New Zealand's Job Market Shifts: Lower Listings, Higher Salaries

New Zealand’s job market has experienced a significant shift in the second quarter of 2025, with the average advertised salary reaching an all-time high, while job listings have fallen to near-record lows, according to the latest Trade Me Jobs quarterly report.

Between April and June, the number of job listings was the second-lowest on record, while the average salary climbed to $73,823—the highest quarterly average ever recorded by Trade Me Jobs. Despite the decline in listings, applications per listing remained high, though they have stabilized after a sharp increase earlier in the year.

Trade Me’s head of jobs, Nicole Williams, commented:

“We're observing a period of adjustment in the job market. The number of listings is at a low not seen in quite some time, reflecting a more cautious approach from businesses, particularly across our biggest cities.”

Despite the drop in job listings, salaries increased by 1.6% compared to the previous quarter and 1.5% compared to the same time last year. Most regions experienced flat or rising pay, with Taranaki being the only area to see a slight decline (down 1.3%). Wellington remained the highest-paid region, with an average salary of $76,851, representing a 2.2% increase from the previous quarter.

Industry Trends:

• The trend of rising salaries extended across nearly all industries, with the exception of construction and roading, where salaries decreased by 1.9% year-on-year.
• Nationwide, job listings declined by 17.7% compared to the same period last year and fell by 8.7% compared to the previous quarter. The biggest declines were seen in Auckland, Wellington, and Canterbury, particularly in central business districts.
• Only Otago and Southland saw an increase in listings, with Southland experiencing the most significant rise of 9.7%.

Applications and Competition:

• Applications per listing dipped slightly by 0.1% from the previous quarter but were down 7% year-on-year from 2024’s peak. The average listing received 34 applications nationwide, with Auckland continuing to attract the most interest at 46 applications per listing.
• The education sector saw the largest increase in applications, with a 23% rise to 25 applications per job. The most competitive sectors were transport and logistics (55 applications per listing), retail (54), and hospitality and tourism (52).

Outlook for the Future:

Williams noted that while businesses are currently adopting a more cautious approach to hiring, the outlook for the remainder of 2025 is becoming more optimistic, as the OCR (Official Cash Rate) is expected to decrease and the cost of living begins to ease.