The number of job ads fell an annual 22 percent last month with fewer big city employers looking for staff, while applications per job also fell 2 percent on the year earlier.
Seek NZ's December employment report saw an overall 2 percent month-on-month drop, with the number of ads in the Auckland region down 4 percent, down 3 percent in Wellington and 5 percent down in Canterbury.
Seek country manager Rob Clark said the overall trend for 2024 was one of decline.
After rising in November, Taranaki was the only region where job ads did not decline year-on-year.
There were increased job ads for trade & service roles, manufacturing, transport & logistics, information & communications and technology, as well as jobs in the banking and finance sector.
"Some industries ended the year with more opportunities, including banking & financial services and insurance & superannuation, thanks to growth spurts at the end of the year," Clark said.
"Hiring and applications do tend to pick up in the early months of a new year, as hirers and candidates start thinking about the future - so, January and February will be ones to watch."
ISSUE
