The number of job ads fell in December for the third straight month, but the pace of deterioration in the labour market is moderating.

Internet and newspaper advertisements at the end of last year fell by 0.7 per cent to 124,786, compared with 125,657 in November.

In the year to December, the number of advertised positions dropped 9.1 per cent but the annual pace of decline was the least severe since August 2012.

ANZ head of Australian economics Justin Fabo says the non-mining sector is showing signs of recovery.

“Job ads in NSW, the most populous state and one less dependent on mining activity, have been trending modestly higher over the past six months,” he said in a statement.

“More broadly, retail sales growth and building approvals have strengthened, assisted by lower interest rates, higher asset prices and the lower Australian dollar.”

Economists are expecting Australia’s jobless rate for December to hold steady at 5.8 per cent when official data is released on Thursday.