills Australia’s Nowcast of Employment by Region and Occupation.

This month’s spotlight shows some of the ways these newly configured data can be used. Drawing on insights from recent analysis of Jobs and Skills Australia’s Regional Labour Market Indicator, we reviewed SA4 regions where current relative labour market conditions are considerably better than their long-term average.

Internet Vacancy Index results, in conjunction with other data for these regions, show how different combinations of existing and emerging demand drivers are contributing to these vibrant regional labour markets.