Job advertisements on Seek rose 9.9% this August – driven by trades and services and manufacturing, transport, and logistics – compared to same period in the year prior.
Job adverts for trades and services were up 27% year on year (y/y) nationally this August.
In the regions, Auckland experienced a 28% y/y increase in trades and services job adverts, while Wellington had uptick of 48% y/y, but across Canterbury job adverts were down 4% y/y.
The top advertised jobs nationally for trades and services and their average advertised salaries this August were automotive trades at $60,290; electricians at $69,922; and labourers at $35,526.
“With our expanding population through natural growth and net migration, trades and service roles are in high demand across New Zealand,” says general manager for Seek NZ Janet Faulding
Nationally, job adverts for manufacturing, transport and logistics were up 24% y/y this August.
Across New Zealand, the highest advertised job titles for this sector in August and their average advertised salaries were management at $95,405; warehousing, storage and distribution at $54,683; machine operators at $48,197; and road transport at $54,545.
“In our recent Seek market research, labour based roles like warehouse jobs were also named by Kiwis as jobs they believe wouldn’t exist in 10 years’ time due to automation and outsourcing overseas, so it’s again interesting that these roles are still in demand for this sector,” says Faulding.
“Our country’s exporting culture is a likely driver of growth in this industry because New Zealand companies are now tapping into the overseas markets to grow their businesses, and are investing in new technology and logistics to distribute their products efficiently to be competitive.”
She explains that the Auckland and Wellington regions have again performed well this August, with job ads up 8.8% and 10.4% y/y respectively but that the Canterbury market remains subdued post its reconstruction-driven peak in late 2014, with job ads down 7.1% y/y.
At a national level the data shows that there has been a slight y/y increase in the Seek Employment Index this August, which points to favourable conditions for job seekers as there is slightly less applications and therefore competition, for each role. However, underneath this national figure there is a clear difference in candidate availability at a regional level.
For jobseekers in Auckland and Wellington, y/y there is a reasonable balance between jobs advertised and candidates applying.
While in Canterbury it remains a hirer’s market, for each job advertised there is a higher than average number of candidates applying, creating more competition for job seekers but providing hirers with a larger pool of candidates from which to choose.
In addition to the sectors mentioned, other sectors driving this y/y job growth are information and communication technology (ICT) in top position with 8% more jobs advertised than a year ago and administration and office support.
