Auckland bucks job ads growth
Job ad numbers were up across the country for last month – except in Auckland.
Job ad numbers were up across the country for last month – except in Auckland. This is according to data collected by job website Seek.
Over all, the number of jobs advertised in November rose 2.2% on last year. But there was a national increase of 9.3% over the last 12 months.
“Surprisingly, Wellington has driven this growth,” said Seek New Zealand general manager Janet Faulding. The capital experienced its biggest increase in new jobs since June with a rise of 6.7%.
Christchurch has also seen a strong performance, rising 5.2% in November. Last month was its eighth month of growth over the last nine months. Over the past year, the city has seen a 52.9% increase in job ads.
Auckland, however, is bucking the trend with the number of job listings there dropping 0.4%.
But it performed well in the Seek Employment Index. This index measures the ratio of new job ads placed on www.seek.co.nz to the number of applications for those jobs.
Auckland performed well in the index this month, posting an increase of 2.3%, despite a dip in new job ad numbers. New Zealand overall rose 2.5%, meaning the number of job ads is increasing faster than the number of applications for the roles.
Ms Faulging said Auckland numbers meant there was an even bigger drop in applications than in job ad postings, “so competition for some roles will have improved over the month – positive news for job seekers.”
But the nation’s index increases may partly reflect an increase in jobs seeking (and struggling to find) senior-level candidates.
Recruitment agency 6degrees consulting director Chris McKinney told NBR earlier this year there was a severe shortage of New Zealand senior level civil engineers, especially those with structural and geotechnical experience.
New Zealand’s job market is out-performing Australia. Since January new job ads have risen by 4.5% in New Zealand, compared to a decline of 2.0% in Australia.
Charlotte Woodfield
Tue, 13 Dec 2011
Tue, 13 Dec 2011
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Auckland bucks job ads growth
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