Filled jobs across New Zealand rose by 2.9% in the December 2023 compared to December 2022, according to figures released by Statistics New Zealand.

Statistics NZ calculates filled jobs by averaging weekly jobs paid throughout the quarter, based on tax data.

The health care and social assistance industry had a 5.3% (13,692 jobs) annual increase in filled jobs numbers for the year ended December 2023.

“Filled jobs in the health care industry steadily grew throughout 2023 after a relatively subdued period in the second half of 2022,” business employment insights manager Sue Chapman said.

Public administration and safety saw the next largest increase, up 8.5% (13,128 jobs) in the year ended December 2023.

“The extra workers employed to help with the general election in October 2023 provided the biggest contribution to filled job growth in the public sector,” Chapman said.

Meanwhile, total gross earnings for the year ended December 2023 increased by NZD 14.2 billion (USD 8.75 billion), up 9.0% from the year ended December 2022.

The total earnings for the December 2023 year reached NZD 171.1 billion (USD 105.4 billion), up from NZD 156.9 billion (USD 96.7 billion) in the year prior.

The health care and social assistance industry was the largest contributor to this increase. Gross earnings were up NZD 3.1 billion (USD 1.9 billion), up from 17% in the previous year.

Public administration and safety was the next largest increase, up 12% to NZD 1.6 billion (USD 986.3 million). Education and training was up 9.7% to NZD 1.2 billion (USD 739.5 million) in the year ended December 2023.