Skills still wanting but applicants increase 1:58pm 5.06.08

Figures from the SEEK Employment Index (SEI), conducted by the online employment website, show that the were more jobseeker for fewer positions in May, although the number of jobs posted rose 3.5 percent for the first time this year.

While the skills shortage has been well documented, the rise in applicants may signal the shift back to an employers’ market, says SEEK sales director Joe Powell. “For a long time now, jobseekers have enjoyed a very strong bargaining position but increased competition for skilled work suggests this may be coming to an end.”
 
Employers will be pleased to see more quality candidates for positions advertised, says Powell, “however, it remains to be seen what impact, if any, this on loyalty of their current staff”.
 
The most competition was for positions in transport warehousing, packers and fillers, accounts payable, telesales staff and process workers.