Rate cut tipped despite upbeat job ads

Internet and newspaper job ads rose by 2.3 per cent in April, but this won't be enough to stop the RBA from cutting the official cash rate, economists say.

The website of online job search engine 'Seek' on a screen

Job seekers would have been fairly frustrated scrolling the internet for work in February. (AAP)

A surge in job advertisements in April is unlikely to be enough to keep the Reserve Bank of Australia from trimming the official cash rate on Tuesday, economists say.

Job ad numbers rebounded 2.3 per cent to 144,559 last month after falling 1.3 per cent in March, according to ANZ's monthly job advertisement series out Monday.

While newspaper ads fell 2.5 per cent, this was offset by the far greater number of internet ads, which rose 2.4 per cent.

Job ads are now up 7.3 per cent on a year ago, the ANZ data shows.

CommSec chief economist Craig James said while more job ads indicated a strengthening labour market, he still tipped the RBA to cut rates on Tuesday.

"It is good news that businesses are looking to hire staff. And it is good news that building activity is set to rise further in coming months," Mr James said.

"But with inflation well contained, the Reserve Bank can give the economy a helping hand with another ... interest rate cut."

ANZ chief economist Warren Hogan said a poor outlook for non-mining investment as well as weak consumer and business confidence would outweigh the upbeat jobs news.

"Despite the slightly better news on employment we continue to expect a rate cut at tomorrow's RBA Board meeting," Mr Hogan said.

Seventy-one per cent of the market is tipping the RBA to cut rates on Tuesday, most likely by 0.25 percentage points.

The job ads data was one of two upbeat data releases on Monday, with official building approvals hitting their highest level in three months.

Possible overseas shocks would probably outweigh the positive local data when the RBA met Tuesday afternoon, UBS economist Scott Haslem said.

He cited weaker commodity prices, slower Chinese growth and a soft capital expenditure outlook as reasons for the likelihood of a rate cut.

"The recent intensification of headwinds facing Australia ... still argues for the RBA to trim the cash rate one final time tomorrow," he said.


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Source: AAP


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