Employment Trends – July 2025

Snapshot of the latest employment trends for July 2025:

• The unemployment rate remains steady at 4.2%
• National job ads slowed by 4.8% (y/y) on SEEK
• Job ad volumes on SEEK have increased 0.3% month-on-month (m/m) nationally
• Applications per job ad (m/m) decreased 0.3% on SEEK

Job Advertisement Trends

SEEK’s July Employment Report shows that job ads have now increased for two months in a row, the first time this has happened since mid-2022. In July, job postings lifted slightly by 0.3% compared to the previous month, although overall volumes remain 4.8% lower than the same time last year in all states except South Australia.

Commentary from SEEK

SEEK Senior Economist, Dr Blair Chapman says:

“While a 0.3% rise in ad volumes is marginal, it marks two months of growth and extends the trend of stability seen since the beginning of the year. Over the past couple of years more Australians have taken on a second job, or are looking to do so, and more workers have entered or re-entered the workforce. This is likely in response to increased living costs, and as a result, competition is extremely strong for most available roles.” 

Industry Insights

The industries that experienced growth in job advertisements on SEEK during July were:

• Trades & Services: +1.4% (m/m)
• Hospitality & Tourism: +1.5% (m/m)
• Healthcare & Medical: +0.9% (m/m)

State and Territory Trends

Job advertisement trends on SEEK varied across states and territories:

• Queensland: +0.2% (m/m), -2.4% (y/y)
• Western Australia: +0.6% (m/m), -2.4% (y/y)
• South Australia: +0.4% (m/m), +5.0% (y/y)
• Northern Territory: +1.0% (m/m), -4.3% (y/y)
• Australian Capital Territory: -1.5% (m/m), -20.4% (y/y)
• New South Wales: +0.4% (m/m), -5.5% (y/y)
• Victoria: +0.3% (m/m), -7.9% (y/y)
• Tasmania: +0.2% (m/m), -9.0% (y/y)

For the first time in more than two-and-a-half years, ad volumes have grown twice in as many months, rising 0.3% m/m in July, bringing the quarterly change to 0%.

Horner CEO Perspective

Kylie Heffernan, CEO of Horner, commented:

“The SEEK Employment Dashboard for July 2025 paints a nuanced picture. Job ad volumes have edged up for the second consecutive month, showing a return to growth after a long period of flatness. At the same time, applications per job ad have dipped slightly for the first time in over two years, although candidate competition remains very strong and levels are still well above pre-COVID norms.

As recruitment experts, we see that this indicates that while demand for roles is stabilising, and in some areas growing, employers will need to work harder to attract the right candidates. That means being clear about role requirements, while also highlighting the benefits and career pathways available. Younger generations in particular are seeking more than just a job description – they want transparency and to understand how a role aligns with their values, lifestyle and future goals. Employers who can combine job description clarity, salary transparency and compelling benefits, backed by a strong candidate experience, will be best placed to succeed in this changing market.”

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If your organisation is finding it challenging to find top talent, contact your local Horner branch, submit a vacancy or email horner@horner.com.au to see how we can assist you with your temporary staffing, permanent recruitment or executive search needs. Connect with Horner today! We’re here to help.

About the SEEK Employment Report

The SEEK Employment Report is Australia’s leading employment index and provides a comprehensive overview of the Australian Employment Marketplace. The report includes the SEEK Employment Index (SEI) which measures only new job ads posted within the reported month to provide a clean measure of demand for labour across all classifications.

www.seek.com.au

About Indeed Hiring Lab

Indeed Hiring Lab creates innovative data insights on the global labour market that inspire new conversations about the state of work. As the economic research arm of Indeed, the world’s number one job site, Hiring Lab is driven by a team of leading economists who provide real-time thought leadership on global labour market conditions, including hiring trends, salary information, popular skills, and employer benefits.

www.hiringlab.org/au/