If you’re looking for a job in Australia, do we have some good news for you.

Job vacancies are now the highest they’ve been in over five years, having increased in each of the past 12 months.

According to Department of Employment’s Internet Vacancy Index (IVI), job vacancies placed online grew by 0.5% to 176,700 in October, leaving the increase on a year earlier at 8.4%.

It now stands at the highest level since May 2012 — a good sign on the outlook for employment growth.

Across the country, vacancies grew in all states and territories aside from Tasmania over the year, led by strong performances from the Northern Territory, Western Australia and Queensland.

That likely reflects improved economic conditions in the mining sector, along with a smaller number of vacancies compared to the levels seen in prior years.

The government said that openings increased in 32 of 37 regions over the year, led by strong gains Queensland.

“The strongest rises recorded in Outback Queensland (+45.3%), Far North Queensland (+35%), Central Queensland (+33.3%) and Pilbara and Kimberley Western Australia at 32.2%,” it said.

“It should be noted that these increases are off a low base and for all four regions the level of job advertisements remains below the level recorded five years ago.”

This map shows the annual percentage change in vacancies over the past year. The lighter the colour, the faster they’ve grown. Dark blue shading indicates that openings declined from a year earlier.

Mirroring that geographic performance, openings also increased across most majority of occupational groups over the year, led by demand for professionals, technicians and trade workers, along with machine operators and drivers.

The IVI is based on a count of online job advertisements newly lodged on SEEK, CareerOne and Australian JobSearch during a particular month.

The government says stresses that it “does not reflect the total number of job advertisements in the labour market as it does not include jobs advertised through other online job boards, employer websites, word of mouth, in newspapers, and advertisements in shop windows”.

It also does not specify whether the vacancies are for full-time, part-time or casual staff.

Australian employment growth has surged over the past year, increasing by 355,700, according to the ABS. Full-time employment jumped by 297,900, overshadowing a 57,800 gain in part-time employment.

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