Seek NZ employment report paints varied picture

New data from the Seek NZ employment marketplace shows some New Zealand regions are seeing growth in job ads, but the overall picture is not rosy.

The national insights in its June employment report shows job ads have dropped for a second month overall, falling three per cent month-on-month, while three regions, being Gisborne, Marlborough and Southland, recorded a rise in job ad volumes.

The sector with the highest job ad increases is information and communication technology (ICTA), with increased demand for ICT managers and network and system administrators.

Seek NZ country manager Rob Clark says: “Job ad levels have remained broadly flat for the past 12 months.

“While the volume remains below pre-Covid levels, there are pockets of growth, which should be cause for some optimism.

“Regional activity is mixed, with Gisborne, Marlborough and Southland recording month-on-month growth in June, and year-on-year we’re seeing positive momentum in eight regions, including Wellington, Otago and Canterbury.

“Despite a monthly dip in June, demand within [the] government and defence [sector] has jumped 51 per cent year-on-year, and we’re seeing a growing number of industries return to annual growth within the professional and consumer services sectors, indicating hiring activity is returning on multiple fronts.”

Nationally, after a two per cent fall in May, job ads fell for a second consecutive month, down three per cent month-on-month.

Apart from ICT, all the largest hiring industries declined month-on-month, including healthcare and medical, down eight per cent, administration and office support, down three per cent, and trades and services, down three per cent.