SEEK NZ Employment Report - Job ads reach an all-time high for the quarter

STATE OF THE NATION: JOB ADS REACH AN ALL-TIME HIGH FOR THE QUARTER

Job ads increased 2% nationally in March, making it another record month and 36% higher than the same time in 2019.

Applications per job ad also rose by 2% m/m, yet remain 40% lower than applications during the same period last year.

Rob Clark, Country Manager, SEEK NZ, comments: “It has been an extremely strong start to the year, with job ads at their highest level each month since January.

“It is also pleasing to see a slight uptick in candidate applications, only the second increase since mid-2020. Despite this, we know that the market remains incredibly tight with businesses calling out for talent.

“With a shift to the Orange traffic light setting on the cards and our borders opening to more non-residents over the coming months, we expect businesses to be planning for new workers to join the job market, if not in the short term, then perhaps later this year.”

Table 1: Job ad growth/decline nationally and for major regions, comparing March 2022 to: i) February 2022 (m/m) ii) March 2021 (y/y) and iii) March 2019 – all regions are listed in Table 2.

STATE OF THE REGIONS: AUCKLAND, OTAGO AND WAIKATO DRIVE MONTHLY GROWTH

Most regions showed an increase in job ads from February to March and all regions recorded y/y growth and an increase compared to March 2019.

The regions most responsible for the boost in job ads in March were Auckland, which rose by 5%, Otago which grew by 8% and Waikato which increased by 3%. Gisborne, albeit one of our smallest hiring regions, recorded the greatest jump m/m at 17%.

Job ads in the Bay of Plenty, Canterbury, Manawatu, Hawkes Bay and Tasman regions declined m/m.

Rob Clark explains: “Job ads increased in all but five of the regions in March with Auckland, Otago and Waikato driving the biggest month-on-month change.

“Applications per job ad increased by 4% in Auckland, indicating a positive, if incremental, turnaround in candidate activity in our most populous region, as well as in Hawkes Bay which was up 15%, Southland where applications increased 15% and Gisborne which rose 13% m/m.”

“If we look at job ad growth by quarter, both Auckland and Canterbury were up 14%, Wellington rose 6% and Waikato jumped 16%. The entire South Island saw more job ads this quarter than last.”

Figure 1: National SEEK NZ Job Ad percentage change by region (March 2022 vs February 2022)

Table 2: National and regional job ad growth/decline comparing March 2022 to: i) February 2022 (y/y); ii) March 2021 (m/m) and; iii) March 2019

STATE OF THE INDUSTRIES: HOSPITALITY & TOURISM BOOM AS INTERNATIONAL BORDERS SET TO REOPEN

Information & Communication Technology was the industry with the most job ads in March, rising 4% from February. This was followed by Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics, which declined 2% and Trades & Services, which grew 1%, rounding out the top three.

Hospitality & Tourism roles showed the greatest m/m growth, jumping 21% m/m and were 20% up quarter-on-quarter (q/q). In fact, the Consumer Services sector as a whole, which includes roles in the Hospitality & Tourism, Retail & Consumer Products and Call Centre & Customer Service industries, among others, increased 4% in March, the greatest rise of all sectors and up 12% q/q.

Pleasingly, there was a 19% increase in candidate applications for roles in Hospitality & Tourism and a 6% uplift in Call Centre & Customer Service roles last month.

Rob Clark explains: “Off the back of the announcement that international borders would be reopening from April onwards, businesses in customer facing industries such as Hospitality & Tourism, Retail & Consumer Products and Call Centre & Customer Service responded with an increased focus on hiring talent. Hospitality & Tourism roles, which declined in February, grew the most of any industry, jumping 21% in March.

“Information & Communication Technology remains the biggest hiring market, however, followed by Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics and Trades & Services.

“The opening of our borders paves the way for two eventualities that will impact the job market; a fresh influx of international talent and travellers will be a welcome boon for hirers looking to fill vacant roles, yet it also is likely to see a number of skilled Kiwis leave our shores for opportunities elsewhere.”

Figure 2: National SEEK NZ Job Ad percentage change by industry, (March 2022 vs February 2022) – Ordered by total job ad volume.

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MEDIA NOTE: When reporting SEEK NZ data, we request that you attribute SEEK NZ as the source and refer to SEEK NZ as an employment marketplace.