Comparative Job Market Prospects – NZ, OZ, UK

Comparative Job Market Prospects – NZ, OZ, UK

Wednesday, 8 January 2014, 2.00pm

Press Release: Global Career Link

Wednesday, 8 January 2014

Media Release

Comparative Job Market Prospects – NZ, OZ, UK

To help job seekers monitor prospects in different countries, Global Career Link reviews, rates and reports on the sentiment of job market and economic headlines in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom each month. During the last quarter of 2013, headlines across these three countries could be summarised as follows:

“NZ very positive, UK remains confident while OZ collapses.”

Obviously, we’re not talking about the cricket here! Sentiment from job market and economic headlines in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom headed in different directions during the last quarter of 2013.

In line with business confidence reaching its highest levels in the past 15-20 years, positive job market and economic headlines from New Zealand continued to increase from 69% in Oct 13 to 100% in Dec 13. Maybe Kiwis got a little carried away with positivity in Dec 13, being Christmas et al.

Prospects also continue to look good for the United Kingdom job market in 2014. Headlines from the United Kingdom improved throughout 2013, finishing with 89% positive headlines in Dec 13.

Meanwhile, in Australia, after a bounce in positive headlines from 23% in Sept 13 to 40% in Oct 13 (following the federal elections), headlines have been decidedly negative. Any prospect of an improvement in sentiment disappeared completely in Nov 13 with positive headlines collapsing to 13% before a further decline to just 11% in Dec 13.

Clearly, job market and economic headlines from Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom paint a different picture for job market prospects in each of these countries for 2014.

For Australasian professionals considering their career options over the summer break, the Australian job market is not flash right now. It will bounce back - a case of “when” rather than “if”. In the meantime, the United Kingdom should look increasingly attractive compared to the Australian market, especially with a weaker dollar. Australians in the United Kingdom with expiring UK visas facing the prospect of returning to a tough job market at home may like to consider other options. Given the positive sentiment coming out of New Zealand, extending the OE by doing a stint in New Zealand until things pick up at home isn’t such a silly idea.

New Zealanders should go into the year confident that the local job market will increasingly turn in favour of the jobseeker. For those with itchy feet, they should definitely preference the United Kingdom over Australia until things improve significantly there.

As for the Brits, the state of the Australian job market and getting thumped in The Ashes series doesn’t make Australia an attractive place right now. The United Kingdom market looks good for 2014, either stay at home, or perhaps try New Zealand.

ENDS

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