ANZ Research data has shown the number of job advertisements on the internet and in newspapers dropped by 2.9% in November, the eighth consecutive decline following a 4.6% fall in October.

The research shows the total number of job advertisements in November was 17% below the levels seen 12 months ago and the lowest since January 2010.

ANZ head of Australian economics and property research Ivan Colhoun, attributed the ongoing decline to ‘weakness in job advertisements across the mining states of Western Australia and Queensland’.

“With the mining investment profile now not as robust as earlier expected, a pick-up in non-mining activity in the near term remains important. However, despite some signs of improvements in a number of economic indicators, including building approvals and retail spending, the recovery in non-mining activity remains very tentative,” Mr Colhoun said.

“Without a solid pick-up in the non-mining sectors as the mining investment boom winds back through 2013, the unemployment rate is set to drift higher to 5.75% by mid 2013. Without further monetary policy easing, the unemployment rate may rise towards 6% by the end of 2013.”

The full ANZ data release can be read here.