The new figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show that those looking for public-sector work will find an easier time exploring other jurisdictions, however. Local public-sector jobs continue to slide, down 22 per cent on the pre-COVID jobs market, alone in bucking a nationwide trend upwards.

Overall national job vacancies rose 24 per cent in the November quarter and 1.2 per cent on the last figures before pandemic-related restrictions took effect.

Industries looking to hire more this quarter were the same industries that saw large falls during the peak of the restrictions: arts and recreation services, accommodation and food services, and retail trade. The ABS determined that one in six businesses did not have a sufficient number of employees, based on their current operations.

Before the figures were released, acting Prime Minister Michael McCormack said those still on JobSeeker should "turn the Stan and Netflix off" and go find work in regional areas.

The comments have angered Labor's employment spokesman Brendan O'Connor, who said the jibe was an "insulting and ignorant" attack on Australians thrown out of work through no fault of their own.

"The reality is for every job vacancy in the labour market, there are six applicants," Mr O'Connor said on Wednesday. "So even if everyone's looking for work, five out of six applicants are unlikely to receive employment in the current situation."

Labor welcomed the increase in vacancies, but warned the growth may be short-lived if the Morrison government plans to go ahead with its cut to JobKeeper in March.

Mr O'Connor also condemned deliberations the government was making on voluntary opt-in superannuation as a breach of a promise that Prime Minister Scott Morrison made before the last election.

Labor has also released an analysis of how much Australian workers could lose from their pay packets next summer holidays if the government's industrial relations reforms are allowed to scrap public holiday penalty rates.

Labor's IR spokesman, Tony Burke, has estimated that workers could lose between $840 and $1170 over the summer period if the Better Off Overall Test is suspended.

The analysis used 10 of Australia's most common workplace awards and used the government's own fair pay calculator of an eight-hour day to determine the difference without penalty rates for Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day and Australia Day.

"Scott Morrison's earlier penalty rate cuts for retail, fast food, pharmacy and hospitality workers failed to deliver a single extra job," Mr Burke said.

"But now they want us to believe that cutting more penalty rates, cutting overtime, cutting shift loading, cutting allowances will create jobs?"