The transport sector witnessed a surge in job applications throughout the summer period, according to new data from Trade Me Jobs, highlighting keen interest in these sectors.
The Aotearoa job market has seen an increase of Kiwi applying for jobs on site according to the latest data from Trade Me Jobs.
January saw a 54% increase in total applications across the board compared to December, as well as an increase in the number of jobs advertised.
Throughout January, industries experiencing heightened demand during the summer period included transport, hospitality/tourism, and retail, highlighting keen interest in these sectors.
“This goes to show that as Kiwis return from the holiday break, they are looking for a new role to kick off the new year,” said Trade Me Jobs spokesperson Patrick Cairns.
Construction and roading (projects and contracts management) takes the lead when looking at jobs offering the highest salaries, with an average salary of $122,342, followed by engineering (civil and structural) at $107,885, and accounting at $93,904.
“This data is similar to the trend we saw in 2023, indicating that many of the most well-paid roles revolve around the construction sector. Kiwi employed as architects, consultants, or project managers show as having the highest salaries,” Cairns said.
Cairns said there were minimal salary increases across sectors in January compared to December.
“Salaries have dipped slightly, which could be due to the increase in migration levels. This year we may see the job market start to lean towards employers, with more people in the country trying to find work. That means those looking for a new role will need to make sure their job profile and CV stands out,” he said.
Meanwhile, Hawke’s Bay has overtaken Auckland with highest average salary.
In January, there was an overall drop of 3.6 per cent in the average annual salary nationwide compared to December 2023. Most regions saw a decline in salary with Northland (1.1%) and Taranaki (2%) the only areas to report an increase. Some smaller regions have surprisingly surpassed their larger counterparts.
Central Hawke’s Bay has taken the lead in average salary, overtaking Auckland, with an average of $78,100. Tāmaki Makaurau follows closely at $77,769, and Wellington holds the third spot at $75,650.
“The top jobs in the Central Hawke’s Bay are centred around construction and roading which pay over $150,000,” Cairns said.
“While this signals that Hawke’s Bay can compete with larger regions in terms of average salary, it’s important to note that there are fewer job opportunities compared to Auckland. The diversity of available jobs in Auckland contributes to bringing down the average.”
With more people applying for jobs, Cairns said it’s a good time for employers to think about hiring new staff.
“We know businesses will carefully think about what jobs they need this year. We’ll keep watching the trends and continue to share insights about what employers and employees can expect in the coming year.” he added.
