GOOD NEWS AS UNEMPLOYMENT RATE DIPS: WHERE THE JOBS ARE

Resources jobs surge but retail suffering

EMPLOYERS have been warned to act quickly to fill roles as demand for highquality candidates increases in the Far North.

The call comes as data revealed new job advertisements on SEEK for Cairns and Far North Queensland grew 21.1 per cent year between June-August 2016 and JuneAugust 2017.

Mining, resources and en- ergy jobs grew while retail jobs declined by 10 per cent.

The good news was coupled with a 5.8 per cent unemployment rate, the lowest the region has seen in eight years.

State Treasurer Curtis Pitt credits the government’s job placement subsidies for the rise and Pete Faulkner of Conus agreed, saying jobs had to exist for support to succeed.

Precruitment Cairns man- aging director Gayleen Toll said the company had noticed a rise in advertisements and said skilled administration applicants were increasingly difficult to source.

“In the past weeks, we have had candidates withdraw from interviews as they have found employment before a scheduled interview,” she said.

New mining projects in north, west and central Queensland and the reopening of other sites after shutdown periods were also creating new job vacancies, Ms Toll said.

The effects of online shopping could still be posing ramifications for the retail sector.

Herron Todd White research director Rick Carr said, while the job ad figures from SEEK were slightly stronger than he expected, the rise was consistent for the region.

“It’s obviously come off a very low base. Two years ago mining companies were putting people off but it is starting to recover,” he said. “Manufacturing and administration job ads could be a flow-on effect from the mining industry.”