Growth rate of filled jobs slows down after rising for three quarters
Filled jobs in New Zealand saw a modest increase in the June quarter of 2026, with the financial and insurance services leading the growth, according to the latest Stats NZ data.
Total seasonally adjusted filled jobs in the June 2026 quarter were up 0.1%, or 1,291 jobs, from the previous March 2026 quarter.
This is also a slight slowdown in terms of growth rate, after the March 2026 quarter registered a 0.11% increase in filled jobs, continuing a rising trend since the September 2025 quarter.
Changes in filled jobs
The financial and insurance services sector saw the largest change in seasonally adjusted filled jobs in June 2026, logging a 3.1% growth rate (2,194 jobs). This is followed by:
- Healthcare and social assistance (up 0.7% or 2,030 jobs)
- Construction (up 0.5% or 907 jobs)
The administrative and support services industry saw the biggest drop in filled jobs after logging a 1.4% decline (1,360 jobs). The manufacturing industry also saw a 0.4% drop in filled jobs, equivalent to 877 roles.
By location, Canterbury and Auckland were the only regions to record growth in filled jobs, with 0.5% (1,424 jobs) and 0.1% (522 jobs), respectively.
Filled jobs at Hawke's Bay were down 0.6%, or 437 jobs, according to Stats NZ. Northland's filled jobs were also down 0.5% (360 jobs), as well as Wellington's with a 0.1% decline (208 jobs).
Total gross earnings
Meanwhile, Stats NZ's latest business employment data also showed that total gross earnings were up 3.0% ($5.3 billion) for the year ending in June 2026, compared with the year ended June 2025.
By industry, Stats NZ also revealed that the largest increases in total annual gross earnings in the same period were in the following industries:
- Health care and social assistance – up 4.0% ($926 million)
- Public administration and safety – up 5.6% ($917 million)
- Education and training – up 3.2% ($461 million)
