The number of payroll jobs in mid-October was broadly similar to mid-September, up slightly by 0.2 per cent over the month, following a 0.1 per cent rise the month before, according to figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
Bjorn Jarvis, ABS head of labour statistics, said: “In the latest data, jobs reported through Single Touch Payroll held steady over the month to mid-October.
“The rise in the Public administration and safety industry continued over the month and into the latest week of data, reflecting a large number of temporary roles related to the recent referendum on an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice on 14 October.
“Without the influence of the increase from jobs related to the referendum, the latest data would have shown a slight fall in payroll jobs, of around 0.3 per cent, over the month to mid-October. Some of this reflects seasonal changes, such as the seasonal downturn in Education and training which fell by 1.2 per cent around the spring term break, and accounted for around a quarter of total payroll job losses.”
| 2020-21 (pts) | 2021-22 (pts) | 2022-23 (pts) | 2023-24 (pts) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 97.5 | 103.6 | 109.3 | 113.3 | |
| 98.6 | 104.4 | 110.7 | 113.3 | |
| mid-Jul | 98.7 | 104.1 | 110.7 | 113.3 |
| 98.9 | 102.9 | 110.8 | 113.9 | |
| 99.1 | 103.1 | 111.2 | 114.3 | |
| 99.2 | 102.9 | 111.3 | 114.7 | |
| 99.1 | 102.8 | 111.6 | 115.0 | |
| 99.2 | 102.1 | 111.8 | 115.1 | |
| 99.3 | 101.6 | 112.0 | 115.2 | |
| 99.6 | 101.7 | 112.0 | 114.9 | |
| 100.0 | 102.3 | 112.1 | 115.0 | |
| 100.2 | 102.7 | 112.2 | 115.2 | |
| 100.0 | 102.5 | 111.8 | 115.2 | |
| 99.3 | 102.2 | 111.4 | 115.0 | |
| 99.5 | 102.6 | 111.6 | 115.0 | |
| mid-Oct | 100.4 | 104.3 | 112.2 | 115.4 |
| 100.7 | 105.5 | 112.6 | ||
| 100.9 | 106.4 | 112.6 | ||
| 101.3 | 106.9 | 112.8 | ||
| 102.1 | 107.4 | 113.3 | ||
| 102.4 | 107.9 | 113.6 | ||
| 102.8 | 108.2 | 113.8 | ||
| 103.3 | 108.7 | 114.1 | ||
| 103.4 | 108.5 | 113.9 | ||
| 102.6 | 107.7 | 113.3 | ||
| 98.8 | 104.0 | 110.0 | ||
| 96.1 | 99.8 | 105.3 | ||
| 97.4 | 100.4 | 105.6 | ||
| mid-Jan | 99.5 | 102.6 | 108.0 | |
| 100.5 | 104.1 | 109.4 | ||
| 101.1 | 104.9 | 110.1 | ||
| 101.6 | 105.4 | 111.0 | ||
| 102.3 | 106.0 | 111.5 | ||
| 102.6 | 105.8 | 112.1 | ||
| 103.1 | 105.6 | 112.6 | ||
| 103.3 | 106.0 | 112.9 | ||
| 103.7 | 106.9 | 113.1 | ||
| 103.8 | 107.3 | 113.3 | ||
| 103.7 | 107.4 | 113.5 | ||
| 102.8 | 107.1 | 113.2 | ||
| 102.5 | 107.4 | 112.5 | ||
| mid-Apr | 102.7 | 106.7 | 112.2 | |
| 103.0 | 106.4 | 112.6 | ||
| 103.3 | 106.9 | 112.9 | ||
| 103.7 | 107.4 | 113.3 | ||
| 104.0 | 107.7 | 113.7 | ||
| 104.2 | 108.0 | 113.7 | ||
| 103.9 | 108.2 | 113.7 | ||
| 103.5 | 108.1 | 113.7 | ||
| 103.7 | 108.5 | 113.7 | ||
| 103.8 | 109.0 | 113.9 | ||
| 103.5 | 109.1 | 113.7 |
Indexed to the week ending 14 March 2020.
Mid-Jul represents the week ending 18 July 2020, 17 July 2021, 16 July 2022 and 15 July 2023.
Mid-Oct represents the week ending 17 October 2020, 16 October 2021, 15 October 2022 and 14 October 2023.
Mid-Jan represents the week ending 16 January 2021, 15 January 2022 and 14 January 2023.
Mid-Apr represents the week ending 17 April 2021, 16 April 2022 and 15 April 2023.
Over the 12 months to mid-October 2023, payroll jobs rose 2.9 per cent, a slight increase in the rate of annual growth from 2.7 per cent in mid-September 2023.
“The monthly and annual growth in payroll jobs continue to be weaker than what we saw in 2022 and early in 2023. This, along with what we’re seeing in other ABS labour market data, may suggest labour market growth is starting to slow,” Mr Jarvis said.
Payroll jobs rose in six of the eight states and territories over the month to mid-October 2023, with the largest rise in Tasmania (up 0.5 per cent) followed by Queensland, Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory (all up 0.3 per cent).
The largest shares of the national increase were in Victoria and Queensland, which together accounted for around two-thirds of the total rise over the month.
“In line with the national picture, all states and territories saw strong increases in the Public administration and safety industry related to the referendum.
“We also saw payroll jobs in Retail trade increase across all states and territories to mid-October, as recruitment ahead of the peak shopping season began,” Mr Jarvis said.
Over the 12 months to mid-October 2023, payroll jobs rose in every state and territory, with the Northern Territory recording the largest growth (up 5.4 per cent) and New South Wales the smallest (up 2.5 per cent).
