Job advertisement numbers have increased by 1% over the last four months and are currently 7% above the level seen a year ago, Seek Employment’s October report has revealed.
Annual growth hasn’t been this strong since November 2022. Meanwhile, applications per job ad increased by 2% last month and continue to stay at record-high levels.
“While we’re mindful that many Kiwis are still facing real challenges in finding work, this data does indicate that hiring activity has stabilised after many months of decline,” Seek country manager Rob Clark said.
Clark noted that a more encouraging indicator of broad stability was the annual growth in ad volumes in Auckland, up 1%.
Except for Gisborne, which declined by 1% for the month, all other regions experienced either steady levels or growth in October. The highest monthly increases in job ads occurred in Hawke’s Bay and Otago, both rising by 3%.
“One encouraging sign is that this growth isn’t concentrated in just one or two areas – we’re seeing modest gains across most industries and in most regions around the country,” Clark said.
Most industries saw monthly growth, with Sport and Recreation leading at 4%, followed by Education and Training, Legal, Construction, and Hospitality and Tourism, each increasing by 3%.
Job advertisements in Information and Communication Technology have steadily increased over the past 12 months and are now 15% higher compared to a year ago.