Jobseeker website is growing in strength

THE Geelong Region Local Learning and Employment Network (GRLLEN) is talking up the usefulness of its Geelong Careers website, saying it has grown from less than 700 jobseekers regularly visiting to nearly 4,000 now.

Earlier this month, GRLLEN announced that there were more than 700 jobs posted on the site, which were getting about 5,000 views each month.

There is also a growing community of local employers taking advantage of the opportunity to post their job vacancies for free – almost 200 as of November 2017.

GRLLEN developed Geelong Careers in response to a need it saw for a one-stop shop for jobs and careers information, focused specifically on the G21 region.

Not only is it a site for posting and accessing jobs in the G21 region, it also provides information about where jobs growth is occurring, and what skills and qualifications are needed to work in those industries, in addition to personal insights via WIRL (What’s It Really Like) videos, featuring local people employed locally in growth industries.

Geelong Careers project manager Marianne Messer said the website has always aimed to help Geelong “dream real” about its future.

“By constantly updating our data analysis and researching new growth areas, like the creative industries, we hope to position ourselves as the go-to job app for all Geelong Career seekers.

“Our live job feed also offers more local jobs than any other site in the region, people can apply online, and we are free to use.”

GRLLEN labour market analyst Dr Jude Walker is analysing and interpreting the 2016 Census data to make sure the data is up-to-date and relevant, and to identify any new and emerging industries where growth has begun to occur and is likely to continue.

“Our early examination of the ABS data is very encouraging for the region,” Dr Walker said.

“We have looked at changes between the 2006, 2011 and 2016 Census collections to gain insights into what has been happening in the regional labour market over that period of time, and what we are seeing is growth in a wide range of industries, which include professional, para-professional and lower skilled jobs.

“This is good news for jobseekers and for local employers.”