Sectors dig in to weather nation's job market slowdown

Key points

• Australia's unemployment rate rose to a five-year high of 4.7 per cent in September, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics figures. Western Australia was the exception, with joblessness falling to 4.2 per cent.
• Seek chief economist Blair Chapman linked the stronger WA job ads to higher commodity prices, which are supporting mining and energy. Randstad general manager Madeline Hill said 36 per cent of workers were looking for or had taken on a second job to cope with rising living costs.
• She described a two-speed market, with strong demand for skilled trades linked to data centres.