Skills found lacking

New Zealand’s worsening skill shortage is bad news for businesses, but great news for those in demand, such as engineers.

Engineers topped the list of the hardest jobs for employers to fill in a new survey by recruitment firm ManpowerGroup, which found 59 per cent of New Zealand employers are struggling to find skilled workers. Engineers were joined in the top three hardest jobs to fill by skilled trades, and accounting and finance staff.

Information technology staff, management and executives, sales representatives, secretaries and administration staff and doctors were also among the top 10.

ManpowerGroup’s New Zealand general manager, Matt LoveSmith, said occupations represented in the 10 hardest jobs to fill showed the skill shortage was now widespread.