Mainland leads the way on job front

MEDIA RELEASE
Wednesday 11th October

Mainland leads the way on job front

Advertised job vacancies across the country have soared by 30% on a year ago, according to an analysis of more than 40,000 jobs listed on Trade Me Jobs between July and September.

The South Island has led the way on growth, up 63% on the same quarter in 2010 and comprehensively outstripping the North Island’s solid 23% growth.

Pete Ashby, head of Trade Me Jobs, said the Mainland had seen growth across a range of sectors. “Over recent months your chances of securing a job in the South Island have been higher than in the North Island. This is particularly evident in the increase in construction, trades & services, transport & logistics, and engineering jobs advertised.”

In the regions

The South Island’s growth has been led by Canterbury. Driven by the post-earthquake rebuilding effort, there was a 73% increase in advertised jobs compared to a year ago, fuelled by high demand from employers in the construction, engineering, trades and transport sectors.

Southland continued a stellar run in 2011, with a 58% increase in jobs. Mr Ashby said the agricultural sector remained a weathervane for the region’s employment market. “Farming is hugely influential and this activity appears to be rippling through the rest of the Southland economy with significant growth across other sectors, including sales, automotive and electrical roles.”

Listings in the Nelson region also increased by 48%, driven by growth in the hospitality, construction & health sectors.

Although across the North Island growth was less spectacular, Hawke’s Bay in particular saw a strong gain in listings compared to a year ago, up 33%. Listings in Auckland were up 26% on the third quarter of 2010.

In the sectors

The number of advertised farming jobs grew 77% on last year, and future prospects looked good with strong global demand and the Kiwi dollar at a near six-month low all helping the export market.

Trades and services jobs were up 54% year-on-year, and Mr Ashby said growth was primarily driven by a 73% increase in automotive-related roles. “This reflects the ongoing shift to online as the preferred way to advertise a job, but the ageing New Zealand vehicle fleet may also be providing extra work for the industry.”

The Rugby World Cup had been the catalyst for a boost in demand for hospitality & tourism roles, especially bar staff and baristas and chefs (up 51% and 44% respectively). Mr Ashby said activity around the tournament had stimulated overall growth in part-time roles, which were up 20% on a year ago. Customer service (up 59%) and hospitality (up 33%) roles led the way here.

Looking ahead

Mr Ashby said domestic optimism and global pessimism has created an uncertain economic outlook.

“We’re expecting a bit of a wind-down after the Rugby World Cup which may result in some pull-back in the hospitality and tourism industries. We also expect the upcoming elections to stymie public sector hiring, especially in the Wellington market.”

In the South Island, the rebuilding effort in Canterbury was set to have a huge impact. “It’s an enormous project and it will see continued demand for trades and construction workers for a long time to come.”

ends

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