There are more signs that firms are looking for skilled workers, though unemployment is expected to keep rising.
The Department of Labour says the number of advertisements for skilled jobs rose 4.6% percent in the three months to February, while total jobs ads increased 6.6%.
Gains in IT, retail and hospitality ads offset falling vacancies in education, construction and engineering.
However the department expects unemployment to keep rising, as job growth will not soak up the increase in people joining the workforce.
