The numbers have jumped significantly, with 169,000 more jobs vacant than before the start of the pandemic, according to new seasonally adjusted figures from the ABS.

Head of ABS labour statistics Bjorn Jarvis said the vacancies are continuing to reach record highs throughout the pandemic.

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"The number of job vacancies in November was around 74 per cent higher than it was before the start of the pandemic," he said.

"These figures continue to show the high demand for workers from businesses emerging from lockdowns, together with ongoing labour shortages, particularly in lower paying industries."

The arts and recreation industry has been hit exceptionally hard during the pandemic, with job vacancies jumping 270 percent since February 2020.

This was closely followed by the hospitality industry - who also faced significant challenges during the pandemic lockdowns.

"Job vacancies were also elevated in all states and territories, ranging between Western Australia, where job vacancies were 120 per cent higher than before the pandemic, and 49 per cent in the Australian Capital Territory," Mr Jarvis said.

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These trends were mirrored during the last 2021 quarter: arts and recreation services rose by 89 per cent, accommodation and food services by 66 per cent, and rental, hiring and real estate services rose by 47 per cent.

These three customer-facing industries also experienced the largest falls in vacancies during the pandemic.

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