SURGE IN LOCAL JOB ADS

JUNE NUMBERS SET GEELONG RECORD

DAILY job totals on the region’s largest advertisement website in June were up 300 on average from last September.

Geelong’s overall unemployment level sits at 3.7 per cent, with the rate among those aged under 24 at 7.4 per cent.

Marianne Messer, who tracks jobs advertisements for the Geelong Region Local Learning and Employment Network (GLLEN) via Geelong Careers, said advertisements were at record highs with strong demand across construction, retail, health and logistics.

“The national data is that there were more jobs advertised in Australia in June 2020 than there have ever been (in a month),” Ms Messer said.

“It’s a record. It’s the same for Geelong Careers, it’s a record.”

She said on average in September last year there were about 1000 jobs a day advertised on Geelong Careers, a website that collates jobs from free public boards.

In June, the average had risen to 1300-1400 a day.

In the first six months of the year, 1073 construction jobs, 755 health jobs and 237 logistics were advertised on Geelong Careers. All three categories were up on the same period in 2019.

Jobs in education dropped from 521 to 370 in the first six months of the year but rose from 42 in May to 71 in June.

The job ads data comes amid news the federal government did not renew the contract of the region’s employment facilitator, who assisted people into work, on June 30.

A spokesman for Employment Minister Michaelia Cash said the Jobactive program, the What’s Next website and online Skills Match tool were available to the public.

Ms Messer said construction was the biggest performer in our region last year and continued to lead this year. “That’s a reflection on the tradies still being able to work; people are getting things done like extensions and modifications, and the tradies themselves are still working on those big developments that stretch between Geelong and the coast, down to Torquay and Barwon Heads,” she said..

“Our population is continuing to grow, predictions are consistent that we are going to grow a third in the next 30 years, so those needs are going to have to be met and continue to create jobs for our region.”

Ms Messer said 4966 jobs were listed in the six months to July on Geelong Careers, down 3.6 per cent from 5155 for the same period in 2019.

In June this year, job views and applications via Geelong Careers totalled 9831 compared with 7353 for the same time in 2019, Ms Messer said.

More than 70 staff have also been hired to work at Coles in Armstrong Creek, due to open this week.