Seek started in Melbourne in 1997 and became the place most Australians go to look for a job. Here’s how it makes its money.
Seek is Australia’s largest online jobs marketplace, and one of the biggest technology companies on the ASX.
It was founded in Melbourne in 1997 by brothers Andrew and Paul Bassat and their friend Matt Rockman, and listed on the ASX in 2005. It reports in Australian dollars, and its financial year ends on 30 June.
Job ads
Most of Seek’s money comes from employers, who pay to advertise jobs. Job seekers use the site for free.
Like other online marketplaces, Seek offers basic ads and premium ads that appear higher in search results and stand out more. It has been pushing employers towards premium ads, and has raised its prices every year.
The number of job ads depends on the economy. When businesses are hiring, ad volumes rise. When the economy slows, they fall. In recent years, ad volumes have fallen as the jobs market cooled, but price rises have helped keep revenue growing.
Asia
Seek also owns Jobstreet and Jobsdb, leading job websites across Asia, including in Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand and Hong Kong. It has moved all of its websites onto a single technology platform, which it says will cut costs and help it raise prices in Asia.
Investments
Seek has also invested in other businesses, including education and HR software companies, through the Seek Growth Fund. The value of those investments has fallen in recent years.
AI and the risks
Seek is using artificial intelligence to match job seekers with jobs and to help employers find candidates faster.
The risks include a weaker jobs market, competition from LinkedIn, Indeed and others, the impact of AI on hiring, and pushback from employers over price rises.
Ian Narev has been chief executive since 2019.
Latest results, as at 9 November 2026
Full year to June 2026, reported 12 August 2026: net revenue rose 10 per cent to $1.2 billion, and earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation rose 15 per cent to $530 million. Adjusted profit rose 28 per cent to $199 million. Job ad volumes were lower, especially in Australia, but higher prices made up for it. The Seek Growth Fund recorded a $201 million loss as its investments fell in value. Seek paid a record total dividend of 52 cents a share.
For the 2027 financial year, it expects revenue of $1.21 billion to $1.28 billion.
Next update: Seek reports its half-year results, to December 2026, in February 2027.
