JOB MARKET UPDATE – April 2025
What the Numbers Say and Where the Talent’s Moving
The April 2025 SEEK job market data continues to reflect a broader cooling trend across almost all major job categories. The numbers suggest that demand is still easing, with several categories experiencing declines both month-on-month and year-on-year. For employers, recruitment professionals and jobseekers, this signals a cautious hiring landscape, possibly being shaped by economic pressure and a shift in strategies.
What the Numbers Say
From Accounting to ICT, the majority of sectors are showing lower job ad volumes compared to April 2024. Even where there are small month-on-month lifts — like in Admin & Office Support or ICT — they are not strong enough to indicate a reversal of the downward trend. In most cases, April 2025 volumes are significantly below those seen a year earlier.
Observations by Job Category
- Accounting:** The Accounting sector continues its downward slide, dropping significantly from April 2024 to April 2025. While this may reflect broader financial conservatism and internalisation of functions, it’s also a sign that hiring in traditional professional service areas remains cautious and raises the question; are employers in this space delaying backfilling or replacing roles, particularly at mid-level. More next month!
- Sales:** While job ad numbers in Sales have continued to drop, it’s important to note that part of this decline may reflect a shift in advertising platforms. LinkedIn data from last month suggested a stronger presence of Sales roles there, which could mean fewer ads are being posted on traditional job boards — not necessarily a true downturn in demand. Keep watching to get the full picture.
- ICT: ** ICT roles saw a slight month-on-month increase, but overall numbers remain well below those seen a year ago. While the tech sector continues to feel the effects of what appears as decline, which could indicate the changes in Tech, and considerations of AI, certain specialist areas — like cybersecurity and AI-related roles — may be holding firmer than generalist IT positions before the broader hiring wave in tech starts again, in a different kind and more futuristic specialists in the new tech space. Get AI Specialist ready!
- Manufacturing & Transport:** As we weren’t reporting on this section in April 2024 we cannot do a comparison of year on year at this stage. However, while we saw a drop from February 2025 to March 2025, there has been no significant changes in April.
- CEO/GM & Legal Roles: ** All categories have seen a continued, gradual decline. This is maybe tied to cautious movement and maybe some consolidation in legal staffing – generally reflecting conservative business outlooks. Getting future ready having the best in Leadership skills is a must for the future. Watch for our Podcasts – Future Proofing Staff, Episode 14 also Episode 15 – Must Have Leadership Skills – COMING SOON
- **Human Resources:** HR job postings remain relatively flat, which may suggest many organisations are holding off on internal growth or structural changes until conditions stabilise further.
What This Means for You
This is not yet a market of resurgence and the current environment offers employers an opportunity to reassess future talent acquisition strategies. For our job seekers, it allows you to consider and evaluate where and how the future may be going for your next career move.
Targeted hiring can yield better long-term value but also requires sharper messaging and more thoughtful recruitment engagement. Categories like Admin, ICT, and Manufacturing may offer specific opportunity pockets – so get you and your business future ready, while caution is still the dominant theme.
Final Thoughts
We’ll continue tracking these trends monthly to help make smarter hiring decisions based on real market movement. For now, the key message is this: the job market has not yet turned a corner — but those who are ready when it does, will be best placed to lead it and succeed.
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