Job Listings Dropped 60–70% Since 2022

New Zealand’s job market remains fiercely competitive, with recruitment experts warning that despite early signs of recovery in 2025, opportunities are still limited. Ben Pearson, co-director of Beyond Recruitment, revealed that job vacancies have plummeted by 60 to 70 percent over the past two years, making 2024 the worst year for job listings in the company’s history.

This decline has occurred alongside broad public sector cuts and downsizing, contributing to an unemployment rate now at its highest since mid-2020. While Pearson notes some modest recovery in recent months, the overall landscape for job seekers remains difficult.

“There’s still a large amount of people out there looking for work,” Pearson said. “It’s very, very competitive for jobs at the moment — that hasn’t really changed.”

Unexpected Trends in Job Seeker Behaviour

Recruiters are observing surprising shifts in candidate behavior. More job seekers are backing out of offers at the last minute, even after lengthy recruitment processes.

“We’re seeing more people go through the process, get the offer, and then decline — either choosing to stay put or hesitating to make a move,” said Pearson.

This trend is unusual, especially in a market with mass redundancies, and seems to be driven by loyalty to current employers and a sense of uncertainty. Pearson also highlighted the challenge of maintaining contact with candidates due to the sheer volume of job seekers now in the market.

Severe Skill Shortages in Specific Areas

Despite the flood of applicants in many corporate roles, there are still severe skill shortages in niche sectors, particularly in public sector policy. Pearson emphasized that while many industries face high competition, specialist roles remain hard to fill, creating a complex and uneven job market.

Signs of Recovery: Seek and Trade Me Data

Recent reports from Seek and Trade Me indicate early signs of improvement in the job market:

• Seek job ads increased by 2% in March 2025, the first monthly rise in two-and-a-half years.

• Trade Me job listings rose by 16% in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the final quarter of 2024.

• At the same time, job applications rose by 8% year-on-year.

• On average, each Trade Me listing attracted 34 applicants nationwide.

These modest gains offer hope, but don’t yet signal a full recovery.

Job Seeker Optimism Grows — But So Do Challenges

A recent Trade Me survey of over 6000 people found that four in ten New Zealanders plan to change jobs in 2025 — double the number from last year.

The top reasons given were:

• Workplace culture dissatisfaction (18%)

• Better pay (17%)

• Improved career prospects (16%)

Nicole Williams, Head of Jobs at Trade Me, described the shift as a growing sense of optimism about the job market.

“To see that number now sitting at four in ten suggests a growing sense of optimism about what opportunities 2025 may present,” she said. “However, this positive momentum is not without its challenges.”

Regional Job Market Still Weak

Despite improvements, year-on-year job listings have dropped 32%, with some regions hit harder than others:

• Hawke’s Bay: down 43%

• Auckland: down 41%

• Nelson/Tasman: down 40%

These figures highlight that many parts of New Zealand still face a tough employment climate, even as the national data begins to show small gains.

New Zealand’s job market in early 2025 reflects a complex and fragile recovery. While some indicators point toward improvement — especially in job listing volumes — the reality on the ground for job seekers remains one of fierce competition, hesitant candidates, and regional disparities. For many, the search continues in a market still shaped by the scars of the past two years.

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