Employer hiring confidence reaches six year high
Hiring sentiment is at its highest level in six years, with the property and construction industries leading the way.
According to the latest Hudson Report, a net 30.1% of employers across the country intend to increase permanent staff numbers, up two percentage points (pp) compared to the previous quarter, and marking four consecutive quarters of employment growth.
Previously the Canterbury and Auckland regions have been key drivers of hiring demand nationally and while still positive, this is now being supported by rising expectations in the Lower North Island where employer sentiment has shot up 5.2pp to 22.8%, in the highest quarter on quarter increase in the region since early 2011.
Hiring intentions by region
Net hiring sentiment in the South Island remains the strongest nationally, with a net 40.3% of employers intending to increase headcount, down 1.9pp compared to the previous quarter.
Hudson executive general manager Roman Rogers commented: "Hiring expectations in Canterbury remain high as the region continues to deliver large property and construction projects and roles in demand include quantity surveyors, estimators, civil engineers and project managers."
Employer sentiment in Upper North Island continues to increase, up 2.5pp with a net 29% of employers intending to increase head count, and up 10.3pp compared to the same time last year.
Roles in demand in Lower North Island are those linked to change management, transformation and organisational development.
Permanent & contracting hiring intentions by profession
Nationwide, Property & Construction is the profession with the strongest positive hiring sentiment (59.7%), followed by Supply Chain & Procurement (42.2%), Technical & Engineering (36.5%), Financial Services (36%), Information, Communication & Technology (35.8%), Office Support (21.3%), and Accounting & Finance (18.9%).
Overall, net contractor hiring sentiment remains constant at 14.6%, as employers continue to focus on keeping business intelligence within their organisations and balancing an average target ratio of 75% / 25% contract versus permanent team split for projects.
Sentiment in Information, Communication & Technology remains strong across the board with net 20% hiring managers intending to increase contract headcount.
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