Trade Me job numbers reflect expanding employment market

New 2014 Trade Me job figures have revealed a strong end of year for New Zealand’s employment market, reporting double-digit growth in Q4 2014.

The number of advertised jobs lifted by almost 14%, year-on-year for the last quarter of 2014, according to analysis of more than 56,000 roles listed on the online trading website.

Trade Me Head of Jobs Peter Osborne says double-digit growth in advertised job numbers has become the new normal.

Mr Osborne says industrial sectors such as automotive, construction, manufacturing, operations and trades are all surging.

He adds the strength of New Zealand’s economy has led to create a very buoyant job market.

“Many of our advertisers have found it difficult to source talent and fill roles, and report that the job market has expanded considerably.”

Each of the major population centres across the country show high levels of growth; Auckland was up 20%, Canterbury up 10% and Wellington jumped almost 8%.

Many other regions followed this positive trend with Bay of Plenty up 26%, Manawatu/Wanganui up 13% and Otago growing over 10%.

Canterbury is still driven by the rebuilding efforts, with construction and architecture up 22.7% and manufacturing and operation up a staggering 49.8% on the same period last year.  

Mr Osborne says Construction was a main driver of jobs growth due to infrastructure and housing projects.

“The construction and architecture sector managed a 38% increase nationally, underpinned by a 67% increase in Auckland, and a 24% increase in Canterbury.

“In Auckland, we’ve seen two clients open industrial and construction recruitment branches in the city due to such high demand for workers,”  

Mr Osborne adds the IT sector continued its “meteoric” long-term growth trend with the number of roles advertised up a further 11.6% year-on-year.

Salaries in IT made up all five of the highest-paid roles, as employers continued to face a continued short supply of experienced IT staff.

“It’s a good time to be schooled up in technology, as IT Architect salaries top the bunch at an average salary of $150,000, an increase of 11% on the previous year.”

Mr Osborne says with Auckland and Christchurch focused on infrastructure and housing requirements, there is likely to be more growth in trade and services, construction and architecture, and transport and logistics in 2015.

He says other parts of the country also continue to show signs of a very strong job market and these are likely to continue for the foreseeable future.

“We expect to see the double-digit growth in job advertising to continue well into 2015.”

Jwalls@nbr.co.nz

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