More jobs in the regions than before Covid-19, Trade Me data shows

Friday, 22 January 2021

Palmerston North saw a 26 per cent increase in job listings in the three months to December 2020.

Jobs in the regions saw the biggest yearly increase while the big cities were hit hardest after Covid-19, new Trade Me job figures show.

After a year of uncertainty, New Zealand’s job market was looking considerably better than expected, Trade Me jobs spokesman Matt Tolich said on Friday.

Tolich said analysis of the 55,500 job listings posted in the three months to December showed 12 of New Zealand’s 15 regions had an annual increase in job listings.

He said the biggest year-on-year listing increase was seen in Manawatū/Whanganui, up 32 per cent.

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Job listings in Auckland fell 15 per cent.

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That region’s largest district, Palmerston North, saw a 26 per cent increase in listings.

IT roles were the top earners, with project managers earning an average salary of $140,000.

In the final quarter of 2020 job listings nationwide were relatively flat, down just 1 per cent when compared to the same time in 2019, Tolich said.

“This is a phenomenal outcome given the year that was, blowing even the most optimistic economic predictions out of the water. Looking at December alone, job listings nationwide were up 8 per cent on the year prior which is some pretty incredible growth.”

Other regions that saw substantial listing increases were Nelson/Tasman, Northland and Taranaki, with listings for the three months all up 18 per cent.

The only exception was Otago, which saw listings dip 9 per cent year-on-year.

Tolich said the strong growth in jobs had been the result of increased confidence and businesses rehiring after making “deep cuts” during lockdown.

Trade Me also found a 2 per cent year-on-year increase in the national average salary, which rose to $63,177.

Auckland was hit the hardest in the last quarter of 2020 with job listings in the region falling 15 per cent on the same time in 2019.

All sectors, apart from hospitality and tourism, which were up 5 per cent, saw a drop in listing numbers in Auckland.

Tolich said customer service, office & administration and marketing, media and communications saw the biggest drops in job listings, nearly down 50 per cent.

Auckland’s average salary was $65,800 in the four months to December, up 2 per cent from the same period in 2019.

Wellington also saw listings fall 3 per cent on the year prior, and the average salary rise 3.4 per cent to $69,800, from $67,500 a year earlier.

The salary in Wellington City alone was up 5 per cent to $72,900.

Customer service roles saw the biggest fall, down 36 per cent when compared with the same time in 2019, while job listings in the property and vehicle sectors were up.

Tolich said that the lack of overseas workers made it tough for the fishing and forestry industries to hire talent.

IT roles were the top earning jobs, with project managers earning an average salary of $140,800.