Human resources and recruitment sector among industries with largest drops in job ads
The number of job advertisements across New Zealand have "returned to their pre-COVID normal levels" after declining in September, according to SEEK NZ.
The employment marketplace's latest report revealed a two-per-cent decrease in job ads in September, with the figure now only one per cent higher than in the same period in 2019.
"After four years, job ads volumes overall have returned to their pre-COVID normal levels," said SEEK NZ country manager Rob Clark in a statement.
The findings follow a slight uptick in August 2023, an increase driven by businesses planning for a busy summer season.
Job decreases by location
The drop in job ads were driven by decreases in New Zealand's urban regions and largest industries, according to SEEK NZ.
Auckland registered a four per cent decline, as well as Wellington (-3%) and Canterbury (-2%). The biggest drops, however, were reported in the following areas:
- Northland (-11%)
- Hawkes Bay (-7%)
- Waikato (-4%)
- Bay of Plenty (-4%)
West Coast had the highest monthly increase with eight per cent, as well as Otago (7%) and Gisborne (5%).
"Our urban areas of Auckland and Wellington are where job ads have fallen since pre-COVID, but all other regions are seeing job ad levels much greater, in some regions 50% and 60% higher," Clark said.
HR job ads decline
Meanwhile, the Human Resources and Recruitment sector was included among the industries with the largest drops in job ads.
The sector reported an 11% decrease in advertisements, same as the Real Estate & Property Sector.
The biggest decline was reported in the Consulting and Strategy sector with 12%. Industries that also reported major decreases include:
- Sport & Recreation (-10%)
- Insurance & Superannuation (-9%)
- Accounting (-9%)
- Education & Training (-8%)
- Information & Communication Technology (-7%)
Despite the drop to pre-COVID normal levels, however, Clark noted that some industries still have significantly higher job ads than in 2019.
"Some industries, remain significantly higher than they were in 2019, such as Community Services & Development, Government & Defence and Mining, Resources & Energy," he said.
Applications decline for first time
Meanwhile, applications per job ad declined four per cent month-on-month in August, the first monthly drop since January.
Clark said the decline indicates that applications are "starting to plateau" after previous record-breaking figures.
"With application levels still so high, the balance of power, which had been so strongly with candidates for much of the past two years, is shifting to hirers," Clark said.
Most regions saw a decline in applications from the month prior, except for Hawkes Bay and Tasman that both registered two per cent increases.
By sector, the Farming, Animals & Conservation industry saw a 16% increase in applications. Other industries recording monthly increases include Real Estate & Property (21%) and the Retail & Hospitality (11%) sectors.
