With 220,000 jobs advertised on New Zealand's largest job source, SEEK, since January, all is pointing to a positive finish for the job market as the year draws to a close.
Releasing data that shows 22,500 jobs were advertised in October alone, 555 more than September 2013, the website claims it is IT and Trades and Services industries that continue to have the largest amount of opportunities available.
“We’ve seen small fluctuations over the last 10 months but encouragingly, we are tracking ahead of 2012 year-to-date, suggesting that we will log positive growth across the year by the end of December,” says Janet Faulding, General Manager, SEEK New Zealand.
“Job ads are 4% higher than they were this time last year and better yet, location wise, the growth is spread across the country and no longer restricted to the big cities.”
SEEK’s data shows that Bay of Plenty, Hawkes Bay, Otago, Tasman, West Coast, Canterbury and Auckland all experienced growth in job opportunities in October, with these same locations also registering positive year on year job growth.
CEO and General Manager roles were the classifications that experienced the largest growth and while jobs are growing, application numbers are consistent month on month, suggesting that competition for some roles may be easing.
“When job opportunities grow and numbers of applications are stagnant, it signals a positive market for job hunters," Faulding adds.
"With less applications, competition eases and candidates have a more likely chance of being placed.
“This compliments the decrease in the unemployment rate to 6.2% nicely; the job market is certainly looking more positive.”
