The number of jobs advertised in Australia fell in December, after a year of strong employment growth that took the jobless rate to its lowest level since 2013.
ANZ's survey of job ads shows the number of positions advertised in the final month of 2017 sank 2.3 per cent from November, largely unwinding the increase recorded in the previous two months.
ANZ head of Australian economics David Plank said the fall in job ads in December may be a cause for concern, but it is not an uncommon move at the end of the year.
"There can be considerable volatility around this time of year," Mr Plank said.
"For this reason we are not unduly worried around the drop in December job ads."
Mr Plank said an easing in the pace of job ads growth in the final quarter of 2017 suggests a possible slowdown in employment growth in the months ahead.
The unemployment rate stood at 5.4 per cent in November, down from 5.8 per cent at the beginning of 2017. Offical figures for December will be released later in January.
"We believe that after 14 straight months of growth, employment has overshot the levels implied by job ads and as such a period of moderation in jobs growth is likely," Mr Plank said.
However, economic conditions suggest a continued improvement in labour market conditions over 2018, albeit at a slower pace, he added.
"A slow but steady reduction in spare capacity should also eventually feed into wage growth, providing some support for consumers," he said.
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