May stands out as the peak month for job listings, SEEK New Zealand’s Seasonality Report has found.
The total number of job ads on SEEK typically reaches its peak in May each year, dating back to 2016, with the exception of the years between 2020 and 2022, which were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the report, the surge in job listings during May can be attributed to several factors.
Many businesses reevaluated their staffing requirements at the start of the new financial year. Additionally, May coincided with the usual annual performance review cycle, prompting some employees to explore new job opportunities.
The empty positions left by employees become vacancies that need to be filled, resulting in employers posting more job listings.
The report also noted that job applications also typically reached their highest point in May. However, this peak was only marginally higher than the levels observed in January, July, and August.
Meanwhile, November and December experience the highest number of applications per job ad, as the number of job listings decreases more significantly than the number of applications during these months.
Job seekers who apply in November and December are likely to encounter more competition compared to those who apply earlier in the year.
“Finding a job in February to May is likely to be slightly easier with applicants competing with fewer other applicants for each job.”
Although the overall peak in job listings occurred in May across many sectors, certain industries like hospitality and tourism showed a different trend. They typically experienced an increase in January, remained high through April, dropped and then rose again in August.