Australian Job Vacancies Fall — Why Your Résumé Matters More Than Ever

September 27, 2025|David Leong

Australia’s job market just got tougher. According to the ABS, job vacancies fell 2.7% between May and August 2025 — the sharpest drop in years. For jobseekers, this means two things: more competition and fewer opportunities. There are now almost two unemployed people for every vacancy. Ordinary résumés no longer cut it.

When hundreds of applicants line up for the same role, employers turn to Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to filter résumés before they ever reach human eyes. If your résumé can’t beat the system and impress the hiring manager, your chances shrink dramatically.

The Harsh Reality Behind the Numbers

The decline in vacancies isn’t just a statistic. It translates into:

More résumés per job posting — sometimes hundreds.
Automated gatekeeping — ATS scans eliminate up to 75% of résumés before humans even look at them.
Fewer callbacks and interviews — employers are spoiled for choice.

For jobseekers, this means you’re no longer competing with just people in your field. You’re competing with everyone: graduates, professionals making career shifts, executives stepping down, even tradies seeking stability.

What This Means for You

Generic résumés don’t work anymore. Templates pulled from the internet often get flagged by ATS.
Keywords matter, but so does strategy. Your résumé needs to reflect the role while still telling your unique story.
Every word counts. Hiring managers skim résumés in seconds — clarity and impact are critical.

Why Ordinary Résumés Won’t Cut It

Most résumés fail because they’re designed for humans only, not for the dual test of machines + people.

ATS rejects résumés that use tables, fancy graphics, or the wrong file formats.
Recruiters reject résumés that look like every other applicant.
Employers reject résumés that don’t connect achievements with business value.

This is the triple filter jobseekers now face.

How Think Big Résumés Helps You Compete

At Think Big Résumés™, we don’t just make résumés “ATS-friendly.” That’s the bare minimum.

We apply our signature KISSS Method™ — Keep It Simple, Strategic & Smart.

Simple — clear design, easy to read, no clutter.
Strategic — tailored to roles, industries, and goals.
Smart — optimized for both humans and ATS, with future-ready language.

It’s not about hacking the system. It’s about transforming your story into a résumé that works now — and for the future of work.

Our résumés are:

ATS-Smart — built to pass the filters.
Future-Ready — showcasing adaptability in an AI-driven job market.
Transformational — telling your unique career story in a way that sticks.

The Bottom Line

Australian job vacancies are falling. Competition is rising. Your résumé is now your launchpad — not just your ticket to application, but your chance to stand out.

In today’s market, survival isn’t enough. Passing ATS filters matters. But real success comes when clarity meets story — when your résumé proves you’re more than just another applicant.