The mining, resources and energy sector leads the pack when it comes to job ad growth in Australia, according to the latest figures from SEEK.

Job ads in the sector were up 35 per cent in March compared to 12 months ago, while science and technology saw an increase of 20 per cent year-on-year and there was an 18 per cent jump in engineering roles up for grabs.

For the second month in a row, SEEK said New South Wales (NSW) had been the No. 1 contributor to national job ad growth, accounting for 34 per cent of the national year-on-year growth for March, but Victoria came a close second with 28 per cent in March.

Meanwhile the Queensland resources sector has helped the State achieve the strongest annual growth in trend employment in Australia based on jobs data released today.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics reported that Queensland’s annual job growth was 4.3 per cent,  outpacing nearest rivals the Australian Capital Territory (3.9 per cent) and New South Wales (3.6 per cent).

Queensland Resources Council chief executive Ian Macfarlane said the resources sector was contributing much of this growth.

“Last financial year, direct full-time equivalent jobs in the resources sector grew by 12.7 per cent to 38,150,” he said.

Hays recruitment agency says renewed optimism and confident investors are helping to increase vacancy activity across Australia’s mining industry, so much so that skill shortages are emerging again.

Areas of demand in Queensland, January-June 2018, include quality diesel fitters, dragline operators, excavator operators, underground jumbo operators, boilermakers, electricians, CNC machinists and mechanical fitters.