Economic Sentiment:
Last year’s business motto was “survive to 2025” with most business owners and leaders looking to the post-Christmas period for some kind of market bounce-back.
Auckland Anniversary passed, Waitangi weekend passed, and the kids went back to school. A stalled market remained.
Then the goalpost moved to after the Easter holidays and whilst there has been some improvement, the market remains relatively flat.
The next goalpost was the Budget announcement, and I think it has finally hit.
In the conversations we are having with clients, the realisation is that this is likely the new normal.
It’s time to move from “survive” to adapt, change, realign.
Technology & IT Market:
Recent SEEK data shows a stabilisation in the decline of job ads over the past six months – potentially signalling the beginning of a market rebound – while job application rates continue to grow, rising 31% year-on-year alone.
On the ground, we’re experiencing the same trend. Our clients are facing significant workloads managing a growing pool of applicants, creating frustration for both hiring managers and candidates. However, companies are increasingly turning to AI screening tools which, while promising, have led to confusion. AI has sometimes recommended candidates who have optimised their resumes to fit job ads, even if they aren't the best match in reality.
Reflecting SEEK’s picture of stabilisation, the Talent Auckland team has seen consistent role volumes and placements from March to June. Most new job requisitions and placements are in infrastructure engineering, data analysis/engineering, and business analysis. Leadership changes are also on the rise, with businesses hiring new leaders capable of driving and managing change effectively.
There’s also a growing trend where leaders want to use AI for automation to reduce headcount in manual roles while retaining human-centric customer experiences. Employers are seeking candidates who are comfortable using AI tools for productivity but can also engage in creativity, strategy, and critical thinking.
The “new normal” for employers is marked by frequent restructures and realignments, creating a demand for leaders who are effective change agents.
Other emerging priorities for businesses include:
Our experts interact with hiring managers and candidates daily, giving us unique, real-world insights into the latest salary and benefits trends.
Auckland, the ‘City of Sails’, is known for both it’s beautiful scenery and for being a growing urban oasis.
Tāmaki Makaurau is home to the largest Polynesian population in the world and also houses large European and Asian communities. With trade relations currently being developed with other regions such as India and South America, immigration has increased significantly from these destinations over the last several years – creating a very dynamic and diverse city. This diversity contributes to a plethora of talent as well as amazing food options.
Auckland's relaxed working environment lends itself to a good work-life balance, which attracts talent from around the globe. Whilst the cost of living is relatively high in this city, easy accessibility to social services and New Zealand's world ranking as the easiest place to do business, makes it an enticing city to reside in.
Auckland is also a land of opportunity, operating as a hub for many start-up and scale up businesses with big aspirations. New Zealand's 'number 8 wire' mentality, which represents the Kiwi problem-solving and can-do attitude, permeates throughout Auckland's culture and in all that its citizens set out to do.
Average cost of a coffee
Average rent for 1 bed apartment
Average gym membership
To find out what’s happening in your region, click through to the areas we operate in:
The hiring landscape and workforce is changing, access our fresh market insights here:
We’re seeing a shift in the market, discover what’s happening across NZ’s major tech hubs:
Navigating the evolving salary trends in the US job market? Uncover the latest tech insights in these major tech cities:
