Asia Times: Over 125,000 jobs on offer as hiring hits a high



	July 01, 1999	atimes.com

Oceania

Over 125,000 jobs on offer as hiring hits a high

CANBERRA - More than 125,000 jobs will be on offer in Australia over the next three months as hiringhits a six year high, the latest Drake employment survey has found.

The survey, released Wednesday, found recruitment was set torise by 1.4 per cent between now and September.''This is the best ever result recorded since the employmentforecast's inception six years ago,'' Drake said.

''It is anticipated that over 125,000 opportunities will beon offer over the next three months, with the major slice ofthese emanating from the IT, retail, construction, businessservices and transport sector. The Australian jobs market continues to move from strength to strength."

Drake pointed to the fact that industry across the boardwas readying for a period of healthy jobs generation.The only exceptions were the government and resources sectors.Positions in customer service, sales and marketing will bein greatest demand, comprising up to 17.3 per cent of the jobopportunities in the quarter.

A further 16 per cent of positions will be available tofactory workers and 15 per cent to administrative and clerical staff.Hirings in the retail sector are expected to rise by 3.7per cent or 48,000 jobs over the coming quarter. Informationtechnology jobs are forecast to lift by 3.24 per cent or 5,000 jobs.

Hirings in construction are tipped to increase by 1.9 percent and in business services by 1.8 per cent.Despite a slow down in job opportunities in manufacturing,the sector is set to take on an extra 4,000 people over the quarter.

But hirings are expected to ease by 0.65 per cent inresources and by 0.15 per cent in government and utilities.All states except for Tasmania anticipate increased hiringsover the next three months.

Drake said the number of firms expected to recruit peoplewas also likely to rise.The number of firms in ''hiring mode'' is expected to liftfrom 17.4 per cent to 18.6 per cent over the quarter.''Jobs will be coming from a much wider base,'' Drake said.''The IT sector is again providing the greatest stimulus foropportunities - with up to 41.2 per cent of the sector poisedto employ."

As well, 23.4 per cent of construction firms intend to takeon workers in the next three months, along with 23.1 per centof retail firms.

(Asia Pulse)