SEEK NZ Employment Report - June

NOTE: This report includes SEEK’s seasonally adjusted data as well as trend data. Where not otherwise specified, the commentary, figures and tables in this report refer to the seasonally adjusted data. From next month, this report will refer only to the trend series data (not the seasonally adjusted data). See notes 2 and 3 at bottom for more information about this.
 
 *Applications per job ad are recorded with a one-month lag. Data shown in this report refers to May data.

National Insights:

• Job ads dropped for a second month, falling 3% m/m and 1% on trend.
• Ad volumes are now only 3% lower y/y.

Region Insights:

• Three regions recorded a m/m rise in job ad volumes: Gisborne (16%), Marlborough (16%) and Southland (1%).
• Ad volumes have grown y/y in eight regions: Wellington (4%), Otago (5%) and Canterbury (2%).

Industry Insights:

• Job ads in Information & Communication Technology rose 6% m/m with increased demand for ICT Managers (42%) and Network & Systems Administrators (24%).
• Despite a 7% decline m/m, job ads in Government & Defence have grown 51% y/y.

Rob Clark, SEEK NZ Country Manager, says:

 "Job ad levels have remained broadly flat for the past twelve months. While the volume remains below pre-COVID levels, there are pockets of growth, which should be cause for some optimism.
 
"Regional activity is mixed, with Gisborne, Marlborough and Southland recording month-on-month growth in June, and year-on-year we're seeing positive momentum in eight regions including Wellington, Otago and Canterbury.
 
"Despite a monthly dip in June, demand within Government & Defence has jumped 51% year-on-year, and we're seeing a growing number of industries return to annual growth within the Professional and Consumer services sectors, indicating that hiring activity is returning on multiple fronts.”

National Trends

After a 2% fall in May, job ads fell for a second consecutive month, down 3% m/m. Ad volumes are now just 3% lower y/y.
 
Looking at the trend data, ad volumes have again slightly declined, dropping 1% in June.
After rising 1% the month prior, applications per job ad fell 2%, seasonally adjusted.

Region Trends

Southland recorded a second consecutive month of ad volume growth, rising 1%. It was one of only three regions where job ads rose m/m, including Gisborne (16%) and Marlborough (16%).
 
All other regions recorded a fall in job ad volume in June, led by Auckland (-2%), Wellington (-4%) and Waikato (-4%). The monthly decline was spread out across metro and regional areas, with both falling 3% m/m in June.
 
A growing number of regions are now recording y/y job ad growth, the largest increases being Manawatu (8%), Otago (5%), Bay of Plenty (4%) and Wellington (4%).
 
Over the past quarter job ads have stabilised in Wellington and Canterbury, whereas they have declined in Auckland (-3%), Otago (-3%) and Waikato (-1%). Southland (7%), Northland (6%) and Manawatu (4%) are among the regions where job ads have risen q/q.
 
Candidate activity, measured by applications per job ad, continued to rise m/m in Otago (6%),  Manawatu (3%) and Hawkes Bay (4%), among other regions.

Industry Trends
 
Aside from Information & Communication Technology, all of the largest hiring industries declined m/m, including Healthcare & Medical (-8%), Administration & Office Support (-3%) and Trades & Services (-3%).
 
Information & Communication Technology continued its pattern of fluctuation, up 6% m/m after dropping 15% the month prior and a 9% rise the month before that. In June, the increase was partly driven by increased demand for ICT Managers (42%) and Network & Systems Administrators (24%).
 
Call Centre & Customer Service (4%), Human Resources & Recruitment (4%) and Banking & Financial Services (3%) were among the smaller industries with job ads growing m/m.
 
Despite a 7% decline m/m, job ads in Government & Defence have grown 51% y/y. A rising number of industries are now recording y/y job ad growth, including Real Estate & Property (24%), Legal (18%) and Construction (6%).

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