Skills shortage set to boost wages
Despite slow growth in job listings in the main centres, wages are expected to grow this year amid the ongoing skills shortage, Trade Me says.
Head of Trade Me Jobs Jeremy Wade said the skill shortage was expected to worsen, due to the tightening on immigration, leaving employers with little choice but to improve salary packages to lure talent.
As a result, job hunters and skilled workers could expect to see better pay offers, he said.
‘‘With less competition and high demand for skilled workers, January is a great time to dust off your CV if you’re considering making your next career move.’’
Trade Me Jobs analysed more than 68,000 vacancies listed on its site.
Auckland City remained the highest earning area with an average pay of $72,383, followed closely by Wellington at $69,787.
However, wage growth in the biggest centres was flat in late 2017.
‘‘With a shortage of talent, flat wage growth and the increasing cost of living, employers in the main metro[politan cities] will be under more pressure in 2018 to secure talent and as a result we expect average pay to increase,’’ Wade said.
But with the minimum wage set to rise to $16.50 in April, small businesses would likely slow their hiring, he said.
Job listings in the regions boomed in the last quarter of 2017, but employers and job hunters in the main centres had been ‘‘treading softly’’ as they waited for the new political landscape to settle, Wade said.
While the regions all had double-digit growth in new listings, new listings in Auckland, Wellington and Canterbury fell between 2.8 per cent and 1 per cent.
Wade said that of the 26 sectors on Trade Me Jobs, 13 saw an increase in the number of new listings year-on-year. Leading the way were manufacturing and operations (up 28.5 per cent), transport and logistics (up 21.2 per cent), and agriculture (up 20.7 per cent).
IT roles continue to dominate the highest paid roles on Trade Me Jobs, taking out the top four spots.
Project managers topped the list with an average pay of $142,143.