New Zealand – What will the 2017 recruitment market bring?

By memberservices@staffingindustry.com (Craig Johnson)

What trends will shape the New Zealand recruitment market in 2017? Hays plc predicts key features will include jobs growth, flexible headcounts, a digital skills gap, wage pressure for highly skilled workers and work-life integration.

Here are the predictions, according to Hays:

Drivers of jobs growth:

Impact of the Kaikoura earthquake: The Kaikoura earthquake of November 2016 will impact the civil jobs market. While the full scale of damage and the extent of necessary repairs has yet to be fully determined, there’s no doubt that a large number of civil engineering, construction and trades professionals will be required in 2017 and beyond.

Residential construction: In 2016 New Zealand’s residential construction industry built significant momentum, most notably in Auckland. Residential companies will be busier in 2017 and teams will grow.

Commercial construction: With Christchurch entering the next phase of the rebuild process, anchor projects will keep commercial construction vacancy activity high. Adding to job activity will be commercial developments supporting Auckland’s population growth and the demolition, repair and rebuilding of commercial properties in Wellington.

Services sector: A growing services sector will lead to new roles, particularly in healthcare, social assistance and financial services. Business services will also be a major driver of employment growth.

Aging population: Given New Zealand’s aging population, job numbers will increase in aged care support services and in villages.

Election: As an election year, 2017 could potentially bring greater government investment in infrastructure across provincial New Zealand. This would create new infrastructure jobs.

Temporary and contract jobs:

The rise of flexible headcounts: 2016’s rapid rise in the use of temporary and contract assignments will continue in order to accommodate candidates’ demand for a more flexible lifestyle and employers’ desire for a more flexible headcount.

For more predictions, go to Hays’ website here.

Source:: Staffing Industry Analysts Daily Newsfeed