Strong prospects for jobseekers, more jobs in NZ

MEDIA RELEASE
21 February 2017

Strong prospects for jobseekers, more jobs in New Zealand than 12 months ago

There were 5 per cent more jobs advertised on SEEK this January than 12 months ago, with improved results across the regions.

At a national level the industries with the largest job ad volume on SEEK this January were:

1. Information & Communications Technology
2. Trades & Services
3. Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics

Janet Faulding, General Manager for SEEK New Zealand, said the increase in advertising on SEEK this January were driven by continued solid job ad growth across Auckland, as well as the smaller North and South Island regions.

“Job ads on SEEK for Auckland were up 7.2 per cent year on year [y/y] this January,” said Faulding.

“Information & Communications, Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics and Accounting industries were Auckland’s top advertising industries on SEEK this January.

“Solid ad growth was also seen across the Trades & Services [up 28 per cent y/y] and Construction [up 25 per cent y/y] sector, which is being fuelled by Auckland’s infrastructure, commercial and residential building to accommodate the city’s population growth,” remarked Faulding.

Outside of Auckland, Waikato enjoyed the largest y/y advertising growth of all North Island regions, with job ads up 24.4 per cent y/y this January.

“Across Waikato, the most job opportunities on SEEK were coming from Trades & Services [up 46 per cent y/y], with automotive mechanics and technicians, builders and electricians the most sought after professionals,” Faulding said.

“While in the South Island, Otago boasted the greatest number of opportunities for jobseekers with advertising on SEEK up 29.9 per cent y/y this January. Hospitality & Tourism was the top hiring industry and Chefs were in high demand.”

Job ads on SEEK in other major New Zealand regions this January:
Wellington, up 0.1 per cent y/y
Canterbury down 10.3 per cent y/y

CANDIDATE AVAILABILITY FOR MAJOR JOB MARKETS

At a national level, there has been a y/y increase of 5.5 per cent in the SEEK Employment Index this January. This points to favourable conditions for job seekers as there is slightly less applications, for each role. However, underneath this national figure there is a clear difference in candidate availability at a regional level.

It was a hirer’s market in Canterbury and Wellington this January when compared to the same period last year. For each job advertised there was a higher than average number of candidates applying, creating more competition for job seekers but providing hirers with a larger pool of candidates to choose from.

“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.

“In Auckland this January, there were reasonable competition conditions for job seekers and employers,” Faulding continued.

INDUSTRY FOCUS

Across New Zealand, the most in-demand Marketing & Communications professionals on SEEK this January, and their average advertised annual salaries were:

1. Marketing Assistants/Coordinator, $52,540
2. Marketing Communication Specialist, $77,874
3. Digital & Search Marketers, $ 74,968

“A trend we’re seeing throughout New Zealand is the increased need for digital and search marketing specialists, as well as entry level marketing professionals,” said Faulding.

“Strong demand for entry level marketing professionals is good news for those who have just completed a tertiary qualification and looking for their first job,” she added.

“Our latest SEEK data also indicates solid job ad growth across Brand Management [up 40 per cent y/y] this January, which is encouraging news for professionals in this field.”

The greatest year on year [y/y] advertising growth for the Marketing & Communications industry of all the major regions was seen in Canterbury where there were 18 per cent more jobs than 12 months ago.

In Canterbury, Marketing Assistants/Coordinators and Marketing Communication Specialists were most in demand on SEEK.

“It’s encouraging to see advertising on SEEK increase across Canterbury. It shows opportunities are not just isolated to Auckland, New Zealand’s largest labour market, which is widely regarded as the hub for this industry,” Faulding said.

“Even though there is more job growth across the country for Marketing & Communications professionals, Auckland still offers the most opportunities for this sector, despite job ads dipping 2 per cent y/y this January.”

Marketing Assistants/Coordinators, Marketing Communications Specialists and Digital & Search Markers were the most sought after Marketing & Communication professionals in Auckland this January.

“Wellington was the next top region for Marketing & Communications opportunities this January,” Faulding concluded.

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