Job growth up in August

Job growth up in August as farming leads employment opportunities

New job ads in New Zealand rose 1.5 per cent in August 2014 to be 11.5 per cent higher than in August 2013, according to online employment marketplace, SEEK.

August 2014 saw Auckland experience 3.4 per cent growth month-on-month in new job ads published on SEEK. Wellington also saw a month-on-month increase of 9.7 per cent; potentially driven by the general election.

“Despite some contraction in recent months the current volume of new job ads is much higher than what we saw 12 months ago. The current demand for labour is being underpinned by key sectors such as agriculture, construction and real estate,” says General Manager of SEEK New Zealand, Janet Faulding.

“The most significant rise in the last 12 months has been New Zealand’s farming industry, with new job ads up 83 per cent,” continues Ms Faulding.

Federated Farmers of New Zealand spokesperson, Andrew Hoggard, says that the uplift in job opportunities reaffirms New Zealand’s future as a primary exporting super power.

“New Zealand’s increasingly sophisticated farming system is driving the need for skills and knowledge as our primary industries are on track to double export returns by 2025.

“While dairy farming is the backbone of New Zealand’s primary exports, employment growth goes beyond the farmgate; into agricultural science, manufacturing and international business,” says Mr Hoggard.

According to Mr Hoggard, the sustained momentum in the labour market provides great opportunities for workers looking to move into the New Zealand farming industry.

“An increasingly skilled labour force is needed to support the industry, from technical product development right through to marketing,” says Mr Hoggard.

Mr Hoggard’s comments are echoed on the SEEK site, where over 250 farming roles are currently on offer.

“The farming industry offers strong employment potential across both the North and South Islands; this includes areas such as Canterbury advertising 64 roles; Waikato and Bay of Plenty advertising 45 roles; Auckland and Northland advertising 47 roles and Otago and Southland offering 35 roles,” continues Ms Faulding.

“Roles in the farming sector currently advertised on SEEK vary from farm workers and accountants, to agriculture sales, environmental specialists and business managers,” concludes Ms Faulding.

The SEEK Employment Index, which measures the balance between demand for labour (new job ads) and supply (applications) fell by 4.5 per cent in August, as the number of applications for jobs posted with SEEK rose by 5.8 per cent.

ENDS

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