The Wellington hiring market has seen a spike in activity between February and May; we have seen an increase of contract and Perm/FT work as well as extensions secured in advance for our existing contractors. However, this spike in business has since tapered after the budget announcement and as we near the end of FY25. Time will tell if this is just left-over budget being spent or if this surge in confidence will be sustained into Q1 of FY26. On a more positive note, if we compare the market now with the market 12 months ago, we are definitely seeing more planning and more confidence which is great.

In the regions, there’s a sense of steadiness. Turnover is low, with many people seemingly happy in their roles. The comment I have heard repeatedly is that it’s not so much about bracing for a downturn, it’s that teams are settled, and internal HR can manage recruitment with ease.

We’re also still seeing the lingering effects of restructuring and realignments in the public sector. These have stalled hiring in many government teams, with some departments unable to make decisions or commit to extensions beyond the current financial year. Despite this, there are isolated pockets of growth, and business areas that are starting to pop up with new activity.

Across the board, people are feeling tired and unsettled, but also quietly hopeful. Job security remains front of mind, but LinkedIn tells a positive story: many professionals are announcing new roles, and the energy, particularly in Wellington, feels encouraging.