The pandemic has finally lost its grip on the New Zealand employment market, with demand for roles up for the first time in two years. This is according to the analysis of over 79,000 vacancies listed on Trade Me Jobs for the quarter ending 30 September (Q3).

Trade Me Jobs Sales Director, Matt Tolich, said the latest data showed more New Zealanders are finding the confidence to apply for jobs now that all pandemic restrictions have been lifted.

“In Q3 we saw more Kiwi taking advantage of the current market conditions and checking out their options, with a nationwide 9 per cent year-on-year jump in the average number of applications per listing.”

Prior to Q3, Mr Tolich said the last time there was a year-on-year increase in demand for roles was in the third quarter of 2020, when average applications per listing jumped 11 per cent.

Looking around the country, Mr Tolich said that Gisborne (up 28%), Auckland (up 21%), and Wellington (up 16%) regions saw the biggest spikes in average applications per listings in Q3 when compared with the same period in 2021. “This was reflected around the country, with more job applicants in every region except Canterbury, Marlborough, Taranaki and Otago last quarter.”

Mr Tolich said it was a similar story across the sectors, with demand up in the vast majority of industries. “Our largest category, trades & services, saw a 14 per cent jump in the average number of applications per listing in Q3 when compared with the same quarter last year.

“The construction & roading and agriculture, fishing & forestry sectors saw demand spikes too, with respective 32 per cent and 35 per cent year-on-year jumps in average applications per listing.”

Mr Tolich said news of increased interest in roles would be welcome news for employers. “It has been a tough couple of years for Kiwi businesses trying to compete and win talent, so no doubt they’ll be stoked to hear there are finally more job seekers in the market.”

Job applications boom as market shakes off Covid - Q3 update

Listing numbers still above pre-Covid levels

Market expected to see more changes in the coming months