A Quarter Of Kiwis Want To Move Jobs. Is AI The Key To Unlocking Mobility In 2026?

Global leader in workforce management Employment Hero’s end-of-year Employment Uncovered worker survey reveals what the past year at work really looked like for people across New Zealand. The new research explores how people worked, rested and managed pressures throughout 2025.

Based on aggregated and anonymised insights from more than 70,000 SME employees and a national survey of 500 Kiwi workers, the data shows that New Zealand is heading into 2026 with a more optimistic employment landscape (employment growth has increased 4.9% YoY and 7% QoQ).

Workers are ready to move into new roles - but stuck behind hiring processes that haven’t evolved:

• 4 in 10 New Zealanders want a new job
• 41% are actively or passively job-seeking
• 62% avoid applying for roles because the hiring process is too frustrating

Together with growing calls for flexible roles and better AI support in the workplace, New Zealand is entering a year where hiring will need to become faster and more transparent, job models will need to adapt and AI capability will increasingly set employers apart.

These shifts point to three major trends set to shape 2026:

1. Hiring will be rebuilt around speed, clarity and AI-powered efficiency

The data shows Kiwis are eager to move roles but deeply frustrated by how difficult applying for roles and the job application process is. The most common barriers include:

• Vague or confusing job ads
• Unrealistic skill requirements
• Slow or inconsistent communication
• No salary benchmarks

This friction is holding back both productivity and talent mobility.

2026 prediction:

AI will become the default assistant in the hiring process - reducing admin bottlenecks, improving communication and lifting overall transparency.

“Instead of weeks of manual screening, AI tools like SmartMatch and agentic AI tech will help match businesses with greater candidates, shortlist applicants faster and reduce the administration burden. This shift mirrors what we’re seeing globally, with uniquely Kiwi pain points at the centre: speed, clarity and respect for applicants’ time,” comments Neil Webster, General Manager at Employment Hero.

2. Flexibility will expand beyond location - workers want control over hours, structure and expectations

New Zealanders are also increasingly rejecting traditional 40-hour, fixed-location employment.

• 3 in 4 (73%) would prefer to work “on-demand”
• This rises to 80% among younger workers (18-34)
• Casual employment growth shows the highest increase QoQ at 10.9%
• With the holiday season approaching and thanks to Black Friday sales, hours worked for casuals have increased by 11.3%MoM

This mirrors global patterns, but NZ’s driver is clear: people want work that aligns with their life, not the other way around.

2026 prediction:

Job design will become a competitive advantage for employers.

Businesses that rethink hours, scheduling, part-time pathways and alternate models will win access to wider talent pools - especially in a year when worker movement is already high.

“Flexibility is no longer a benefit. In 2026, it will be a baseline expectation,” comments Webster.

3. AI capability will determine which businesses accelerate and which fall behind

AI adoption inside NZ workplaces is lagging:

• Only 47% of employers encourage staff to use AI at work

Yet workers themselves are experimenting with tools at rising rates as the gap between employer enablement and employee curiosity widens quickly.

2026 prediction:

The New Zealand businesses that win will be those that empower staff to use AI, not fear it.

“AI will remove repetitive admin, streamline hiring and free teams to focus on high-value work - but only if capability grows alongside technology. Workers shouldn’t fear AI; they fear not being trained to use it,” comments Webster.

He adds that “AI is not replacing people. It’s removing the admin burden that stops businesses from growing. When you combine smart tools with human capability, everything improves - speed, fairness and access to talent.”

The organisations that invest in AI literacy, smarter processes and people-centred technology will move faster and operate leaner in 2026.

What’s more, workers who can master this emerging capability will be those who can command an above average hourly rate. Science & Technology has seen a YoY increase of 3.5% in wages, with the Nov median hourly wage for this industry coming in at $55.80 (EH Nov jobs report).

Webster believes 2026 will be a defining year.

“We’re seeing a labour market full of friction. People want to move, but old systems are holding them back. 2026 will be the year New Zealand modernises: clearer hiring, smarter job design and AI-enabled efficiency. Employers who embrace this shift early will have an undeniable advantage,” he concludes.

About Employment Hero

Employment Hero is the global authority on employment, offering a world-leading Employment Operating System (eOS) that simplifies and optimises every stage of the employment process. Its award-winning platform combines HR, payroll, recruitment, and employee engagement tools with the groundbreaking employment superapp, EH Work, which integrates career management and financial wellbeing. Serving over 350,000 businesses and managing more than 2.5 million employees worldwide, Employment Hero reduces administrative burdens by up to 80%, enabling organisations to focus on their goals and create more productive, engaged teams. By revolutionising the employment marketplace, Employment Hero is making employment easier, more valuable, and rewarding for everyone.

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