Back at work for 2025 and can't stand it? Bad news.
Right now is likely the worst time to be looking for a new job.
The number of applicants for every job advertised is at its highest ratio of the year in January.
For most roles, August is the best time to look, with the highest number of ads and typically fewer applicants for each one.
"Over Christmas and the holiday period people get a chance to re-assess what they want to do, how they feel about their jobs, so January is an elevated period of people searching," says Blair Chapman, senior economist for jobs website SEEK, which has analysed job advertisements and applications on its market-dominating site.
"They get back and think 'I thought a holiday would refresh that feeling I have about my work. It hasn't'. And then start searching."
Not to be ignored, December/January also marks the entry of a new batch of school and university leavers into the labour market.
But there are plenty of reasons for the mismatch between when people want new jobs and when most of them are advertised.
Hot weather, cold market
The majority of the reasons, the company's Seasonality Report finds, are practical.
"The August peak may reflect the timing of the financial year in Australia, with governments and businesses reassessing their staffing needs in the new financial year and staff leaving following annual performance reviews and bonus payouts, creating vacant positions."
"Ads are generally at their lowest level for the year in December. The public and school holidays in December and early January likely make it a more difficult time to recruit and onboard new employees than other times of the year."
Taking into account April, which generally has a long Easter break and school holidays, what this means is that generally there are going to be more potential positions for people looking for work in May and August than at other times of the year.
But the positions might not be in the field or sector the job-seeker wants.
"Some industry classifications have notably different job ad posting patterns from the aggregate," the report notes, with job ads for 'sales' roles generally peaking in January.
"For industries with more consistent and growing demand, like Healthcare and Medical, the difference between peak ad months and the average is not as large as it is for more seasonal industries."
New year, new start
This tallies with the experience of Craig Sneesby, chief executive officer of u&u Recruitment Partners
"It's very common in January for new positions to kick in," he says.
"People have the vision to get to the finish line of December, then break for a well-earned holiday. Commonly over that period, people set goals and aspirations for the year ahead, and that can often mean a change in career, so it's a very busy month for candidate interest in making change".
Mr Sneesby leads a team of more than 700 staff and contractors across Australia, who find staff for a broad range of jobs, from support roles up to executive level positions.
He says the market is now quiet for longer over summer.
"If I turn the clock back 10 years ago, the employment market would 'turn on' about the 10th or 12th of January. Now Australia Day (January 26) sparks the return to active job hiring," he says.
"More and more people are more and more mobile — people are going to Europe, North America — so you find employers are more active in November and December to make appointments to start in the new calendar year.
"The job seeker, if they could be forward-thinking, needs to start that level of interest (in switching employers) in November to secure a January transition."
A similar factor exists mid-year, where Mr Sneesby sees a "role spike" after budgets reset from the new financial year that starts July 1.
"So companies will go a little quieter towards the end of the financial year, then in July and August you see a big spike, new budget, new opportunities.
Time to go
It might be a statistically bad time to look, but separate research suggests that won't stop people.
In separate research, recruitment firm Robert Walters surveyed 7,750 white collar workers and found 56 per cent would would consider changing employers in 2025, with around the same percentage willing to shift interstate if needed.
In a statement released with the research, the firm's chief executive Shay Peters said improved job prospects, higher salaries and a resulting better standard of living are the key drivers.
"With over half of the workforce considering relocation and most employers unaware of this, it's clear that businesses are very disconnected from the needs of their employees. To retain talent, companies must understand and align with employee expectations before it's too late."
The cost-of-living crisis means interstate 'poaching' has become an issue in the labour market, particularly in public service jobs where the pay rates are clearer.
Trams in Melbourne currently advertise for Victorian police officers — who are in the middle of industrial action over their stalled pay deal — to move to the beaches of Queensland.
Similarly, teachers, nurses and medical staff have been targeted to shift across the nation to get better pay, conditions and lifestyle.
"The decision of where to live is no longer just a matter of preference, it has become a strategic decision driven by financial pressures," Mr Peters says.
"Choosing a place where one can earn a competitive income without spending most of it on daily living expenses will be a pivotal factor in these moves."
Still want to switch? Here's what to do
Just because the timing may not be perfect, it doesn't mean you shouldn't be looking for a new job now.
SEEK's Dr Chapman says the "natural flow" of the Australian work year means decision-makers are now largely back at their desks and planning the year ahead — and the level of advertisements in January is increasing.
"We're seeing more and more ads in January because there are more people searching," he says. "Business are becoming aware it is a good time to put out ads."
Similarly, u&u's Craig Sneesby says the jobs market is like the property market: you're searching for the right job at the right time for you.
"I'm a big believer in don't just jump for the sake of change," he says.
"Make yourself known to recruiters and employers for future opportunities. Set yourself up, polish your LinkedIn profile, meet people, maker yourself visible. You only get one chance at your career, so hold and be patient.
"Get to that point and you're ready to make the right change."
