Skills shortage leads to ‘modest’ wage rise: Trade Me
There’s good news for jobseekers – the amount on offer from wouldbe employers jumped 1.1 per cent over the course of last year.
That’s the largest annual increase in the national average wage offered via Trade Me’s website since 2015.
Across the country, the average wage advertised was $61,082 across 74,000 vacancies.
The most lucrative jobs were in information technology. IT architects were being paid an average salary of $153,222 a year, followed by IT management roles earning an average $142,029.
‘‘Skilled IT candidates are in high demand across the country and employers are offering more to secure talent, with a 3.1 per cent increase in average pay to $110,657,’’ Trade Me Jobs’ Anna Miles said.
‘‘If you’re in the IT industry and thinking about your next step, now is a good time to dust off your CV.’’
Although the overall lift in wages was ‘‘modest’’, she said it was promising for employees following three years of stagnant wage growth.
‘‘Wages in New Zealand have remained stubbornly low in recent years despite the cost of living in New Zealand increasing steadily during the same period.
‘‘Throughout 2018 Kiwis saw a spike in petrol, property and rental prices, with little change to their pay packets.
‘‘We’re sure job hunters will be pleased to see there is an opportunity to increase their pay if they want to make a move.’’
Miles said it was a result of a skills shortage.
‘‘Employers are finding it tough to find the right people and they’re having to put more money on the table to secure the candidates they want as the talent shortage continues.
‘‘We expect to see wages rise more this year as employers try to woo the people they need away from their current jobs.’’
Auckland City is the highestpaying area in the country, with an average advertised salary of $72,299, but Wellington is the highest-paying region with an average of $65,131.
Miles said there was a mild increase in listings nationwide in the last quarter of 2018 but most of the growth was in provincial centres.
‘‘The North Island saw some phenomenal growth in the last quarter of the year. Job listings in Taranaki led the pack after a 30 per cent increase on 2017, along with Hawke’s Bay, which was up 22.8 per cent, while vacancies in Gisborne rose 20.3 per cent.’’
The regions to see reductions in the number of job listings yearon-year were Auckland (down 2.2 per cent), Canterbury (down 7.5 per cent) and Marlborough (down 10.9 per cent). Wellington was up 3.7 per cent.
Miles said January and February were a good time to be looking for a new job.
‘‘With the average number of job applications down across the country, an increase in wages and more job listings, it’s a job hunter’s market.’’
She said it was likely that video interviewing would become more common over 2019.
Employees were also becoming more conscious of work-life balance, she said.