Engineering Constructing A Brighter Jobs Future

MEDIA RELEASE

Engineering Constructing A Brighter Jobs Future

New data released today by seek.co.nz shows that the engineering sector has seen five consecutive months of new job growth since January this year.

Data collected from new job ads posted on seek.co.nz, New Zealand’s largest employment source, reveals that engineering job ads are up 25% since July 2009.

“New Zealand has been cautious in acknowledging our improving economic conditions but these figures released today by SEEK are hard to ignore. Five months of positive growth and a 25% improvement since last July, it seems that Engineering as a sector has turned the corner and sprinted ahead”, said Annemarie Duff, General Manager of SEEK New Zealand.

There are approximately 800 engineering roles currently advertised on seek.co.nz for jobs across the country and coupled with the salary potential of the sector highlights a bright future for the industry.

“Looking at the salary average totals across different industries in New Zealand, the engineering industry ranks third year to date. With a salary average of $89,039.66 it places behind Corporate Consultants or Strategists and Mining, Oil and Gas roles,” says Ms Duff.

“It appears infrastructure is significantly contributing to New Zealand’s labour market recovery with three of the top five industries with highest salary average totals belonging to this sector. Mining, Oil and Gas and Engineering are joined by Construction, signalling a strong recovery in an industry that hasn’t escaped the effects of the economic downturn.”

This sentiment is echoed by Nick Gillingham, Specialist in Technical Recruitment at Momentum.

“The last two years in New Zealand’s construction and engineering markets have been exceptionally tight. 2010 has indicated there are positive signs coming through like the government’s recent commitment to spend on infrastructure. This has resulted in increased employment, consultants and contractors alike recruiting staff. In certain areas there is a skill shortage and we only see this getting worse” says Mr Gillingham.

Chris Story, Manager of the Construction, Property & Engineering division of the recruitment company Ranstad, believes the skill shortage in the engineering sector is a significant problem for the industry.

“The engineering sector is continuing to battle an historic skills shortage. The need for talent in this sector is particularly strong with our research showing 51% of engineering companies expecting to increase headcount this year. Attracting top talent to match this growth is the biggest human capital challenge, but it’s a good challenge to have,” says Mr Story.

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