The private sector has led a decline in job vacancies in a "concerning" sign for job seekers as unemployment rises against the measure.

Vacancies across Australia were down 2.7 per cent in the three months to August to a total of 327,000 unfilled positions, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) figures released on Thursday.

The quarterly figures revealed the number of unemployed people for each job vacancy rose at the same time.

"The number of unemployed people for each job vacancy rose from 1.9 to 2.0, comparing May 2025 to August 2025. This is the highest level seen since February 2021," Robert Long, ABS Head of Labour Statistics, said.

The ratio indicates a more competitive market for job seekers looking to land new positions.

The unemployment rate rose in the same per

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