Job ads across New Zealand were 28% lower year-on-year in November, according to data from job board Seek.

When compared to the prior month, job ads declined by 5% in November. Applications per job ad rose for a second month in October, up 5% from September and are now at the highest level on record. Seek noted that applications per job ad are recorded with a one-month lag.

Rob Clark, Country Manager Seek New Zealand, said, “Job ads declined in November, dropping 5% month-on-month as hiring activity winds down into the Christmas season. The cities continue to lead the hiring slowdown, with ad volumes falling to a greater degree in the metro areas compared to the smaller regions.”

Job ad numbers fell in most industries month-on-month, with increases only in insurance & superannuation (22%), design & architecture (6%) and marginal rises in three others.

The industries that led the monthly decline in job ads in November were retail & consumer products (-12%), hospitality & tourism (-9%) and administration & office support (-8%).

Applications per job ad rose in most industries as job ads fell in October, including in community services & development (28%) and retail & consumer products (12%).

By region, Taranaki saw the largest monthly decline (-14%). Seek’s data also showed declines in Marlborough (-10%), Auckland (-6%), Wellington (-7%) and Waikato (-6%).

The decline was not across the board, however, as Manawatu (2%), Southland (3%) and Gisborne (1%) recorded small increases in job ad volumes month-on-month.

When compared to the same time last year, Gisborne is the only region where job ads have increased, up 9% from November 2022, although the growth has slowed in the past month, down from 30% year-on-year in October 2023.  All other regions have declined after the Great Job Boom of 2022, Seek noted. Wellington recorded the steepest annual decrease (-32%).