There are more than 40 applicants for every job being posted in Australia, with a fiercely competitive jobs market seeing the number of Aussie job applications reaching record levels, according to a new report.
The 2025 State of the Market Report, by recruitment platform JobAdder, found the number of Australians applying for jobs has reached an all-time high while the number of jobs being posted dropped in the last year.
The data showed that the number of Australian job applications have increased by 44 per cent in the last year, while the number of jobs created dropped by more than 5 per cent in the same time period.
It also found that on average there were 41 candidates applying for a job in the fourth quarter of 2024, with the number of job applications per position listed by recruitment firms up 44 per cent for 2023 and 167 per cent from 2022.
“This surge in job applications highlights a fundamental shift; recruitment is no longer about attracting candidates, but managing high volumes and identifying quality talent,” JobAdder CEO Martin Herbst said.
“Agencies must rethink their hiring strategies to handle this evolving landscape efficiently.”
Tech companies tighten budgets
This gap is particularly stark in the tech sector, Nicole Gorton, a director at recruitment agency Robert Half, said.
“While companies are still hiring in the tech space, there is a disproportionate number of candidates available compared to opportunities,” Gorton told Information Age.
“This competitive landscape reflects a shift in employer behaviour, where budget constraints are tight and the need for business growth is essential.
“While companies are indeed hiring, they are being more strategic in their tech recruitment efforts by being more selective about the roles they fill and the individuals they bring on board, focusing on candidates who precisely align with their specific needs and long-term objectives.”
Full-time jobs out, temp and contract roles in
The report also revealed that temporary and contract roles accounted for about 80 per cent of all placements posted on the jobs platform last year, an increase of 2.5 per cent from the previous 12 months.
“The job markets reflect broader economic conditions, and 2024 has been a challenging year for Australia,” Herbst said.
“Employers are hesitant to overcommit to new hires while relying on temporary staff to manage fluctuating workloads.”
The number of jobs per recruitment agency has declined by 5.6 per cent in the last year, from an average of 55.6 in Q4 2023 to 52.5 in Q4 2024.
For job seekers, Gorton said it’s important to stand out from the pack and make sure an application is specifically targeted at the job in question.
“To navigate this challenging environment successfully, tech job seekers must focus on showcasing their unique value proposition by demonstrating how their skills and experience directly address the specific requirements of the roles they are pursuing,” she said.
“Ensuring you talk achievements rather than responsibilities, networking strategically and demonstrating a strong understanding of the company’s culture and goals are essential strategies for standing out in the current crowded field.”
A transformative year
The latest report backs up a number of studies that have also found that the Australian labour market is tightening at a rapid rate, with job applications going up but the number of jobs advertised declining.
Late last year it was revealed that tech job applications doubled in the two years to the end of 2024, with ICT advertisements being listed sitting at below pre-COVID levels.
A separate study found that one in three job seekers were struggling to find a new role, with a quarter also unable to find any roles that matched their skillset.
