Jobs: More Good News, Ads Up

Jobs: More Good News Ads Up

More good news on employment this week with the latest figures from SEEK, New Zealand’s number one job website, showing 2.9% growth in new job ads in April.

The SEEK ‘New Job Ad Index’ measures the flow of new jobs for the month and is the leading economic indicator of job activity in the country.

Wellington was April’s standout performer, experiencing a 5.1% increase. Auckland followed with a 3.1% improvement on last month’s results, notching up nine months of consecutive growth in new job ads (up 45% since July 2009). Currently on seek.co.nz there are over 13,000 job ads.

“What an encouraging week. The first decrease in the unemployment rate in two years announced on Thursday comes as no real surprise to us as we have seen the number of new job ads steadily increase by 39% since the low point of July 2009. It’s good to see all these new job opportunities are not just becoming available, but are now having a positive impact on the unemployment rate,” says Annemarie Duff, General Manager of SEEK New Zealand.

Also released today are the monthly results for the SEEK Employment Index (SEI) which like last month showed the effects of heavy jobseeker interest in the roles posted. The index declined by 4.3%, driven down by a 7% national increase in applications, which exceeded growth in new job ads.

“While more new jobs are being advertised, kiwis are even more active in their job seeking. As unemployment is decreasing, we can assume that some of this is driven by those looking for a new challenge,” says Ms Duff.

The SEEK Employment Index

The SEEK Employment Index (SEI) is a dynamic snapshot of the match between the supply of job seekers and the demand for workers on seek.co.nz (i.e. the ratio of new job advertisements posted on seek.co.nz to job applications submitted to seek.co.nz). It is unique to other indicators as it measures job supply and demand.

After a significant upward change in the index since October last year, the latest data suggests a softening trend driven by continued growth in applications, which rose more sharply than new job ads.

Job Applications

April’s top five most competitive occupations:

1. I.T & T – Help Desk and Support
2. Call Centre/Customer Service – Call Centre Operator
3. Retail & Consumer Products – Retail Sales Assistant
4. Administration – Reception
5. Transport & Logistics – Warehouse & Distribution

I.T Help Desk and Support roles are the most competitive occupations, this month receiving the most applications per ad. Call Centre Operators and Retail Sales Assistant roles are also highly sought after and competitive.

April’s top five most sought after employees:

1. I.T & T – Consultant
2. Engineering – Management
3. Healthcare & Medical – Nurses and Midwives
4. Government & Defence – Local Government
5. Legal – Solicitor

“I.T. and Technology consultants are the most sought after employees this month, with these roles gathering the least applications per advertisement. Engineering managers are placed second in the top five more sought after employees, a new addition to the list,” said Ms Duff. Nurses and midwives unsurprisingly round out the top three, having featured in the top five most months since October last year.

ENDS

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