CANBERRA, Nov 25 (Reuters) - Australia's index of skilled job vacancies rose 4.3 percent to 42.6 between October and November, seasonally adjusted, the employment department said on Wednesday.
The skilled vacancies index was still 33.3 percent lower than a year earlier in seasonally adjusted terms.
The index, based on job advertisements in major newspapers, rose 2.4 percent in trend terms in November to 42.0, but was 35.1 percent lower than a year earlier.
Vacancies rose in trend terms for all three occupational groups, with professionals up by 1.1 percent, trades up 3.1 percent and associate professionals up by 2.3 percent.
The department said the rise in skilled vacancies was widespread, with increases in 12 of the index's 18 sub groups.
The biggest rises were for building and engineering professionals, up 7.8 percent, and for metal trades, up 6.2 percent, while the largest fall was for medical science technical officers, down 23.6 percent in the month.
Separately, the information and communications technology (ICT) index rose 1.4 percent in trend terms in November to 128.5, but was 39.4 percent lower than a year earlier.
The department said its new Internet Vacancy Index, which lags the main newspaper-based index by one month, rose 3.9 percent between September and October to 80.3.
Based on four large Internet recruitment sites, it was 39.7 percent lower than October 2008.
(Reporting by James Grubel)

((james.grubel@reuters.com; +612 6273 2730; Reuters Messaging: james.grubel.reuters.com@reuters.net)) Keywords: AUSTRALIA ECONOMY/VACANCIES (If you have a query or comment on this story, send an email to news.feedback.asia@thomsonreuters.com)

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