Canterbury has emerged as the region with the strongest overall new job growth at 49%, or nearly 900 new jobs, during the last 12 months.
Seek.co.nz reported yesterday that job opportunities had grown by 10% in the last 12 months, with more than 250,000 jobs advertised on the website.
The latest data showed that while the levels of growth had fluctuated over the last year, 25,000 more jobs were advertised in the year to November than in the same period last year.
Wellington showed the next strongest growth after Canterbury with a 12% increase, slightly above the national average. Auckland showed slight growth of 2% but remained the centre with the most job opportunities in New Zealand with a total of 138,000 jobs.
Seek general manager Janet Faulding said the best month to secure a new job was August, when new jobs hit a high for the year. The lowest number of new job advertisements was in December 2010 as businesses wound down in the lead-up to the holiday season and hiring intentions slowed.
"We always see increased activity in terms of new job ads being posted and jobseekers visiting the site during the first quarter of the year, with many jobseekers viewing the new year as the right time for a fresh start."
The regional variation in job growth came down to local conditions, she said. In Christchurch, the growth was attributed to roles necessary to support the recovery and rebuilding effort. In Auckland, there was slow and steady continuation of business recovery post-recession.
"Interestingly, Wellington is performing very well considering the ... cuts to the public sector this year and hiring intentions in the government industry dipping slightly in the run-up to the November election."
The top three classifications by growth in the number of job ads were accounting, growing by 430 adverts, information and communication technology, growing by nearly 400 jobs, and trades and services, which grew by 250 adverts.
