03/12/2025
As we edge toward Christmas, the Australian recruitment landscape shifts gears, and the data paints a very real, very human picture of how stretched our workforce truly is.
In healthcare, dental and allied health, vacancy rates remain up to 25% higher than pre-pandemic averages. Across regional Australia, temp and locum demand has surged 30-40%, and many clinics are running with 15-20% fewer staff than they ideally need. Itâs no wonder December becomes one of the most operationally challenging months of the year.
Candidate response times slow by up to 40% as people juggle burnout, school holidays, and year-end pressures; yet expectations to âfill the role todayâ only increase.
We also see a sharp behavioural trend. While applications drop by around 18% in December, nearly half of all Australian jobseekers begin planning their next move between November and February. The ânew year, new roleâ wave is very real, and smart recruitment agencies are right in it now.
To every recruiter, candidate, client, and clinic we support, thank you. Letâs finish the year strong, take a breath over the break, and get ready for a big 2026.