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Job Vacancy Monitoring Programme Reports - Archive

Job Vacancy Monitor - November 2007

This section contains archived information that has been retained for reference purposes. To view current reports, please go to the Labour Market Information section.

Highly skilled vacancies rose by 2% and IT vacancies rose by 21% in November 2007 compared to a year ago.   However total job vacancies fell by 5% and trades vacancies fell by 4% for the year to November 2007.

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JVM is a monthly sample of job advertisements from 25 regional newspapers and two IT websites. JVM monitors the number of job ads in each occupational category over time, indicating changes in labour market tightness or changes in the degree of difficulty of recruiting staff.

An increase in vacancies typically indicates increased difficulty in recruiting staff, although other factors also influence the number of jobs advertised in newspapers. The Department of Labour is scoping the development of a series to include internet and community newspaper vacancies.

For more analysis and interpretation of the JVM, the Department of Labour publishes Skills in the Labour Market every quarter.

Total job vacancies down 5%

There were 6119 advertised job vacancies measured in November 2007 which is a 5% decline from twelve months ago (see Figure 1) . The number of vacancies in November 2007 was at the same level to November 2003.

Figure 1: Total number of vacancies

Total number of vacancies. Click for a larger version.
Source: Department of Labour
Data table for Fig 1

Vacancies for highly skilled jobs up 2%

Vacancies in highly skilled jobs rose by 2% to 1198 in November 2007 (see Figure 2 over) although the changes varied according to occupations.  Vacancies for legislators, administrators and managers fell by 4% while vacancies for professionals rose by 5%. Within the professionals category, health (39%) and teaching (14%) had increased vacancies while vacancies fell for accountants and auditors (-40%) and ‘other professionals’ (-7%) (see Table 2 over).

Vacancies for skilled jobs down 9%

Vacancies for skilled jobs fell by 9% to 1317 in November 2007 compared to a year ago.

Technicians and associate professionals had a 13% overall fall in November 2007, with subgroups showing mixed results. Health associate professionals (18%) and ‘other technicians and associate professionals’ (2%) recorded growth in vacancies while physical science and engineering (-25%), social work (-23%) and finance and sales (-20%) declined.

Figure 2: Total number of vacancies, by skill level

Total number of vacancies, by skill level. Click for a larger version.
Source: Department of Labour
Data table for Fig 2

Trades vacancies down 4%

Trades vacancies declined by 4% compared to a year ago. Within this category, furniture and textile (44%), ‘other trades’ (9%), food (7%) and electrical and electronics (2%) all had increased vacancies.  Printing (-30%), metal and machinery (-10%) and builders (-8%) recorded declines.

Vacancies for semi-skilled and elementary jobs down by 4%

Semi-skilled/elementary job advertisements declined by 4% in November 2007 compared to a year ago.  Elementary workers (13%) and plant and machine operators and assemblers (6%) had increased vacancies while service and sales (-12%), clerks (-11%) and agriculture and fishery workers (-1%) had decreased vacancy advertising.

IT vacancies up 21%

IT job advertisements grew by 21% to 1605 from November 2006 to November 2007.  Figure 3 shows the numbers of IT vacancies in November of each year for the three largest regions, Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.

Figure 3: Number of IT vacancies, by region

Number of IT vacancies, by region. Click for larger version.
Source: Department of Labour
Data table for Fig 3

Table 1: Total monthly job vacancies, by occupation, November 2007
No. of vacancies Nov 2003* No. of vacancies Nov 2004* No. of vacancies Nov 2005* No. of vacancies Nov 2006* No. of vacancies Nov 2007* % change 03-07 % change 06-07 Share of vacancies Nov 2007
Legislators, Administrators & Managers 385 439 458 466 446 16% -4% 7%
Professionals 590 767 734 713 752 27% 5% 12%
Science, Architecture & Engineering 136 181 146 153 154 14% 1% 3%
Health 91 172 165 151 211 132% 39% 3%
Teaching 138 162 153 145 165 19% 14% 3%
Accountants & Auditors 86 85 95 84 50 -41% -40% 1%
Business & Legal 84 109 105 107 105 25% -2% 2%
Other Professionals 56 58 68 72 67 20% -7% 1%
Highly Skilled subtotal 975 1206 1192 1179 1198 23% 2% 20%
Technicians & Associate Professionals 793 995 873 768 671 -15% -13% 11%
Physical Science & Engineering 110 167 141 140 105 -5% -25% 2%
Health 98 58 55 43 51 -48% 18% 1%
Finance & Sales 335 465 366 297 237 -29% -20% 4%
Social Work 55 44 51 59 45 -18% -23% 1%
Other Technicians & Associate Professionals 195 261 260 229 233 19% 2% 4%
Trades 783 869 778 676 647 -17% -4% 11%
Building 324 351 287 292 267 -18% -8% 4%
Electrical & Electronics 82 102 74 68 69 -16% 2% 1%
Metal & Machinery 227 263 249 190 171 -25% -10% 3%
Printing 32 32 27 20 14 -56% -30% 0%
Food 25 31 38 28 30 21% 7% 0%
Furniture & Textiles 38 34 38 27 39 4% 44% 1%
Other Trades 55 56 64 51 56 1% 9% 1%
Skilled subtotal 1576 1864 1651 1444 1317 -16% -9% 22%
Clerks 917 1103 1079 801 712 -22% -11% 12%
Service & Sales 1289 1403 1412 1456 1276 -1% -12% 21%
Restaurant Services 553 568 570 610 538 -3% -12% 9%
Hairdressers & Beauty Therapists 92 100 94 89 85 -8% -5% 1%
Salespersons & Demonstrators 429 450 462 451 359 -16% -20% 6%
Other Service & Sales 216 284 286 306 294 36% -4% 5%
Agriculture & Fishery Workers 247 255 255 266 265 7% -1% 4%
Plant & Machine Operators & Assemblers 592 743 720 672 709 20% 6% 12%
Operators & Assemblers 243 314 317 299 252 4% -16% 4%
Drivers & Mobile Machinery Operators 304 368 354 321 414 36% 29% 7%
Building 46 61 49 52 43 -6% -17% 1%
Elementary Workers 436 514 521 513 580 33% 13% 9%
Semi-skilled/elementary subtotal 3480 4018 3986 3708 3542 2% -4% 58%
Not classifiable 118 56 84 89 62 -47% -30% 1%
Total 6149 7143 6914 6420 6119 0% -5% 100%

Source: Department of Labour. * = Figures shown are three-month averages to November of each year.

Jobs with High Vacancies - all New Zealand

Tables 2 - 5 list jobs with the highest numbers of vacancies for all New Zealand. They also show the occupations with the highest growth in vacancies as a percentage change and occupations with the largest numerical change in advertised vacancies2 .

New Zealand High Vacancy and Growth Occupations - All Vacancies
Table 2: New Zealand: top ranking vacancies and growth in the 12 months to November 2007

Rank 		High Vacancy Occupations No of vacancies Top Percentage Growth Occupations Growth (%) Top Numeric Growth Occupations Growth
1 Sales Assistant 3894 Sheep Farmer, Sheep Farm Worker 180% Heavy Truck or Tanker Driver 395
2 Care Giver 2100 Electrical Fitter 114% Packer 265
3 Information Clerk and Other Receptionist 2068 Other Mechanical Engineer 108% Machine Tool Operator 213
4 Cleaner 2026 Sawmill Labourer 103% Cleaner 213
5 General Clerk 1705 Structural Engineer 102% General Labourer 203
6 General Labourer 1683 Machine Tool Operator 93% Registered Nurse 198
7 Registered Nurse 1667 Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages 91% Early Childhood Teacher 184
8 Secretary 1588 Wood and Related Materials Products Assembler 84% Carpenter and/or Joiner 180
9 Chef 1522 Ground Spraying and/or Dusting Contractor 82% Light Truck or Van Driver 165
10 Waiter 1403 Architect 81% Administration Manager 140
Source: Department of Labour

Table 3: New Zealand: Total vacancies and growth in highly skilled occupations in the 12 months to November 2007

Rank 		High Vacancy Occupations No. of vacancies Top Percentage Growth Occupations % Growth Top Numeric Growth Occupations Numeric Growth
1 Registered Nurse 1667 Other Mechanical Engineer 108% Registered Nurse 198
2 Administration Manager 1117 Structural Engineer 102% Early Childhood Teacher 184
3 Accountant 759 ESOL Teacher 91% Administration Manager 140
4 Retail Manager 734 Architect 81% Other Mechanical Engineer 70
5 Early Childhood Teacher 733 Midwife 56% Other Civil Engineer 66
6 Sales and/or Marketing Manager 613 Other Civil Engineer 49% Architect 64
7 University/Higher Education Lecturer 526 Water Resources Engineer 46% Structural Engineer 52
8 Primary School Teacher 378 Chemical Engineer 42% Restaurant or Tavern Manager 46
9 Restaurant or Tavern Manager 346 Chief Executive and/or Managing Director 35% Management Consultant 41
10 Policy Analyst 342 Early Childhood Teacher 34% Midwife 34
Source: Department of Labour

Table 4: New Zealand: Total vacancies and growth in skilled occupations in the 12 months to November 2007

Rank 		High Vacancy Occupations No. of vacancies Top Percentage Growth Occupations % Growth Top Numeric Growth Occupations Numeric Growth
1 Carpenter and/or Joiner 1390 Electrical Fitter 114% Carpenter and/or Joiner 180
2 Sales Representative 1336 Case Worker 63% Painter, Decorator and/or Paperhanger 83
3 Painter, Decorator and/or Paperhanger 620 Radio and Television Repairer 50% Electrical Fitter 64
4 Electrician 584 Purchasing Agent 45% Cabinet Maker 63
5 Real Estate Agent/Property Consultant 570 Reporter 42% Safety Inspector 39
6 Social Worker 553 Cabinet Maker 38% Purchasing Agent 35
7 Draughting Technician 524 Building Control/Consents Officer 38% Organisation and Methods Analyst 34
8 Technical Representative 521 Safety Inspector 34% Enrolled Nurse 30
9 Builder (Including Contractor) 499 Retail Dispensary Assistant 32% Fitter and Welder 29
10 Motor Mechanic 487 Life Science Technician 29% Fitter and Turner Apprentice 29
Source: Department of Labour

Table 5: New Zealand: Total vacancies and growth in semi-skilled/elementary occupations in the 12 months to November 2007

Rank 		High Vacancy Occupations No. of vacancies Top Percentage Growth Occupations % Growth Top Numeric Growth Occupations Numeric Growth
1 Sales Assistant 3894 Sheep Farmer, Sheep Farm Worker 180% Heavy Truck or Tanker Driver 395
2 Care Giver 2100 Sawmill Labourer 103% Packer 265
3 Information Clerk and Other Receptionist 2068 Machine Tool Operator 93% Machine Tool Operator 213
4 Cleaner 2026 Wood and Related Materials Products Assembler 84% Cleaner 213
5 General Clerk 1705 Ground Spraying and/or Dusting Contractor 82% General Labourer 203
6 General Labourer 1683 Animal Welfare Worker 58% Light Truck or Van Driver 165
7 Secretary 1588 Hotel Porter 47% Secretary 134
8 Chef 1522 Meat Processing Worker 45% Information Clerk and Other Receptionist 125
9 Waiter 1403 Heavy Truck or Tanker Driver 45% Care Giver 102
10 Heavy Truck or Tanker Driver 1270 Farm Machinery Operator Including Contractor 44% Fork-Lift Operator 101
Source: Department of Labour

Explanatory notes

Monthly vacancy counts are from a survey of job advertisements in 25 major newspapers, captured once a month on the main advertising day for each paper (usually Saturday).  Duplicate advertisements are not included in the counts.  The total vacancy counts are a sample of all advertisements in daily newspapers each month. The published data is trend data based on a three-month moving average.  Data is not seasonally adjusted.

Jobs are coded to occupational categories using the New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations 1999.

IT vacancy counts are a weekly count of jobs newly listed in the past seven days on two websites: Seek IT and TradeMe Jobs. Monthly estimates of IT job advertisements are an average of the weekly data.  Because IT jobs may be advertised on more than one site, changes in vacancy counts may exaggerate actual changes in demand and supply.  Data is not seasonally adjusted.  TradeMe was added to the counts in November 2006 when Jobstuff ads were merged into TradeMe.  Changes to the Jobstuff website in July 2005 affected the number of vacancies advertised and the IT vacancy count was adjusted in September 2005 to reflect this impact. 

Endnotes

1 The ‘total’ number of advertised job vacancies relates to the total number appearing in the JVM sample, rather than the total number of advertisements placed in all editions of all newspapers.  See the explanatory notes for further details.

2 The number of vacancies is the total number of vacancies advertised in the 12 months to November 2007. Growth in vacancies compares the number of advertised vacancies in November 2007 with November 2006. Percentage growth figures are only included if at least 24 vacancies were advertised in November 2006.  Numeric growth figures are only included if there were at least 10 more vacancies in November 2007 than November 2006.

More information

Further data, methodological notes, and conceptual explanationsare available from the Department of Labour website at www.dol.govt.nz/jvm/

Information on the New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations 1999 is on the Statistics New Zealand website: www.stats.govt.nz.

Contact person:

Amy Galvin
Work Directions
Department of Labour
PO Box 3705
Wellington
New Zealand
ph (04) 915-4717
e-mail Amy.Galvin@dol.govt.nz

Disclaimer: The Department of Labour has made every effort to ensure that the information contained in this report is reliable, but makes no guarantee of its accuracy or completeness and does not accept any liability for any errors. The information and opinions contained in this report are not intended to be used as a basis for commercial decisions and the Department accepts no liability for any decisions made in reliance on them. The Department may change, add to, delete from, or otherwise amend the contents of this report at any time without notice. The material contained in this report is subject to Crown copyright protection unless otherwise indicated. The Crown copyright protected material may be reproduced free of charge in any format or media without requiring specific permission. This is subject to the material being reproduced accurately and not being used in a derogatory manner or in a misleading context. Where the material is being published or issued to others, the source and copyright status should be acknowledged. The permission to reproduce Crown copyright protected material does not extend to any material in this report that is identified as being the copyright of a third party. Authorisation to reproduce such material should be obtained from the copyright holders.