Jobs growth in New Zealand’s regions

15 July 2016

Jobs growth in New Zealand’s regions

Data released today by SEEK shows that there were 7 per cent more jobs advertised on SEEK in June 2016 than 12 months ago.

For job seekers it’s an encouraging time to be looking for a new role because job growth is not isolated to our nation’s two largest employment markets, Auckland and Wellington, said Janet Faulding, General Manager for SEEK NZ.

“On SEEK we’re seeing significant job ad uptick in some of our North and South Island regions this June, when compared to the same period last year,” Faulding revealed. “This growth pick-up has really taken place over the first half of 2016.”

The thriving regions in the North Island include Waikato and the Bay of Plenty, with job ads on SEEK up 13 per cent and 25.3 per cent respectively year on year this June.

In the South Island, Otago has also enjoyed notable year on year growth with job ads on SEEK up 19.8 percent.

“What we’re seeing in our regions is less reliance on the dairy cheque to support the economy and labour markets,” explained Faulding.

Job advertising on SEEK this June for Farming, Agriculture & Conservation, compared to the same period last year, decreased 41 per cent in the Bay of Plenty and is down 40 per cent in Otago. In Waikato, job ads for the sector were up 15 per cent, however advertising volumes were small when compared against other industries hiring in the area.

Across Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Otago, there is some consistency with the largest advertising industries on SEEK.

GROWTH ACROSS LARGEST ADVERTISING INDUSTRIES BY REGION

Waikato:
1. Trades & Services (up 32% year on year [y/y])
2. Administration and Office Support (up 35 % y/y)
3. Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics (up 32% y/y)

Bay of Plenty:
1. Trades & Services (up 95% y/y)
2. Healthcare & Medical (up 62% y/y)
3. Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics (up 84% y/y)

Otago:
1. Trades & Services (up 68% y/y)
2. Sales (up 32% y/y)
3. Hospitality & Tourism (up 22% y/y)

Labour market uptick across the three thriving regions can be attributed to a number of influences.

“Tourism is a driver of job ad growth across Bay of Plenty and Otago. The New Zealand Cycle Trail is a great example of an attraction that’s getting Kiwis and visitors out of the cities and into the regions, which consequently helps stimulate other industries in those areas, like Sales and Hospitality & Tourism,” Faulding said.

“As the cost of living continues to rise in our cities, more people are moving to our regions for a lifestyle change, with some Kiwis stepping away from corporate life and choosing to work for SMEs or starting up their own small businesses in the regions,” continued Faulding.

When we look at the major labour markets, Auckland remains strong with SEEK new job ads up 10 per cent year on year, and in Wellington this June job ad growth rose 7.8 per year on year. While in Canterbury job ads on SEEK were down 9.6 per cent compared to 12 month ago.

CANDIDATE AVAILABILITY

Across New Zealand there has been a small year on year decrease in the SEEK Employment Index, which points to more favourable conditions for hirers as there are slightly more applications for each role.

“It’s important for job seekers in a hirer’s market, to have an up-to-date SEEK Profile to help them get noticed by prospective employers because they’re applying for jobs in a highly competitive market,” Faulding said.

ends

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