Our take on the latest Employment indicators (Wed 14 Jan 2026)
Filled jobs rise 0.3% in November (sa)
Primary industry jobs up 0.8% in November (sa)
Goods-producing industry jobs record first increase since 2023
The key numbers...
- Filled job numbers rose by a relatively strong 0.3% in November from October. Filled job growth remains volatile, with a 0.1% increase in September followed by a 0.1% decrease in October. This series tends to be revised lower in future releases so there is a chance that November’s strong increase will be revised to a weaker increase (all figures seasonally adjusted).
- All three broad sectors recorded an increase in employment in November, led by primary industries, which rose 0.8% from October to November, followed with more marginal increases of 0.2% for service industries and 0.1% for goods producing industries (seasonally adjusted). Although marginal, the increase in goods producing industry jobs is the sector’s strongest increase since 2023. Jobs in the sector are still down 2.5% from November 2024.
- Beyond the primary industries, the only noteworthy growth was in public administration (up 2.1%pa from November 2024 to November 2025), arts and recreation (2.1%pa), and health care (1.8%pa).
- The South Island retains its edge in the economic recovery, with a 0.5%pa increase in filled jobs in the South, and a 0.6%pa decline in the North Island. Canterbury (0.7%pa), Otago (0.7%pa) and West Coast (0.5%pa) were the fastest growing southern regions, followed by Bay of Plenty (0.5%pa) and Waikato (0.3%pa) in the North.
Biggest increase in job numbers since 2023
Filled jobs, monthly % change, seasonally adjusted
...and our reaction
- The 0.3% increase in filled jobs in November is an encouraging sign, representing the strongest filled job growth since October 2023, even though there’s a good chance it will be revised down slightly. With a mix of positive and negative changes over the past four months, we can conclude that the decline in employment has been halted, though it’s too early to state that an economy-wide recovery of employment is underway.
- Pockets of the economy are experiencing a clear recovery – the South Island, Waikato-Bay of Plenty, and primary industries more broadly. Beyond these hotspots, many areas are still hurting. For example, Wellington Region filled jobs are down 1.5%pa, and construction industry jobs nationally are down 3.6%pa.
- ANZ’s Business Outlook paints a more positive picture for the future, with December’s survey showing a material lift in employment intentions, to their highest net level since 2017. This increase in employment intentions was broad-based, with all sectors rising and positive about hiring in future. Employment intentions in construction and manufacturing were strongly positive, which is a key precondition for recovery in metropolitan regions like Auckland.
Latest updates
Premium
Employment indicators
One step forward, two steps back
Mon 2 Mar 2026
Monthly
0.2% Filled jobs in January (seas. adj.)
0.3% Filled jobs in December (seas. adj.)0.3% Service sector jobs in January (seas. adj.)Premium
Employment indicators
Filled jobs flatline in December
Wed 28 Jan 2026
Monthly
0.0% Filled jobs in December 2025 (sa)0.5% November increase revised up (sa)
Primary & goods-producing jobs down in December (sa)Employment indicators
No pick up in filled jobs yet
Fri 28 Nov 2025
Monthly
Filled jobs unchanged in October (sa)Primary industries jobs up 0.5% in October (sa)Service industry jobs unchanged from a year ago