Job advertisements in New Zealand have declined for three consecutive months, a new report has revealed.
SEEK NZ’s October employment report has shown a 1% drop in the total number of job advertisements, following declines in both September and August and a mere 3% increase in July.
“The labour market remains challenging as ad volumes continue to decline and the unemployment rate is still climbing,” SEEK country manager Rob Clark commented.
Although job ads are trending downward, the recent declines have been less significant than those observed in the previous 12 months.
Variations in job ad volumes have been observed across different industries and regions, highlighting the dynamic nature of the employment market.
Auckland experienced a 2% decrease in job advertisements month-on-month, while Canterbury also saw a 2% drop after a 6% increase in September. Wellington, on the other hand, recorded a 3% growth in October. However, this growth is overshadowed by a significant 33% decline in job ads compared to the same time last year.
“In particular, government roles (in Wellington) increased 15%, and that’s the third straight month. So some recovery there,” Clark said.
Otago has increased by 5%, likely due to the growth in hospitality and tourism roles.
Clark noted that job advertisements for hospitality and tourism roles increased by 8% last month and 37% compared to the previous year as the peak holiday season approached.
However, Clark also pointed out that not all industry sectors are experiencing similar growth. While hospitality and tourism are thriving, other sectors are struggling to achieve the same volume of job ad increases.
For instance, areas like healthcare have faced challenges, with some reports indicating a 6% decline in job ads within that sector.
Sectors that entice the most number of applications include the following:
- Retail & consumer (+108%)
- Call centre and customer service (+87%)
- Communications services & development (+96%)
- Insurance and superannuation (+85%)