Job-seekers can feel optimistic about finding a new role, with an increase in the number of new jobs advertised online and a spike in demand across several industries.
New June data from online employment website SEEK shows job listings increased by almost 47 percent compared to May. Jobs advertised within the insurance and superannuation and advertising, arts and media industries were especially high, up 541 percent and 369 percent.
In the sports and recreation industry, job listings were up 151 percent and in marketing and communications, listings were up 150 percent.
Sectors showing a high increase in demand month-on-month were administration and office support, up 147 percent and retail and consumer products, up 118 percent.
SEEK NZ general manager Janet Faulding said that the growth in jobs was linked to easing of COVID-19 restrictions. Job seekers and businesses should feel "cautiously optimistic".
“Several industry sectors made substantial contributions to overall job ad volumes throughout the month, including trades & services, up 69 percent, manufacturing, transport & logistics, up 65 percent, and information, communication & technology, up 49 percent month-on-month in June 2020," Faulding said.
In Auckland and Caterbury, new job listings were up 48 percent month-on month. The number of new jobs listed was highest in Otago, up 72 percent. In the capital city, listings were up 36 percent. The region with the highest growth was Waikato, up 95 percent.
"Job seekers in these areas should feel confident of their prospects and expect more opportunities for employment to open in the coming months," Faulding added.
In the June 2020 quarter, nationwide job listings were down 57.4 percent compared to the June 2019 quarter. In Auckland, they were down 62.5 percent compared to the June 2019 quarter. Regions that were least impacted by drops in quarterly job listings were Gisborne, Tasman and Manawatu.
"It’s difficult to draw too many comparisons against quarter two 2020 data, as 2019 was a much different employment market," Faulding added.
