Job ad numbers improving: SEEK November 28, 2013 - 11:22AM Jobs website SEEK says it has experienced a slight increase in advertisements in the past few months, which could see it deliver a stronger-than-expected earnings result this financial year. The website had been experiencing a flat to gentle decline in the number of job ads posted on its website each month leading up to the end of June 2013. But, SEEK chief executive Andrew Bassat, said the company had recorded an improvement in recent months, with a flat to gentle increase in job ads. "Based on the first four months of the financial year, we are observing improving trends with flat to gentle increases in ad volumes on a month-on-month basis," he said ahead of the company's annual general meeting in Melbourne on Thursday. That's good news for job seekers, with the unemployment rate currently sitting at 5.7 per cent and many economists expecting it to push above six per cent next year. Mr Bassat said a continued improvement in job ads could lead the company to upgrade its earnings forecast for the 2013/14 financial year. He said the company was well positioned to grow over the medium to long term. "SEEK's strong competitive position in Australia and New Zealand means it is well positioned for growth from both the structural migration of revenue from print to online and an improvement in cyclical conditions," he said. Meanwhile, SEEK also announced plans to float its international student recruitment business IDP Education in 2014. The recruitment business is 50 per cent owned by SEEK, with the rest of the ownership spread across 38 Australian universities. IDP chief executive Andrew Thompson said an initial public offering (IPO) would set the business up for future growth. The IPO will provide a more flexible capital structure for future growth and provide IDP shareholders an opportunity to realise a portion of their investment in the company. SEEK shares were 69 cents, or more than five per cent, higher at $13.09 at 1100 AEDT.