Job ads up 2.3% in June from May, boosted by regions, supports indications of growth, Dept of Labour says

An increase in online job vacancies in June from May is being touted by the Department of Labour as another sign economic conditions in New Zealand are improving.

The 2.3% rise in the Department's Jobs Online index was boosted by advertisements for skilled vacancies outside the main urban centres, a green-shoot for what has been a troubled regional economy in New Zealand.

Nationwide skilled vacancy advertisements rose 1.5% in June from May, the index showed.

The rise showed employment prospects continued to improve in June, Department of Labour Head of Research and Analysis, Vasantha Krishnan said in a media release.

“This is supportive of other indicators that point to a gradual increase in economic activity. It reinforces the Department’s expectation that employment will grow in 2012 and 2013, bringing down the unemployment rate," Krishnan said.

"The Jobs Online index shows that the strongest growth in skilled vacancies was happening outside the main centres. Skilled job vacancies grew by 12.0% in the South Island (excluding Canterbury) and by 7.3% in the North Island (excluding Auckland and Wellington)," Krishnan said.

Industries with the biggest growth in skilled vacancies across the country were accounting, HR, legal and administration (up by 9.0%) and hospitality and tourism (up by 8.5%).

Overall, the number of skilled vacancies in the month of June was 17.1% higher than a year ago, while the total of all vacancies was 18.2% higher.

• Jobs Online provides information on the demand for labour by monitoring the number of jobs advertised on SEEK and Trade Me Jobs.Jobs Online is adjusted for seasonal variations.
• The June 2011 Jobs Online report is available at: http://dol.govt.nz/publications/jol/report/
• For information about Jobs Online visit the Department of Labour website: http://dol.govt.nz/publications/jol/methodology/