ABS: Payroll Jobs In Mid-Feb 1.3% Below Start Of Pandemic Levels

The ABS notes that "payroll jobs in mid-February were 0.5% lower than a year earlier. Payroll jobs remained steady in the fortnight between the end of January and mid-February. As a result, over this period payroll jobs went from being around their 2020 level to being slightly below. Payroll jobs in mid-February 2021 remained 1.3% below the start of the pandemic. Around 85% of payroll jobs lost in the first month of the pandemic had been regained. All states and territories, other than Victoria and Western Australia, saw an increase in payroll jobs in the fortnight to 13 February. The largest increase was in the Northern Territory (up 1.4%). Payroll jobs decreased by 0.4% in both Victoria and Western Australia, with the latter affected by lockdown restrictions in the first week of February. Differences were also seen across industries in early February. Amongst the five largest employing industries, payroll jobs rose across the fortnight in two; Education and training and Retail trade (up 2.8% and 0.2%). These increases were offset by falls in the three other large employing industries; Professional, scientific and technical services, Accommodation and food services and Health care and social services (down 2.0 percent, 0.3% and 0.2%)."