LinkedIn hits 1 million NZ users

10-year-old business networking site LinkedIn says it now has one million members in NZ (and 259 million worldwide).

It seems the million Kiwi LinkedIners are not all obsessives, however. Nielsen's Market Intelligence Survey says the site had 63,525 average daily domestic unique browsers during October.

Worldwide, the company says the student market is its growing demographic with more than 30 million students worldwide leveraging the site – including its recently launched LinkedIn University Pages – to cultivate professional connections, search for universities and jobs, and build their professional brands.

LinkedIn says New Zealand have on average 10.8 years of work experience. 

There are no surprises in terms of LinkedIn presence, with NZ's largest organisations dominating.

The three employers with the biggest presence on LinkedIn are the University of Auckland, Fonterra and Telecom.

The most followed companies (excluding current employees), are Air New Zealand, Fonterra and Telecom New Zealand.

LinkedIn Australia-NZ managing director Cliff Rosenberg touts that  ASB Bank, Fisher and Paykel, NZ Post, Vodafone and Xero have used the site for recruitment.

The site has not been a hit with everyone. Only 41 sheep farmers use LinkedIn, according to statistics released to mark the 1 millionth member.

LinkedIn [NAS:LKND], which has a market cap of just under $US27 billion, does not break out local results. Last year, it made $US22 million on $972 million revenue.

40% tapped for potential job through social media
Meanwhile, The Kelly Global Workforce Index (KGWI), an international survey of more than 120,000 employees in 31 countries, including over 3,500 New Zealanders, says Kiwis are consistently leading their Australian counterparts in utilising social media as a recruitment tool. 

40% of New Zealanders have been contacted about a potential job opportunity via a social media network, compared to 38% Australian respondents.

17% of New Zealand respondents had successfully secured a new job opportunity in this way, compared to 14%.