Productivity up, staff numbers down

The latest New Zealand Manufacturers and Exporters Association (NZMEA) survey of business conditions completed during January, shows total sales in December 2013 increased 2.02 percent (year on year export sales increased by 17.09 percent with domestic sales decreasing 14.0 percent) on December 2012.

The survey sample covered $ 383m in annualised sales, with an export content of 59 percent. Net confidence was unchanged on November, at 30.

The current performance index (a combination of profitability and cash f low) is at 101.7, down from 104 in November.

The change index (capacity utilisation, staff levels, orders and inventories) was at 103, down from 104 in the last survey, and the forecast index (investment, sales, profitability and staff) is at 103.67, up on November’s result of 102.83. Anything less than 100 indicates a contraction.

A net 30 percent of firms reported a rise in productivity for December. Staff numbers for December fell year on year by 2.25 percent.

Staff shortage reported included tradespersons, operators/labourers, supervisors and managers and a minor shortage for professionals/scientists.