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Australian job vacancies rise 2.7% in February quarter

By Thomson Reuters Apr 1, 2026 | 8:18 PM

SYDNEY, April 2 (Reuters) – Job vacancies in Australia rebounded to their highest in ​more than a year ‌in the February quarter, data showed on Thursday, led by gains in the construction, retail and ‌accommodation ​sectors.

Figures from the ⁠Australian Bureau of ⁠Statistics (ABS) showed vacancies rose 2.7% in the three months to February, following a ​revised 0.5% gain the previous quarter.

That left vacancies up ⁠3.7% on ⁠a year earlier at ​337,900, the highest reading since ​the November quarter of 2024.

Vacancies in ‌the private sector rose 3.2% while those in the public sector fell 0.7%. ⁠Vacancies increased in 12 of the 18 industries covered.

The gains in vacancies suggest ⁠the ‌labour market is ⁠in good health and ​no ‌impediment to another rise ​in ⁠interest rates should the Reserve Bank of Australia feel it necessary to contain inflation.

(Reporting by Wayne Cole; Editing by ​Himani Sarkar)