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Advertisements for jobs in Australia have fallen for the fifth straight month, as firms reduce hiring staff in the slowing economy.
Job ads in major newspapers and on the internet fell by 1.4 per cent to a weekly average of 245,734 ads per week in September, the latest ANZ job ads survey found.
This was after falling 4.9 per cent in August, its worst monthly fall since February 2001.
ANZ head of Australian Economics Warren Hogan said the decline in job advertisements had been concentrated in recent months.
"The latest result indicates that hiring intentions continue to soften through the second half of 2008," Mr Hogan said.
"Eventually this will show up as a weakening of employment growth and a rise in the unemployment rates."
The bank has lifted its forecast in the nation's jobless rate over the next 12 months, Mr Hogan said.
"(ANZ) now expects the unemployment rate to rise around 5.75 per cent over the second half of 2009," he said.
- AAP