New job ads posted on the job board Seek New Zealand decreased by 2% in February 2021 when compared to February 2020.

This was the smallest year-on-year difference in the past 12 months, suggesting a sustained improvement to the national job market, according to Seek.

Seek job ads were marginally down by 0.3% month-on-month in February 2021.

Year-on-year, Auckland saw the biggest drop (-12%) in job ads in February, while Wellington saw 6% growth. Over the month, Auckland saw a 3% decline while Wellington recorded a 3% increase.

Janet Faulding, General Manager, SEEK New Zealand, said, “February’s Covid-19 community outbreak in Auckland and the resulting move into Alert Level 3 in the region pressed pause on some employers’ hiring intentions, but overall, the road to recovery remains strong.”

“Despite Auckland experiencing a 3% decline month-on-month in job ad listings in February, the recruitment boom that typically kicks off the new year led to a small decrease of 0.3% nationally when compared to January 2021," Faulding added.

“While New Zealand remains on high-alert for Covid and we continue to experience short periods of regional lockdown, our national recovery appears to be on track as we bridge the gap to pre-Covid levels," Faulding said.

By sector, consumer services saw a 12% decline year-on-year while the same sector recorded 10% growth month-on-month.