Job growth signs good

THE number of jobs advertised online and in newspapers has climbed for a sixth straight month, backing up other positive signs in the workforce.

Job ads rose 2 per cent to 181,435 in August, according to research from ANZ, representing a 13.3 per cent jump on the same time last year.

ANZ head of Australian economics David Plank said the figures pointed to a rise of 15,000-20,000 jobs each month in the short term.

Improvements of that calibre should keep the national unemployment rate broadly steady at 5.6 per cent.

“While the Reserve Bank is likely to find the ongoing improvement in labour market conditions encouraging, persistently low wage growth presents some uncertainty to the outlook for both consumption and inflation,” Mr Plank said in the report.