SEEK Employment Report - November 2025

According to the latest SEEK NZ Employment Report, job ads are up 1% m/m and 4% q/q. The national market is firmly above last year’s levels (up 9% y/y) and the growth was broad based, with rises across all sectors and in most regions. Applications per job ad fell for the first time since January 2022, down 1% from the month prior. 

Aside from Marlborough (-1% m/m) all regions recorded either no change or m/m growth, leading to the national growth in ad volumes in November. The South Island is driving most of the annual increases, with Southland (27%), Otago (17%) and Canterbury (16%) rising the fastest, due to significant growth in the Construction, Trades & Services and Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics industries.

Most industries recorded m/m growth in November, predominantly in the Public and Industrial sectors, which both rose 2% m/m. 

SEEK Country Manager Rob Clark says: “November’s data shows New Zealand's job market continuing its steady recovery, with job ads up 1% for the month and now 9% higher than last year. The quarterly view is similarly encouraging, up 4% on the previous quarter and 7% compared to the same quarter last year. While the market remains challenging for many job seekers, the consistency of this growth suggests we're now in a genuine recovery phase rather than simply stabilising. What's particularly notable this month is the regional picture. The South Island is leading the charge, with Southland up 27% annually, West Coast up 30%, and Tasman up 23%. Canterbury and Otago are also showing strong double-digit annual growth at 16% and 17% respectively. Wellington and Waikato are both tracking above 12% year-on-year, indicating solid momentum in the central regions. For candidates, the message is one of cautious optimism – the market is clearly improving, but that improvement is uneven across regions and sectors.”

*Applications per job ad are recorded with a one-month lag. Data shown in this report refers to October data.

SEEK Advertised Salary Index - Quarterly to November 2025 

The quarterly SEEK NZ Advertised Salary Index (ASI) measures the growth in advertised salaries for jobs posted on SEEK in New Zealand. This report examines national trends up to the quarter ending November 2025. 

Advertised salaries rose by 0.8% q/q, the fastest quarterly growth since May 2024, and a sharp increase relative to the 0.5% to 0.6% q/q recorded in the intervening period.

Quarterly and annual average advertised salary growth was fastest in Canterbury at 1.0% q/q and 3.2% y/y.

SEEK Country Manager Rob Clark says: “A relatively broad pick up in advertised salaries across the country points to a more positive outlook for the labour market as we head into 2026. Annual average advertised salary growth has begun to accelerate, with a notable increase in the most recent quarter. Canterbury has continued to experience relatively quick advertised salary growth, while Auckland saw quarterly growth jump following a couple of slow quarters. Most industries recorded increasing average advertised salary growth this quarter, with Design & Architecture, Human Resources & Recruitment and Science & Technology the only industries to decline.”

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