What are the top reasons for employees leaving their posts?
A growing number of employees across New Zealand are planning to leave their jobs this year despite a tough market for jobseekers, according to a new report.
Findings from Trade Me Jobs revealed that 40% of employees plan to leave their current roles this year, up from 20% a year ago.
"To see that number now sitting at four in ten suggests a growing sense of optimism about what opportunities 2025 may present," said Nicole Williams, Trade Me's head of jobs, in a statement.
Their top reason for wanting to leave is dissatisfaction with workplace culture, as cited by 18% of employees. Other reasons include:
But departing employees should still expect challenges, as Williams noted that Trade Me has been receiving reports that jobseekers are still finding it difficult to land a new job.
In fact, the number of job applications went up eight per cent in the first quarter of this year compared to the same period last year.
Auckland saw the highest number of average applications per job listing, with 48, according to Trade Me Jobs, while six of the top 10 most applied-for jobs in the first quarter were in the hospitality sector.
The tight competition comes despite a 16% increase in job listings in the first quarter of 2025, according to Trade Me Jobs.
Annually, job listings still fell by 32%, with the largest drops recorded in the following areas:
"If we look at the market from a year-on-year perspective, the landscape remains tough for job seekers but if we compare it to the tail end of 2024 the picture is a little brighter," Williams said.
