Employment expanded by 0.6% (seasonally adjusted) in April! That is rapid growth for the month – annualised that would equate to more than 7% of additional filled jobs across a 12 month period. It’s also not a flash in the pan result, with job numbers measured through payday payroll tax filings showing strong growth in each of the past four months.
Migration tap helping fill vacancies
The key parts to the jobs growth engine at present are both services, as well as goods producing industries. With the migration tap firmly on, businesses are finding the workers they need to make a dent in unfilled vacancies.
The following industries showed the largest changes in filled jobs compared to April 2022:
- accommodation and food services – up 12.2 percent (17,138 jobs)
- health care and social assistance – up 3.4 percent (8,834 jobs)
- manufacturing – up 3.2 percent (7,435 jobs)
- transport, postal, and warehousing – up 8.2 percent (7,396 jobs)
- administrative and support services – up 6.5 percent (7,157 jobs).
Employment growth is well spread
Looking through the regional disaggregations shows some pretty interesting results – for example little old Otago has created as many jobs as the entire Wellington Region over the past year!
The following regions showed the largest changes in filled jobs compared to April 2022:
- Auckland – up 4.2 percent (32,258 jobs)
- Canterbury – up 4.0 percent (12,097 jobs)
- Waikato – up 3.4 percent (7,409 jobs)
- Wellington – up 2.6 percent (6,589 jobs)
- Otago – up 5.6 percent (6,245 jobs).
Older workers and teenagers show fast growth
Job numbers are increasing among all demographics, especially people in their peak working years which correspond with the ongoing migration boom.
The following demographics showed the largest changes in filled jobs compared to April 2022:
- 35–39 years – up 6.7 percent (16,339 jobs)
- 30–34 years – up 4.8 percent (13,289 jobs)
- 15–19 years – up 9.7 percent (12,909 jobs)
- 40–44 years – up 5.5 percent (12,388 jobs)
- 65+ years – up 8.4 percent (9,598 jobs).
There is also some pretty clear evidence of the cost of living squeeze pushing certain demographics into work. Employment among over 65s is rising rapidly as retirees seek to top up superannuation, while female employment is growing faster than male employment as more households need second incomes to support higher mortgage repayments.
Youth employment of teenagers is also rising fast – the allure of high wages to buy that new phone or surprisingly late model car are mighty tempting relative to doing a wee bit more homework!
Get in touch if you want to learn more about recent job creation trends in your region or territorial authority.