SEEK NZ Advertised Salary Index - November
The SEEK NZ Advertised Salary Index (ASI) measures the growth in advertised salaries for jobs posted on SEEK in New Zealand on a quarterly basis.
NATIONAL ADVERTISED SALARY TRENDS
Advertised salary growth rose by 0.8% q/q.
Annual advertised salary growth accelerated for the first time since November 2023 to 2.5% y/y.
REGIONAL ADVERTISED SALARY TRENDS
Quarterly and annual average advertised salary growth was fastest in Canterbury at 1.0% q/q and 3.2% y/y.
Slower annual growth in advertised salaries on the South Island outside of Canterbury and in Wellington continue to pull down the national average.
INDUSTRY ADVERTISED SALARY TRENDS
Annual advertised salaries grew fastest in the Real Estate & Property industry at 9.7% y/y.
A majority of SEEK’s industry classifications experienced annual advertised salary growth over the year to November, with only three industries experiencing a decline.
SEEK Country Manager, Rob Clark says:
“A relatively broad pick up in advertised salaries across the country points to a more positive outlook for the labour market as we head into 2026.
“Annual average advertised salary growth has begun to accelerate, with a notable increase in the most recent quarter.”
“Canterbury has continued to experience relatively quick advertised salary growth, while Auckland saw quarterly growth jump following a couple of slow quarters.”
“Most industries recorded increasing average advertised salary growth this quarter, with Design & Architecture, Human Resources & Recruitment and Science & Technology the only industries to decline.”
National Advertised Salary Trends
Advertised salaries rose by 0.8% q/q, the fastest quarterly growth since May 2024, and a sharp increase relative to the 0.5% to 0.6% q/q recorded in the intervening period.
Figure 1: Quarter-on-quarter growth of SEEK Advertised Salary Index
Note: trend. Source: SEEK.
Annual advertised salary growth accelerated to 2.5% y/y, faster than that recorded immediately prior to the onset of COVID.
Figure 2: Year-on-year growth of SEEK Advertised Salary Index
Note: trend. Source: SEEK.
Regional Advertised Salary Trends
Over the past quarter advertised salaries grew the fastest in Canterbury (1.0% q/q), and the North Island outside of Auckland and Wellington. Canterbury also experienced the fastest annual advertised salary growth (3.2% y/y).
Annual advertised salary growth in Wellington continues to be slower than the other major metro areas (2.0% y/y). However, quarterly advertised salary growth in Wellington of 0.8% outpaced Auckland.
The South Island outside of Canterbury, despite an acceleration, continues to experience some of the slowest advertised salary growth, with the Rest of the South Island having the slowest quarterly and annual growth rates.
Table 1: SEEK Advertised Salary Index growth by region
Note: trend. Source: SEEK.
Figure 3: Year-on-year growth of SEEK Advertised Salary Index by region
Note: trend. Source: SEEK.
Industry Advertised Salary Trends
The Real Estate & Property industry had the fastest advertised salary growth over the year to August (9.7% y/y), with strong growth of 2.6% in the three months to November.
Relatively fast growth in the recent quarter, combined with slow growth in the November quarter last year, saw the annual advertised salary growth rate accelerate in the Legal industry to 5.5%.
After a sustained period of decline in advertised salaries in 2024, strong advertised salary growth in recent quarters has seen Advertising, Arts & Media move from having virtually no salary growth over the past 12 months to recording the fifth fastest.
Advertised salaries in the Design & Architecture industry have declined by 2.8% y/y, despite an increase in advertised salary growth this quarter.
Following a couple of quarters of decline, Government roles experienced a 0.8% increase in the three months to November. The Consulting & Strategy industry also had a positive quarter following two negative quarters, but, like Government roles, has had negative annual advertised growth.
Table 2: SEEK Advertised Salary Index growth by industry
Note: trend. Source: SEEK.
NOTES
More information about how the SEEK ASI is put together and the current data can be found here.
When reporting SEEK data, we request that you attribute SEEK as the source and refer to SEEK as an employment marketplace.
Commentary relating to the SEEK NZ ASI can be attributed to Rob Clark, SEEK Country Manager.
About the SEEK ASI
The SEEK NZ ASI measures the change in advertised salaries over time for jobs posted on SEEK in New Zealand, removing much of the effect of compositional change. The SEEK NZ Advertised Salary Index is a complement to existing data about the growth in wages and salaries in New Zealand, including Stats NZ’s Labour Cost Index (LCI). The LCI is a measure of the pace of wages growth across the economy. The SEEK NZ Advertised Salary Index provides a timely and frequent read on the pulse of advertised salary growth in New Zealand for vacant roles.
Disclaimer
The Data should be viewed and regarded as standalone information and should not be aggregated with any other information whether such information has been previously provided by SEEK Limited, ("SEEK"). The Data is given in summary form and whilst care has been taken in its preparation, SEEK makes no representations whatsoever about its completeness or accuracy. SEEK expressly bears no responsibility or liability for any reliance placed by you on the Data, or from the use of the Data by you.
About SEEK
SEEK operates market leading online employment marketplaces, helping people live more fulfilling and productive working lives and helping organisations succeed.
SEEK has a multinational presence that is focused on New Zealand, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.