The number of people applying for a single job has more than quadrupled since 2024, prompting job hunters to use social media to find work.
Australian Bureau of Statistics research shows that when it comes to online job listings, what used to be the average of 41 candidates applying for a job advertisement in late 2024 has now increased to around 184 per job – the highest number on record.
Slacks Creek electrotechnologist Shawn Wong completed his certificates in Electrotechnology last year and had been applying online for electrical apprenticeships for over eight months with no success.
“I am interested in a long-term career in the electrical trade because I enjoy problem-solving with my hands, and building the infrastructure to power homes and businesses has always intrigued me,” he said.
“I put in hundreds of applications with cover letters and my relevant qualifications and no hits.”
“Each job posting had about an average of 500 applicants.”
Mr Wong finally managed to secure a role as a Trades Assistant at an electrical and heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning company after posting on local Facebook groups.
“It took reaching out to the different communities that got me the most results,” he said.
“I think it’s because there is an influx of people coming in online and employers are being very particular about hiring, since they have to pick one or two candidates out of hundreds of applications.”
Bethania resident Adie Munezero recently lost her job as a mental health clinician and has also taken to Facebook to look for work.
“Through a local group on Facebook, I’ve had two people reach out asking for my resume, and one person gave me future job prospects,” she said.
“I feel like with Facebook groups, it’s more local and more of a community.
“A person will give you genuine guidance or a recommendation because they aren’t getting paid to do it; they are just helping a community member with information.”
Mrs Munezero said social media was quicker than websites.
“I think Facebook is a lot faster than seek or other websites – it can take months for you to get any response, and I received responses in just a few days after posting on social media,” she said.
Mrs Munezero is still looking for work and is adamant that social media is the way to go.
