“Canterbury has recorded some of the most consistent demand over the past year, particularly in the industrial and construction sectors,” Clark told the Herald.
“This is likely causing hirers to increase advertised salaries to attract talent and fill roles.”
Separate Seek employment data shows job ads in Canterbury were 15.5% higher in August than a year earlier.
Hospitality and tourism recorded a 6.5% monthly increase in job ads in August, while retail and consumer products rose 3%.
Trades and services, the region’s largest hiring sector, recorded a 1.5% increase.
Clark said hiring for the warmer months had already begun and was expected to continue through September and October.
“Aside from that, as planning and activity in the construction and industrial sectors continue, we can expect there to be more growth and therefore more opportunity for workers in the region across the coming months.”
Seek Advertised Salary Index growth by region. Source / Seek
Christchurch-based construction recruiter Felipe Ribas said demand for skilled workers remained high, with employers using visa support and higher pay to widen the pool of potential candidates.
Ribas said salary pressure was particularly noticeable in skilled technical roles, including occupations on the Immigration New Zealand Green List.
In one example, an electrician was being paid $49 an hour, compared with $45 an hour for the supervisor responsible for overseeing multiple trades.
He said offering visa support could attract overseas-trained workers already in New Zealand, but retaining them longer term remained a challenge, with some looking to Australia or other countries when they saw limited pathways to residence.
Ribas said that meant employers were not only competing with other Canterbury businesses for skilled workers, but in some cases with opportunities overseas.
The Seek figures come as other economic indicators point to strength in Canterbury’s labour market and wider economy.
The region reclaimed the top position in ASB’s latest Regional Economic Scoreboard, released today, after placing second in the first quarter of 2026.
Canterbury employment grew 2.6% year-on-year in the second quarter, while the region recorded one of the lowest national unemployment rates at 3.6%.
Core retail sales in Canterbury grew 8.8% year-on-year, the strongest result in the country, while house prices rose 3.3%.
The Seek Advertised Salary Index tracks changes in salaries offered for jobs advertised on the platform, rather than pay rises received by workers generally.
Clark said advertised salary growth nationally had been accelerating since August last year, but the 2.6% annual increase remained below inflation of 4.1%.
Rafaella Melo is a multimedia journalist with more than 10 years’ experience in Brazil. She spent two years reporting for Hawke’s Bay Today before joining the NZ Herald’s Christchurch team in 2026.