Jobs growth set to continue across all regions

Jobs growth set to continue across all regions of New Zealand: Hays Quarterly Hotspots

Management Accountants, Architectural Designers, Quantity Surveyors and Customer Service Representatives are just four of the professionals sought by employers as the New Zealand economy continues to create new jobs, says recruiting experts Hays.

Nationwide job numbers have been rising for the last 18 months with more people seeking work and successfully finding jobs across the country.

According to the recruiter’s latest Hays Quarterly Hotspots list of skills in demand for the April to June quarter, the jobs growth is being led by professional, technical and administration workers.

Significantly, it’s not only the rebuild in Christchurch that is generating new employment opportunities in New Zealand; jobs growth is gathering pace across all regions of the country.

“Over the past two weeks over 300 companies have attended recruitment events we’ve held across Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch,” said Jason Walker, Managing Director of Hays in New Zealand. “All companies shared a similar positive outlook for employment in New Zealand regardless of location.

“This shows that the growth in employment is no longer just centred on Christchurch - while the unemployment rate for Canterbury has plunged to its lowest level in six years, we are also seeing healthy jobs growth in Auckland and Wellington.”

One such area of growth exists in the accountancy and finance sector. According to Jason, “Employers are evaluating their accountancy and finance operations and adding resources to ensure they continue to produce accurate and timely information as well as insight into their operations.

“For example, architectural work is increasing in New Zealand, particularly in Christchurch and Auckland, and it is currently a candidate’s market. Quite often employers will create a position for a good intermediate or senior candidate who can use the right software and has local experience. In the construction sector we are seeing particular demand for experienced and intermediate Quantity Surveyors.

“There is also currently a good mix of both temporary and permanent roles in the office support market and this is due to new roles being created. Employers are willing to see good candidates as they are often overloaded with work,” says Jason.

A selection of skills in demand across New Zealand from the Hays Quarterly Hotspots for April to June 2014 follows:

Assistant Accountants – Employers are looking for Assistant Accountants with the skills and experience to work in a large company as part of a big team and meet the demands of complex business models. As a result, skilled candidates with salary expectations of around $55-65,000 per annum are highly sought after.

Management Accountants – Given the rebuild in Christchurch there is an increased focus on forward-looking accounting functions such as budgeting and forecasting, as well as scenario planning and modelling. Management Accountants are consequently in high demand.

Managers - Business Advisory Services – Business activity is increasing in the corporate sector and these professionals are therefore in high demand. Qualified Chartered Accountants from CA firms are highly valued for the training and technical knowledge gained within a firm.

Auditors – Changing legislations has resulted in a reduced number of firms that are prepared to conduct audits. This has led to a shortage of experienced candidates.

Architectural Technicians – These professionals are needed to produce consent proof documentation and working drawings for construction. Companies require candidates who are highly technical and possess construction knowledge.

Architectural Designers – These Architects design and shape the future buildings of the city and need to be able to take a brief from a client and put it into a computer for a 3D visualization of the building. They are needed for the rebuild and to help companies move forward with their plans.

Registered Architects – Registered Architects can sign off any type of work and with a lot of practices opening up satellite offices in New Zealand, Registered Architects are needed to take the lead and run projects.

Quantity Surveyors – Experienced Quantity Surveyors at all levels are required as there is a shortage in the area. Demand for candidates with commercial main contractor experience is strong as market confidence returns to Auckland.

Estimators – There is an acute shortage of people with pure estimating experience in New Zealand, and it is difficult to employ offshore applicants due to their lack of local knowledge.

Site/Project Managers – The number of medium to large projects is increasing demand for these professionals. Candidates with strong commercial experience will see demand for their skills increase further due to improved confidence in Auckland.

Customer Service Representatives – Recruitment drives are either underway or are being planned for customer service candidates with a solid work history and industry-specific experience. But despite high demand, there is a shortage of suitable candidates.

Telesales – Telesales candidates with a proven sales track record are highly sought after. These candidates are sought in response to increased customer choice resulting from a growing number of products. The market has become incredibly competitive for these candidates, and good Telesales professionals are in very high demand.

Line Mechanics – A new financial year looms which will give companies an opportunity to fill vital gaps in their Line Mechanic crews up and down the country. Since vacancies have not been filled in recent months due to budget constraints, demand will increase for these professionals once new budgets are allotted.

HV Electrical Fitters – The new upgrades and new build substations across the network in transmission and distribution means there is currently a great need for HV Electrical Fitters, particularly in Christchurch.

Structural Engineers – The market continues to require Structural Design Engineers with some experience. A New Zealand qualification is still preferred based on local design codes. There is a high level of current new build, building upgrade and strengthening work as well as a backlog of project work.

Building Services Engineers – Mechanical & Electrical Design for building services continues to be a key focus of recruitment. This is based mainly on fit-out and refurbishment projects in the capital. As a result, Mechanical Design and Electrical Design Engineers with intermediate to senior level experience are needed for building services projects.

Civil Engineers – The market still requires Civil Engineers with land development and infrastructure project experience to manage design and project management of sub division, council and private land owners.

Contract Business Analysts – These professionals are particularly in demand within the government sector as departments are using up their business planning budgets before they expire at the end of the financial year, ready for new projects to be implemented in July.

Systems Engineers – These Engineers are in demand due to a shortage of people with relevant certifications and a requirement from employers to recruit certified candidates.

Life & Health Underwriters – These insurance professionals are in demand in Auckland and Wellington due to the need to replace departing staff, with an occasional newly created role becoming available.

Claims - F&G – There are still some fixed term contracts on offer due to the Christchurch earthquake and these roles are based in Christchurch and Auckland.

Customer Service professionals – Demand exists for these professionals, especially in the telecommunications industry, due to increased competition and growth of the sector within Christchurch.

Intermediate Property and Facilities Managers – The demand for Property and Facilities Managers comes from a general upswing in business. Junior and intermediate Managers are sought after due to cost pressures faced by companies.

Sales & Leasing Executives – Demand for these executives closely follows the general property market. A number of organisations are predicting conditions to further improve later in the year so are resourcing staff early.

Business Development Managers – New Zealand’s economy is predicted to grow and businesses are looking for sales staff who can capitalise on new opportunities and win new business. Those with proven success in hitting targets are in short supply.

Territory Managers – Candidates are less willing to travel long distances and do not want to cover large territories. Thus candidates who can commit to such a large geographical responsibility are in high demand.

Construction Trades: Carpenters, Brick & Block Layers, Scaffolders (Advanced), Plasterers – As the demand for re-build workers increases, civil construction professionals are increasingly hard to source across the board.

Plumbers – With an increase in both commercial and residential projects, we are experiencing high demand for plumbers. Even overseas qualified plumbers with two to three years’ experience are in demand.

For the full list of skills in demand, please view our Hays Quarterly Hotspots.

Hays, the world’s leading recruiting experts in qualified, professional and skilled people.

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