Payroll Jobs Tick Higher

The ABS notes that "payroll jobs rose by 1.3% in the fortnight to 16 October 2021, following a fall of 0.5% in the previous fortnight. Payroll jobs increased through the first half of October, as lockdowns and other restrictions eased - particularly in New South Wales (up 3.5%), the Australian Capital Territory (up 2.4%) and Victoria (up 0.8%). During the latest fortnight there were noticeable differences in week-to-week changes, which reflected changes in lockdown conditions and seasonal changes around the end of the school holidays. The latest week of data, which ended on 16 October, coincided with lockdowns and other restrictions starting to ease in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, with payroll jobs increasing by 2.2% and 1.6% over that week. The week-to-week data also shows some businesses preparing for reopening, beyond the increases we would normally expect to see after the school holidays. This was seen in the week to 9 October in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, and in Victoria in the week to 16 October."