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SYDNEY - Job advertisements in Australian newspapers and on the internet surged a total 12.1 per cent in December, the largest monthly gain in more than seven years, a private-sector survey showed on Monday.
The number of job advertisements in major metropolitan newspapers rose a seasonally adjusted 4.4 per cent in December, the biggest gain in seven months, to an average 20,594 per week.
Newspaper ads were 0.2 per cent higher than in December 2005, a major improvement from November when they were down 5.5 per cent on the year.
Internet job advertising jumped 12.9 per cent in December, to average 189,807 per week, lifting the annual rate of growth to 32.1 per cent.
As a result, the total number of job advertisements climbed 12.1 per cent to 210,401. That was the biggest monthly gain since the internet and newspaper series were combined in 1999 and left ads 28.1 per cent higher than in December 2005.
The figures could stir speculation that the official December employment report, due on Thursday, could show another strong result.
- REUTERS
