The Smart State and the west lead employment expectations

The Smart State and the west lead employment expectations

Queensland and West Australia are the most optimistic about employment opportunities. The latest TMP Worldwide Job Index has found that employers from the two states are planning on recruiting new staff and retaining current employment levels.

The survey has found that more than 90 per cent of Australian businesses plan to hire new staff, or keep their work force steady at the current rate. Compared to the same survey of last year the figures are up by 8.1 per cent. Medium sized business, which they define as being between 20 and 200 employees, remain the most optimistic nation wide. TMP surveys 5800 Australian employers, who are responsible for 3million jobs, for the survey.

Queensland, dubbed the smart state, is the most optimistic about the next three months according to the survey. They are above the national average in optimism and the number one state for hiring at present.

TMP found that employment prospects in the technology sector are looking up. IT is the third largest sector expecting to increase staff behind accounting and finance and sales. Records managers will be pleased to learn that the legal industry is also looking to increase staff levels.

The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) is the least likely to increase IT staff levels. Compared to last year's survey IT employment opportunities will drop by 21.5 per cent, 7.5 per cent below the national average.

IT optimism remains steady in South Australia (SA), but Queensland is "buoyant."

Around the states, small businesses are more likely to be hiring staff in New South Wales (NSW) than medium or large sized companies. Old rival Victoria lags behind the northern and western states and has the lowest levels of optimism.

Queensland has been in the top three states for eight of the previous 10 TMP Job Indexes, the company reports. West Australia is now the second most optimistic state and is "not far behind" Queensland with an optimism level of 27.9 per cent.

Government "not surprisingly" remains the most optimistic employer in the ACT.

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