Online job vacancies up 3% in three months to Oct; Govt says its economic policy and Canty quake help

The government is trumpeting its economic policy program, as well as the Canterbury earthquake, as driving forces behind growth in the number of online job vacancies in October, although the rate of growth has eased over recent months.

The Department of Labour's Jobs Online monthly report showed the total number of job vacancies advertised on Trade Me and Seek rose 3.2% in the three months to October 31 from the previous three months.

The number of advertised skilled jobs rose 3%, although this was down from around 8% growth in the three months to July.

"Despite the increases in vacancies as measured by Jobs Online, the number of skilled job advertisements in October 2010 remains 26.7% lower than in March 2008, when the index was at its peak. However, we expect the upward trends shown by Jobs Online to continue over the next year in line with the recovery in the labour market," the Department of Labour said on its website.

Minister for Labour Kate Wilkinson said the "steady growth in job vacancies shows this Government’s economic program has helped restore business confidence”.

Wilkinson noted Christchurch had the the strongest growth in skilled job vacancies over the past three months, up 6.1%.

"This has been driven largely by increased vacancies in construction and engineering as the post quake clean up hits full gear."