Report
 Starting January 2010 NetYourJob will regularly publish a key economic indicator, the Monthly Vacancy Listings Report.
Vacancies have dropped from 33,000 per month in Q1 2008 to the current levels of 16,000 in Q4 2009. There are now fewer than half the number of job vacancies listed compared to two years ago.
At the same time unemployment has increased from 3.5% to 6.5%. There are 150,000 people unemployed, a rise of over 65,000. Figures also show that 122,000 people are "under-employed", they are looking for more work if they can get it.
This means more than 270,000 people are looking for work, and with only 16,000 vacancies listed each month it is obvious why employers with vacancies are being swamped by applicants.
The situation won't improve until economic growth causes an increase in vacancies and new jobs begin to soak up the unemployed and under-employed.
The NetYourJob Monthly Vacancy Listings Report is a key economic indicator that will show when this growth begins to occur. Throughout the second half of 2009 the numbers were flat at around 16,000 vacancies each month, dropping to 14,500 in December 2009 due to the impending holiday season.
January is traditionally the time when NZ employers start advertising for extra staff, and employees act on their New Year's resolution to find a better job. A rise in the January 2010 vacancy numbers will be crucial if we're to see new life in the job market.
Five factors should impact on NZ vacancy growth. Watch out for:
1) Sustained Australian Growth If our largest trading partner sustains recent growth we should see improved trans-Tasman trade create NZ jobs. Kiwis will also move to Aust for jobs and better money, reducing NZ unemployment and creating NZ vacancies.
2) Rugby World Cup effect The biggest tourism event ever to hit NZ is now 20 months away. Infrastructure spending means jobs, and a wide range of staffing needs in many areas will accelerate as the Cup looms.
3) Good growth across Asia If growth does not falter in China, India and other Asian nations then demand will rise for NZ agri-food, tertiary education and tourism, creating additional jobs here.
4) Net Migration Rise Returning Kiwis and wealthy migrants buy cars and houses and bring their businesses and global networks. Hopefully they will increase jobs rather than adding to unemployment.
5) No more global financial turmoil All bets would be off if there were more global financial crisis events in 2010. Let's keep our fingers crossed that these are behind us.
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Opinion
Most employers have now experienced the flood of applicants coming in for every advertised vacancy and we're often asked if this is likely to continue in 2010.
All the signs point to application numbers continuing to increase. The leading job sites report browser and applicant numbers are growing month on month. Unemployment is still rising, and recent surveys point to more workers becoming dissatisfied with their lot due to recession induced higher work loads and lower wages.
Now the NZ recession is officially over, with real estate picking up, and confidence returning to businesses and consumers, those dissatisfied workers may feel the time is ripe to look for a new job. However even while Vacancy Listings increase job seekers will still find that competition for every job remains fierce.
This is of course good news for Employers, they can pick and choose. It is a classic "Employers' Market". Those organisations in a position to grow or upgrade their workforce have an outstanding opportunity to add high quality people to their teams.
In the USA the share market has recovered over 50% of recent losses, however unemployment is above 10% and rising. There is talk of a "jobless recovery" where business improves without generating employment.
Large US corporations may have so much excess capacity they can grow without taking on extra people, however NZ is a nation of smaller businesses.
If NZ companies want to grow they must employ an additional salesperson, increase customer service to handle the workload, put on a storesperson to move the stock, or take on another tradesperson to do the work.
Milking more cows takes more sharemilkers, more milk tanker drivers and means more people at the dairy factory. In a small economy like NZ recovery means jobs and more jobs will be a sign of recovery. Watch this space in coming months to see how we're progressing!
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Solutions
 NetYourJob is NZ's leading online employment service, helping you fill your vacancies quickly and efficiently, and at the lowest possible cost.
We'll create and run catchy adverts for your vacancy on all NZ's top internet job sites, then manage the applications, and advise candidates of their progress. We screen the applications as they arrive, and forward just the best candidates, sorted according to your selection criteria.
Unlike the hassle of listing your own vacancies and dealing with the flood of unsuitable applicants, our service cuts out the admin, delivers just the best candidates, and costs even less than doing it yourself.
Every year hundreds of satisfied employers reap the benefits of our service to fill thousands of vacancies. Give us a call to find out more on 0800 638 968
Our service works equally well for all types of positions all around NZ. This month we'd like to share the comments of one of our clients from the sunny North ...
Dear Janna, I would just like to thank you for your help. Your service worked really well. In the end we sorted from the 30 odd applicants 22 that were local, and from this we short listed 7 people who had been involved in the hospitality industry with accounting experience. We interviewed the seven people who were all of a high standard and were locally based, from this we short listed down to the final interview, and one stand out candidate was selected.
We were very happy with the process and surprised that independently we selected the same people and the final person. We have made the job offer and it has been accepted. Thanks again, I will keep your contact details and will have no hesitation in recommending you to others. John Nuttall, President, Kamo Club
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