Job Ads Decline for Second Consecutive Month in New Zealand

Job advertisements in New Zealand have experienced a decline for the second consecutive month, according to data from employment website Seek NZ. In June, job ads fell by 3% compared to May and were also 3% lower than figures from the same month last year. This reduction in job listings coincides with indications that the country’s economic recovery is stalling as the year progresses.

Rob Clark, country manager for Seek, noted that job ad levels have remained largely flat over the past year. “While the volume remains below pre-COVID levels, there are pockets of growth, which should be cause for some optimism,” he stated.

Regional Variations in Job Advertisements

The decline in job ads was not uniform across the country. Regions such as Gisborne, Marlborough, and Southland were the only areas to report month-on-month growth in June. In contrast, major regions like Auckland and Canterbury experienced a 2% drop, while Wellington saw a more significant decrease of 4%. Otago remained unchanged, and Waikato reported a decline of 4% as well.

In terms of sector performance, the only industry to witness an increase in job volumes was the Information & Communication Technology sector, which saw heightened demand for positions such as ICT managers and networks and systems administrators. Clark highlighted that, despite the overall monthly dip, there has been a notable surge in demand within the government and defense sectors, which has jumped by 51% year-on-year. He expressed optimism about seeing a growing number of industries returning to annual growth, particularly within the professional and consumer services sectors.

Economic Context and Future Outlook

The recent trends in job advertising are reflective of broader economic conditions in New Zealand. Various economic datasets suggest that the country is experiencing a slowdown in its recovery phase. Despite the challenges, Clark’s comments about pockets of growth provide a glimmer of hope that certain sectors and regions may still be poised for expansion.

As New Zealand navigates this complex economic landscape, the performance of job ads in the coming months will be closely monitored by analysts and job seekers alike. The resilience shown by certain industries indicates that while challenges exist, opportunities for growth remain, potentially paving the way for a more robust employment market in the future.