Both job listings and applications on the rise: survey
Many companies are looking to recruit more staff into their businesses even as economic conditions pose challenges.
In a report by Trade Me Jobs, it was found that job listings rose from January until March, amounting to a 11.7% quarter over quarter increase, while applications also saw a rise, as reported in an article by Scoop.
According to Matt Tolich, sales director at Trade Me Jobs, the increase in the number of listings shows that employers are still looking for new recruits despite the current state of the economy.
“Companies are hiring, although we know from our recruitment partners it’s just taking them longer to make the decision to hire,” said Tolich.
“Among the biggest increases in listings were in Agriculture, Office and Administration and the Hospitality and Tourism sectors.”
Job applications rise in certain NZ sectors
Job applications were also on the rise, with a 15.4% increase from the previous quarter. The healthcare sector had the largest increase in applications in Marlborough and Otago, said the Scoop article.
Tolich noted that there were several factors that affected the increase in job applications, such as migration and the downsizing of organizations because of the economy.
“Looking ahead, we know there will be less migrants coming into the country so these application numbers may soften but it will continue to be an employer market for some time with plenty of great candidates looking for roles,” he said.
Kiwi salaries see decrease in past quarter
Meanwhile, the average salary in New Zealand saw a 2.2% decrease compared to the previous quarter, said Scoop.
However, it was still at a high level compared to the same time period in the previous year. Why? With the increase in job applications, employers had more to choose from when it comes to new additions to their firms, said Tolich.
“[Employers] aren’t having to reach into their back pocket as much to secure workers.”