Job Ads And Applications in Sync for November

MEDIA RELEASE

8th December 2010

Job Ads And Applications in Sync for November

Following positive job ad growth in October, new data released by SEEK today reveals signs that the national job market is levelling as 2010 draws to a close. While the number of new jobs ads listed in November fell by 0.5%, the number of people applying for these jobs has also decreased.

Helen Souness, Senior Executive of SEEK comments; “While there has been a slight decrease in the number of new job ads listed in November, it is typical for this time of year as companies tend to hold off hiring until the New Year. We would expect there to be an increase in both jobs ads and applications in the New Year as this is the traditional time for increased activity in the job market.”

The strength of the New Zealand job market in the past few months has been focused in Auckland and the Canterbury region. Auckland has seen the number of new job ads rise by 4.7% in the last three months from September, and Canterbury has experienced a 10.3% rise following the ongoing impact of the reconstruction programme in the area.

While there has been a slight pause in the number of new jobs listed in November, there has been less competition for these positions, which has resulted in the national 0.5% rise in the SEEK Employment Index (SEI). Conditions were most favourable for Jobseekers in Auckland, where applications fell 3.7% while new jobs edged up 0.6%. The SEI is the ratio of new job ads placed on seek.co.nz during the month to the number of applications for those jobs.

Ms Souness explains; “When the SEI increases despite a dip in the number of new job ads, it’s a positive indicator that supply and demand for jobs is evening out. Compared to this time last year the SEI is 23% higher, which shows how far the New Zealand employment market has come from the low points of the economic downturn.”

“With 25% more jobs on SEEK compared to a year ago it is a good reflection of stabilising conditions and a more positive outlook for the year ahead,” says Ms Souness.

-ENDS-

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