Business / Employment

Job ads fall, but applications on the rebound - Seek

05:19 am on 22 November 2023

Photo: CORBIS

The number of job ads fell in October in all regions except Taranaki, with real estate and property one of the few industry sectors to record growing demand for workers.

Seek NZ's October employment report indicated job ads fell 6 percent in October over September, 29 percent down on the year earlier, or a drop of 1 percent on the October 2019 pre-Covid-19 period.

The largest cities drove the overall decline, with demand in Auckland down 4 percent, and Wellington and Canterbury each down 6 percent.

Manufacturing, transport and logistics saw the number of ads fall by 7 percent, while real estate and property rose 23 percent, and education and training 11 percent.

"A rebound in applications per job ad levels, after a drop the month prior, discounts the idea that candidate interest is plateauing, " Seek country manager Rob Clark said.

"Application levels are again close to a record high, which demonstrates the desire for many workers to make a move ahead of Christmas.

"For hirers, particularly in industries where worker demand remains high, such as community services and development and hospitality and tourism, this should mean greater choice and a better chance at filling critical roles before the end of the year."