21 Jul 2023

Job ads fall 3% in June, vacancy listings drop 21% on a year ago - Seek

6:06 am on 21 July 2023
Man trying to find work with online job search engine on tablet.

The Seek jobs report indicates a downward trend in listings. Photo: 123RF

Job ads have fallen for a third consecutive month as the labour market faces growing headwinds.

The Seek jobs report indicates a downward trend as the number of listings fell 3 percent in June while job vacancies tumbled 21 percent compared to a year ago.

Seek NZ country manager Rob Clark said while year-on-year advertisements slumped by a fifth they still sat above 2019 levels.

"It's certainly shifted in that it's very much an employer's market now, whereas 18 months ago it was very much a candidate's market," Clark said.

"The dynamics are certainly changing.

"What we're seeing is some volatility month-on-month because of the current macroeconomic signals."

Listings in hospitality and tourism recorded double digit falls in June, matched by retail and consumer products, Clark said.

However there was strength in construction, trade and engineering roles.

Auckland's 4 percent drop in job ads month-on-month led the overall national decline, followed by Wellington with a drop of 3 percent.

Northland was the only region to record an increase in job vacancies of 3 percent, whereas Manawatū recorded no change.

Meanwhile, the number of applications per job ad rose 10 percent month-on-month, after rising 13 percent the previous month.

Clark said Seek's website was also seeing a strong number of visitors, suggesting workers were keeping an eye out for better opportunities.

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