Vacancies point to subdued job market

The Abbott government has been keen to talk-up recent job figures as a sign of strong employment growth, but data from one of its own departments suggest labour market conditions are likely to remain subdued.

The Department of Employment says the number of job vacancies posted on the internet is now 152,600 - or 49.8 per cent - below the March 2008 peak.

"This suggests that labour market conditions are likely to remain relatively subdued, at least in the near term," it says in its July vacancy report released on Wednesday.

In July, the number of vacancies rose by a seasonally-adjusted 1.8 per cent, compared to a month earlier, to be 2.9 per cent higher than a year earlier.

Vacancies increased in five of the eight occupational groups monitored by the department.

Technicians and trades workers were the most in demand in July, rising 3.2 per cent, while interest in labourers fell by a further 1.8 per cent to be the weakest occupation over the year at a fall of 24.1 per cent.