Media Releases
Labour market still tight, but recruiting becomes easier
09 March 2006
The latest statistics on skill shortages contain good news for employers, as they indicate the struggle to find new employees may be slightly easier than a year ago, the Department of Labour says.
The Department’s quarterly Skills in the Labour Market report shows that, while skill shortages remain high, and are expected to remain so in the foreseeable future, they are not as acute as they were in late 2004-early 2005.
Deputy Secretary Monique Dawson said the findings of the report were consistent with the Department’s Job Vacancy Monitor, which showed the total number of advertised job vacancies decreased to 6,529 in December 2005 – 4 per cent less than in the same period 12 months earlier .
Similarly, the Quarterly Survey of Business Opinion released by the NZ Institute of Economic Research showed that a net 33 per cent of firms had difficulty finding skilled staff in the December 2005 quarter, which was almost half the net 61 per cent in the same quarter a year earlier.
“There is a range of evidence suggesting business and industry may not be finding it as much of a struggle to find suitable candidates for job as they did during the 30-year labour shortage peaks of late 2004 and early 2005.
“At the same time, skill shortages remain high compared to three years ago: the Department is working with businesses and industry to address these, through a range of initiatives from training to higher productivity and attracting expatriates and skilled migrants.”
The Department’s Skills in the Labour Market report, released on a quarterly basis, provides insight into labour market shortages on a quarterly basis. It is one of a range of labour market publications the Department produces.
The Job Vacancy Monitor is a monthly, one-day analysis of job vacancies advertised in 25 newspapers and selected websites.
ENDS
