Job Market Shifts in Employers’ Favour
The New Zealand jobs market experienced a slight swing in employers’ favour this month shows data released today from
New Zealand’s largest job site, SEEK.
The SEEK Employment Index (SEI), which measures the ratio of new job ads listed on seek.co.nz to applications received for those roles, saw a minor dip of 0.9% in October. This signals that the number of
applicants grew faster than the supply of jobs, pointing to more competitive conditions for candidates looking for their
next role.
This may seem at odds with the solid growth seen recently, however the employment market is still on a positive
trajectory, explains Janet Faulding, General Manager SEEK New Zealand.
“These results may seem puzzling off the back of strong growth reported in recent months but what we’re seeing here
isn’t a dramatic turnaround. The marginal change in the Seek Employment Index indicates the number of Kiwis seeking out
their next role has increased at a greater rate than available jobs but, overall, the outlook is still optimistic with
job opportunities up almost 12% year on year,” says Ms Faulding.
“More competitive job hunting conditions are typical of this time of year as universities and schools shut their doors
for the summer and the number of people looking for work increases. We expect to see labour market supply catch up in
the New Year, a time where we usually see significant rises in both job numbers.”
Regardless of whether the SEI is up or down, there are always opportunities for people with the right experience, and
skills shortages in specific areas mean some roles remain difficult for hirers to fill. The following roles are
currently the hardest to fill this month, meaning there are more opportunities than applicants in these areas.
• Construction supervisors
• Plant and machinery operators
• Cabinet makers
• Builders
• Surveyors
“In a more competitive market, candidates need to put their best foot forward and separate themselves from the pack to
stand out. We’ve developed a suite of tips and tools – everything from how to write a CV, easy steps to creating a SEEK
Profile so that the jobs come to you, to acing a job interview – to really help Kiwis at all stages of the job hunt, all
of which can be accessed at seek.co.nz,” concludes Ms Faulding.
ENDS