REPEAT: MNI Data Analysis: Australia Job Vacancies Up 7 Qtrs

Repeats Story Initially Transmitted at 01:05 GMT Mar 29/21:05 EST Mar 28

By Sophia Rodrigues

     SYDNEY (MNI)  - Job vacancies in Australia rose for the seventh straight

quarter, marking the longest stretch of increase since 1995 and pointing to

continued strength in the labor market.

     The data validates the Reserve Bank of Australia's forecast for a

continuation of above-average growth in employment over the coming months. But

doubts remain about how fast this would lead to a fall in the jobless rate and

acceleration in wage growth, given there is uncertainty about participation rate

and the full employment level.

     The latter would determine the timing of the first hike in the RBA's cash

rate in this current cycle.

     Data published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics Thursday showed job

vacancies rose 4.4% in the November-February quarter compared with a 3.3% rise

in the August-November period. In y/y terms, job vacancies rose a strong 19.4%.

     The latest rise was due to a 5.8% increase in public sector vacancies which

partly rebounded from a 7.0% fall the quarter before. Private sector vacancies

rose 4.2%, following a 4.5% rise the quarter prior.

     From job vacancies data for the November-February period published by the

Australian Bureau of Statistics on Thursday:

                    November-February           August-November

---------------------------------------------------------------

                (seasonally adjusted)     (seasonally adjusted)

All Sectors                      +4.4  +3.3 (revised from +2.7)

Private Sector                   +4.2  +4.5 (revised from +3.8)

Public Sector                    +5.8  -7.0 (revised from -7.5)

--MNI Sydney Bureau; tel: +61 2-9716-5467; email: sophia.rodrigues@marketnews.com

[TOPICS: MTABLE]