The level of job advertising in New Zealand was consistent with ongoing modest employment growth and unemployment edging below 5.5% by the end of the year, ANZ senior economist Sharon Zollner said yesterday.
Releasing the ANZ New Zealand Job Ads series, Ms Zollner said total job advertising lifted 2.4% in September, seasonally adjusted, building on a 1.7% rise in August.
''The upward trend in the index is still relatively modest but the lift is encouraging.''
The volume of newspaper job advertising fell 2.6% in September after a 4.4% jump in August, she said.
Newspaper job advertising had been in a long-term decline as it continued to lose market share to internet-based advertising services. But its fall had slowed this year as the labour market strengthened.
Newspaper-based job advertising lifted in Otago, the Waikato and Hawkes Bay but fell in Manawatu. The Otago Daily Times contributed to the series.
Combined internet and newspaper advertising lifted in Auckland and Wellington but fell in Canterbury.
While the regional numbers were volatile, the Canterbury result was consistent with anecdotal evidence suggesting something of a hiatus between the winding down of the residential rebuild in Canterbury and the start of commercial rebuild activity, Ms Zollner said.
Earlier this week, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment data showed skilled vacancies increased in all regions in the year ended September, with the largest annual increase in Otago-Southland.
