Workers feel more optimistic about the labour market - helped by a rise in wages - but are downbeat on their chances of finding a job, a survey shows.
Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King
Westpac-McDermott-Miller Employment Confidence index, which rose 1.8 points in December, showed wage growth was at its strongest in 10 years.
Nearly a quarter of respondents said they had a pay rise in the past 12 months.
Employment confidence was strongest among 18-29 year olds.
However, Westpac senior economist Satish Ranchhod said households "remain very pessimistic about their chances of finding a new job" and they did not expect the number of job openings to increase much over the year ahead.