Skip to content

Jobs Online monthly report – August 2012

Published: September 2012

Jobs Online measures changes in job vacancies advertised on the two main internet job boards - Seek and Trade Me Jobs.

Online skilled vacancies increased in August

Jobs Online shows, in seasonally adjusted terms, that skilled^[1] job vacancies increased by 4.9% in August, following a decrease in July. All job vacancies increased by 2.6% in August, following an increase in July.

Skilled job vacancies increased across all occupations, regions and most industry groups. Over the past year skilled vacancies increased by 7.9% and all vacancies increased by 7.9%. Although there has been some variation month to month, the trend shows that skilled vacancies have been increasing for the past nine months (see Figure 1).

Figure 1: Skilled Vacancies Index
Seasonally adjusted and trend series (May 2007=100)

Data table for Figure 1

Figure 2: All Vacancies Index
Seasonally adjusted and trend series (May 2007=100)

Data table for Figure 2

The increase in job vacancies is consistent with the anticipated gradual recovery in employment over the coming year. Recent business confidence survey results show hiring intentions remain positive. The Ministry forecasts^[2] employment to grow by 1.8% (or 39,600 jobs) in the 2013 March year and by 2.4% (or 54,100 jobs) in the 2014 March year.

Growth in skilled job vacancies varied across industries and increased in all occupations

In the month of August, skilled job vacancies increased across most industry groups (see Table 1). Strong increases were in the construction and engineering (up by 8.1%) and information technology (up by 7.4%) industry groups. Education and training increased by 15.1%, but education and training fluctuate from month to month due to small numbers. The biggest fall was for the hospitality and tourism industry group (down by 4.5%).

Over the year to August, growth in skilled job vacancies varied across industry groups. Job advertising for skilled workers grew the most in the construction and engineering (up by 20.2%) and healthcare and medical (up by 15.6%) industry groups.

Table 1: Skilled Vacancies Index by industry and occupation groups, seasonally adjusted

Industry	Monthly change (Jul 12-Aug 12)	Annual change (Aug 11–Aug 12)
Education and training	15.1%	-7.3%
Construction and engineering	8.1%	20.2%
Information technology	7.4%	6.5%
Accounting, HR, legal and administration	3.3%	-2.4%
Sales, retail, marketing and advertising	-1.2%	1.1%
Healthcare and medical	-2.3%	15.6%
Hospitality and tourism	-4.5%	-3.4%
Other	4.3%	18.1%
Occupation	Monthly change (Jul 12–Aug 12)	Annual change (Aug 11–Aug 12)
Managers	11.5%	6.0%
Technicians and trades	4.6%	22.3%
Professionals	2.5%	5.3%
Nationwide	4.9%	7.9%

In August, online vacancies increased in all skilled occupation groups. Managers had the biggest increase (up by 11.5%). However, technicians and trades had the largest increase over the year (up by 22.3%).

Figure 3: Skilled Vacancies Index by industry group
Seasonally adjusted series (May 2007=100)

Data table for Figure 3

Figure 4: Skilled Vacancies Index by industry group
Trend series (May 2007=100)

Data table for Figure 4

Skilled job vacancies increased in all regions

Skilled job vacancies increased in all regions (see Table 2). The Wellington region had the biggest increase in August (up by 9.5%).

Table 2: Skilled Vacancies Index by region, seasonally adjusted

Region	Monthly change (Jul 12-Aug 12)	Annual change (Aug 11–Aug 12)
Auckland	4.1%	1.6%
Wellington	9.5%	4.7%
North Island – Other	4.9%	11.8%
Canterbury	2.2%	25.8%
South Island – Other	1.0%	20.1%
Nationwide	4.9%	7.9%

Figure 5: Skilled Vacancies Index by region
Seasonally adjusted series (May 2007=100)

Data table for Figure 5

Figure 6: Skilled Vacancies Index by region
Trend series (May 2007=100)

Data table for Figure 6

Over the year, the strongest growth was in the Canterbury region (up by 25.8%). Similarly, the South Island, excluding Canterbury, showed strong growth in skilled vacancies (up by 20.1%).

Construction and engineering driving growth in Canterbury

The demand for skilled labour in Canterbury continued to be strong over the year. Growth in job vacancies in the region was driven by the construction and engineering (up by 75.4%) and hospitality and tourism (up by 37.6%) industry groups.

Revisions

Jobs Online is adjusted for seasonal variations. In accordance with standard statistical practice, the entire series is revised each month and this can lead to revisions of previously published figures towards the end of the data series.
Table 3 gives a summary of revisions made to the previous Jobs Online results over the past four months.

Table 3a: Revisions Summary - Skilled Vacancies Index

Month	Skilled Vacancies Index
	Revised		Previously Published3
	Monthly	Annual	Monthly	Annual
	Percentage change
Apr-12	-4.3	-3.1	-4.4	-3.1
May-12	9.6	10.1	9.4	10.1
Jun-12	-2.1	7.5	-2.3	7.5
Jul-12	-2.1	5.3	-1.5	5.3

Table 3b: Revisions Summary - All Vacancies Index

Month	All Vacancies Index
	Revised		Previously Published3
	Monthly	Annual	Monthly	Annual
	Percentage change
Apr-12	-2.2	3.5	-2.2	3.5
May-12	9.6	12.7	9.5	12.7
Jun-12	-3.7	6.7	-3.8	6.7
Jul-12	0.8	9.1	0.7	9.1

Note 1: Figures as published last month.

 

For further information

For more information on Jobs Online, see the Background and Methodology report.

For other reports visit the Labour and Immigration Research Centre or email research@mbie.govt.nz.

Future updates

This is a regular report – see our Release calendar for the the next update.

---

Footnotes

• About this site |
• Site Map |
• Subscribe to emails |
• Disclaimer |
• Copyright |
• Privacy Statement |
• Official Information