TradeMe Data Reveals Job Market Recovery: A 13% Increase in Listings
The TradeMe platform has witnessed a significant surge in job listings, rising 13% in the last quarter, indicating a potential job market recovery, particularly in the South Island. While total job listings nationally remain 0.8% lower than a year ago, regions like Southland, Otago, and Canterbury are leading the charge, with substantial increases of 25.1%, 7.1%, and 6.1% respectively.
Canterbury's job listings hit a record high, soaring 22.4% in the quarter. In contrast, major cities like Auckland and Wellington experienced annual declines, with Auckland down 5.9% and Wellington 6.8% lower.
Despite the challenges job seekers face, TradeMe Jobs head Nicole Williams believes the market is turning a corner. She attributes this to the slowing decline in job listings and the 13% quarterly jump, suggesting a spring confidence boost for job hunters.
The hospitality and tourism sectors, construction and roading, and trades and services are experiencing the strongest vacancies, with hospitality listings rising 16%. This is good news for school leavers seeking entry-level jobs, as the number of applicants per vacancy is decreasing.
The average salary for advertised jobs is $72,820, a 1% increase from the previous year, with variations depending on the sector. High-growth sectors like IT, finance, and business analysts offer premium salaries averaging around $130,000, while manufacturing remains the weakest, with salaries in the mid-$60,000 range.
Auckland, Wellington, and the West Coast boast the highest average salaries, just under $76,000, indicating that employers are willing to pay a premium for skilled professionals in high-demand sectors.
