Jobs market to strengthen in 2015

Jobs are back on the agenda for employers in 2015, with Hudson Recruitment’s latest report on hiring intentions showing positive signs, while research from hiring website Indeed has found that unfilled jobs cost Australian $6.7 billion annually.

The results in the Hudson survey contrasted with the release of National Australia Bank’s November business survey today, which found business confidence was at its lowest point since the 2013 federal election.

Nearly 19 per cent of employers, in net terms, were looking to increase permanent staffing levels in the first quarter of 2015 in Hudson’s survey, the highest level since the second quarter of 2012.

The March figure was 5.6 percentage points higher than the level in the previous survey.

A net 14 per cent of employers plan to increase their temporary workforce in March quarter, more than 9 percentage points higher than this time last year.

Meanwhile, research by employment website Indeed found that unfilled positions reduced GDP by around 0.5 per cent.

For every vacant job, the report said, there were five unemployed people, compared to a three for one ratio in 2011.

More than one in ten jobs remain vacant for three months or more.

Mining, construction and professional and technical services firms were the biggest contributors, with openings worth more than $220 million a month in lost GDP.