HorizonPoll finds good employment news for 2013

20 December 2012

Media release

HorizonPoll finds good employment news for 2013

There will be a nett rise in jobs created during the next year, according to a new HorizonPoll survey.

23.8% of adults in work think the organisations employing them will increase staff in the next 12 months, 16.6% will decrease staff and 43.9% will keep number the same.

The outlook is more positive among senior decision makers (business managers, executives, business proprietors, self-employed, professionals and senior Government officials).

28.7% of decision maker say the organisation they work for will increase staff, 16.6% reduce, 43.9% stay the same.

In the next 12 months, do you think that the organisation you work for will increase or reduce its staff?

The survey covered 1090 employed adults between December 14 and 19, 2012, including 342 senior decision makers. Weighted to represent the adult population at the last census and 2011 general election, it has a maximum margin of error of +/- 3% on the overall sample.

While the outlook is generally positive overall, respondents in teachers/nurses/police and other trained service workers and technical/mechanical/skilled work occupations think there will be a nett decline in jobs where they work.

People in government administration or defence also think there will be a decline in nett jobs, as do construction workers, people in personal services or property and business services, and people with post-graduate degrees (who were also gloomier in a November survey).

In all other sectors there is a nett increase.

Horizon Research’s Manager, Grant McInman, says the view that construction staff will decline mirrors a November 23 - December 5 HorizonPoll result which indicated 16,000 construction workers were likely to go overseas to work in the coming year.

Most worried about a decline in jobs where they work appear to be respondents from one parent family households with one or two children at home.

“Positive for the economy, given that so many of New Zealand businesses are small, is that business proprietors and self-employed people are expecting a nett increase in jobs,” Mr McInman says.

“Similarly, business managers, executives and those who own or manage farms are expecting a nett increase in jobs, as are business decision makers overall (at a higher rate than the general population).”

From a political support perspective, Labour Party, Maori Party, United Future and Conservative Party supporters expect a nett decrease in jobs. National, ACT, Green party and New Zealand First supporters all expect a nett increase in jobs.

ENDS

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