Job adverts rise by 1.2 per cent in March 2019 quarter

24 April 2019

Job advertisements rise by 1.2 per cent in the March 2019 quarter

Jobs Online figures released today by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment show the number of job advertisements rose by 1.2 per cent in the March 2019 quarter. Dr Rose Ryan, Workforce and Workplace manager in the Evidence and Insights group, said “This increase is slightly lower than the 1.4 per cent quarterly average increase seen in December 2018, with the highest rises being in the Primary and IT Industries.”

This quarter’s growth in vacancies is consistent with the trend for business confidence. The New Zealand Institute of Economic Research (NZIER) QuarterlySurvey of Business Opinion shows a net five per cent of businesses increased their employment, and despite a fall in hiring intentions, a net six per cent still intend to hire more workers, in the March 2019 quarter.

The Primary sector had strong growth, especially in the Manawatu-Whanganui/Taranaki, and Otago-Southland regions, The IT sector grew strongly in Nelson/Tasman/Marlborough/West Coast, Otago-Southland and Wellington. The three regions with the highest increase over the quarter were in Otago-Southland, Wellington and Bay of Plenty, with falls in Manawatu-Whanganui/Taranaki, Northland and Canterbury in the March 2019 quarter.

Online advertising saw the strongest increase in Labourer, and Community and Personal Services occupational groups in most regions. Low-skilled jobs, especially in the IT, and Healthcare and Medical industries continued to show the weakest increase.

Jobs Online measures changes in online job advertisements from four internet job boards – SEEK, Trade Me Jobs, Education Gazette and Kiwi Health Jobs. Job vacancies are an important indicator of labour demand and changes in the economy.

The trend series is used as the primary indicator as it reduces the month-to-month volatility. Only basic highlights are published monthly. A detailed report is published quarterly.

Visit our website for more information on MBIE labour market analysis

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