The number of filled jobs in New Zealand went up by 0.3% on a seasonally adjusted basis in the December quarter, or up 6,533 jobs, when compared to the September quarter, according to a report from Stats NZ.

For the year ending December 2022, gross earnings were up over the year by 9.1% or NZD 12.9 billion (USD 8.0 billion).

Based on industry, agriculture, forestry, and fishing; and financial and insurance services saw the largest quarterly increases in seasonally adjusted filled jobs in the latest quarter at 2.5% each.

Public administration and safety followed next at 2%. Accommodation and food services went up by 1.1%, while professional, scientific, and technical services increased by 0.7%.

Although professional, scientific, and technical services had the least change, this industry had the largest increases in total annual gross earnings for the year ending December 2022 at NZD 1.9 billion (USD 1.18 billion). Health care and social assistance was up by 10% or NZD 1.6 billion (USD 1.0 billion), and construction increased by 11% or NZD 1.3 billion (USD 813 million).

By region, the largest changes in seasonally adjusted filled jobs on a quarterly basis were in:

• Auckland – up by 0.5% (4,069 jobs)
• Canterbury – up by 0.5% (1,401 jobs)
• Hawke’s Bay – down by 1.3% (1,039 jobs)
• Waikato – up by 0.3% (671 jobs)
• Bay of Plenty – down by 0.5% (667 jobs)