FX.co ★ Australia Job Ads Rise 1.8% MoM

ANZ–Indeed Australian Job Ads rose 1.8% month-on-month in May 2026, rebounding from a 0.6% decline in April and marking the first increase since February. The data continue to point to a gradual moderation in labour demand as higher borrowing costs weigh on economic activity. The overall rise was driven by stronger demand for roles in food preparation, education, nursing and construction. By contrast, transport and driving job ads fell sharply for a second consecutive month, likely reflecting disruptions associated with the Middle East conflict. ANZ economist Madeline Dunk observed that restrictive interest rates are expected to slow economic growth in the coming months, which should see job ads trend lower and the unemployment rate edge gradually higher. On an annual basis, job ads were up 2.0% and remained 15.1% above their decade-long average, indicating that labour demand is still relatively resilient despite emerging signs of cooling.