Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment figures on skilled vacancies by region showed the Otago-Southland region had a 17.5% annual increase in advertised vacancies for the year ended November.
Canterbury had a 10% increase, Auckland was up 11.5%, Bay of Plenty was up 17.2% and the Waikato was up 2.2%.
Otago-Southland Employers Association chief executive John Scandrett said the Otago-Southland figures had to be reviewed in the context of what was happening in Canterbury and the ''golden triangle'' of Auckland, Hamilton and Tauranga.
All of those areas were reporting solid economic growth.
''If we look at our region as a shoulder of Canterbury, we know we are providing professional services to the region. We know people are working in Christchurch and coming back at weekends. When we provide professional services to Canterbury, supply dips here.''
It had been evident from recently published manufacturing and service sector statistics Otago-Southland was in expansionary mode and had been for many months, he said.
Otago-Southland manufacturing activity had started growing much earlier than Canterbury's because the city's rebuild was finally under way, rather than just being talked about.
Southern employers were focused on not only retaining their current workforce, but hiring new people.
''They are not so sure they can sustain their current workforce with the skill levels they need. Employers need to look for new people as a matter of course.''
Skilled people were being sought by first, Canterbury and second, the ''golden triangle'' and there were not enough to go around, Mr Scandrett said.
However, despite the shortage, the news on skilled vacancies was good for Otago and Southland. Manufacturing and service industries were doing well of their own accord. Not everyone was doing well, but the regional economy was growing.
It had to be remembered the service sector was not only skilled plumbers. It also included professionals such as lawyers and accountants, Mr Scandrett said.
A detailed look at the Canterbury figures showed that in the year ended November, vacancies increased in all occupational groups, with the demand for managers showing the biggest increase, 23%.
The 10% annual growth in advertised skilled vacancies was driven by increases in construction and engineering and information technology.
Nationally, job vacancies advertised online moved up 1% in November.
The rise was driven by four industry and occupational groups: HR, legal and administration, up 1.3%; healthcare and medical, up 1.2%; hospitality and tourism, up 1.2%; construction and engineering, up 0.5%.
By occupation, vacancies grew in two groups in November, with professionals rising 1.5% and technicians and trades workers rising 0.5%.
In the year ended November, skilled vacancies increased in all groups. The largest increase was for technicians and trades workers, up 10.6%, followed by managers, up 8.1%.
