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\nPhoto: 123rf\n<\/p>\n
The number of job applications rose 2 percent to a record high in July, with low-skilled opportunities attracting hundreds.<\/p>\n
The latest SEEK NZ Employment Report said the volume of advertisements rose 1 percent in August on the month earlier, and 4 percent on the year earlier, which was the first annual increase since November 2022.<\/p>\n
“Hiring activity has noticeably picked up this quarter following months of little to no change,” SEEK country manager Rob Clark said.<\/p>\n
“There was increased activity across most industries and all of the larger regions in August. We have not seen such broad-based growth in a very long time.”<\/p>\n
The data indicates strong growth in the largest industries, with increases in manufacturing, transport, and logistics (3 percent), and trades and services (2 percent).<\/p>\n
Only two industry sectors saw a month-on-month drop in advertisements, including farming, animals, and conservation (-1 percent), and government and defence (-1 percent).<\/p>\n
However, there was a pickup in annual growth in government and defence advertisements over the year earlier, with a 21 percent increase in the year ended in May.<\/p>\n
All regions, apart from Taranaki (12 percent) recorded either no change or some growth on the month before, with a 4 percent increase in Hawke’s Bay, and 3 percent increases in Otago and West Coast.<\/p>\n
“Auckland has now recorded two months of rising ad volumes, which supported the national uptick more broadly,” Clark added.<\/p>\n
“Hiring within real estate & property has been increasing steadily for the past 13 months, and along with government and defence, is among a number of industries to have recorded double-digit annual growth in job ads.”<\/p>\n