Seasonally adjusted hours worked increased by 221 million hours (4.3 per cent) and filled jobs increased by 472,000 (3.4 per cent) in the December quarter 2021, according to figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
Bjorn Jarvis, head of Labour Statistics at the ABS, said “Hours worked and filled jobs both rebounded strongly in the December quarter 2021, as the lockdowns and other restrictions from the September quarter were eased.”
The 4.3 per cent increase in hours worked in December followed a fall of 4.8 per cent in the September quarter, while the 3.4 per cent increase in filled jobs followed a fall of 2.7 per cent.
“As we have seen throughout the pandemic, the recovery in hours worked was slower than the recovery in jobs, as business activity progressively ramped up during the quarter. While filled jobs in the December quarter were 0.6 per cent higher than June quarter 2021, hours worked were 0.7 per cent lower.”
| Filled jobs | Hours worked | |
|---|---|---|
| Mar qtr 2020 | 100 | 100 |
| Jun qtr 2020 | 94.4 | 90.3 |
| Sep qtr 2020 | 96.7 | 95.2 |
| Dec qtr 2020 | 99.2 | 98.3 |
| Mar qtr 2021 | 100.1 | 99.2 |
| Jun qtr 2021 | 101.7 | 101.2 |
| Sep qtr 2021 | 98.9 | 96.4 |
| Dec qtr 2021 | 102.3 | 100.5 |
“The December quarter was before the widespread impacts on hours worked associated with the Omicron variant of COVID, which were seen early in January. Labour Force statistics showed an 8.8 per cent fall (seasonally adjusted) in hours worked between December and January, with more people than usual sick or on leave.”
Multiple job-holding
The increase in filled jobs in the December quarter was seen in both main jobs (up 374,000, or 2.8 per cent) and secondary jobs (up 99,000, or 11.5 per cent).
“The larger percentage increase in secondary jobs reflected an increase in the number of multiple job-holders over the quarter, which rose by 13.1 per cent to over 850,000 people. The multiple job-holding rate increased by 0.6 percentage points to 6.4 per cent, the highest since the series commenced in 1994.” Mr Jarvis said.
Job vacancies
Demand for workers again grew in the December quarter following a fall in the September quarter, with job vacancies increasing by 58,000 (16.8 per cent).
“Job vacancies accounted for 2.7 per cent of all jobs in December quarter 2021. This share is the highest it has been in the three decades of Labour Account data, and well above the start of the pandemic, when it was 1.6 per cent.” Mr Jarvis said.
Industry
The rebound in the December quarter was reflected in growth in hours worked across 15 of the 19 industries and growth in filled jobs across 16 of the 19 industries.
As seen earlier in the pandemic, changes in the Accommodation and food services industry were the most pronounced, with an increase of 163,000 jobs (16.1 per cent) and 88 million hours (41.1 per cent). This followed large falls in the industry in the September quarter of 150,000 jobs (-12.9 per cent) and 98 million hours (-31.4 per cent).
| Sep qtr 2021 (%) | Dec qtr 2021 (%) | |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and food services | -31.4 | 41.1 |
| Arts and recreation services | -24 | 28.1 |
| Other services | -14.5 | 16.2 |
| Retail trade | -5.9 | 4.8 |
| Administrative and support services | -0.9 | 4.6 |
| Wholesale trade | -5.7 | 3.8 |
| Education and training | -2.2 | 3.3 |
| Transport, postal and warehousing | -7.6 | 2.8 |
| Manufacturing | -0.2 | 2.5 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | -1.9 | 2.1 |
| Construction | -4.5 | 1.7 |
| Mining | 1.7 | 1.6 |
| Rental, hiring and real estate services | -5.5 | 1.2 |
| Financial and insurance services | -0.4 | 1.1 |
| Electricity, gas, water and waste services | -3.5 | 0.3 |
| Public administration and safety | -1.4 | -0.4 |
| Health care and social assistance | 2.1 | -0.4 |
| Information media and telecommunications | -2.8 | -1.9 |
| Agriculture, forestry and fishing | 7.2 | -2.6 |
Construction was the only industry that had a fall in jobs (-1.4 per cent) in the December quarter, following an increase in the September quarter (1.2 per cent). Agriculture, forestry and fishing and Public administration and safety were the only industries that saw a decline in hours worked in December quarter following increases in both industries in the September quarter.
“While most industries saw an increase in hours worked in December 2021, 7 of 19 industries were still below their pre-pandemic levels.” Mr Jarvis said.
