Our take on the latest Employment indicators (Wed 28 Jan 2026)
Filled jobs
November increase
Primary & goods-producing jobs
0.0%
0.5%
In December 2025 (sa)
Revised up (sa)
Down in December (sa)
The key numbers...
- Filled job numbers recorded no change between November and December on a seasonally adjusted basis. However, the increase in November was revised up, from 0.3% to 0.5%, which is surprising given that this series is often revised down. Filled job growth remains volatile from month to month, with increases in three of the past six months.
- The primary industries and goods-producing industries sectors recorded minor employment declines in December, down 0.2% and 0.1% respectively. The services industries sector, which accounts for more than three-quarters of all jobs, recorded nil change. Primary and services jobs are higher than in December 2024, but goods-producing industries jobs fell 2.3%pa.
- At an industry level, filled job growth is led by mining, with a 5.3%pa increase. The public sector continues to dominate job growth in terms of numbers, with 5,280 more jobs in health, 4,600 in public administration, and 3,255 in education compared to December 2024.
- The South Island retains its edge in the economic recovery, with a 0.9%pa increase in filled jobs in the South, against a 0.4%pa decline in the North Island. All South Island regions are growing except Nelson (-0.6%pa) and Marlborough (-1.0%pa). The North Island’s only growth remains concentrated in Waikato (0.6%pa) and Bay of Plenty (0.7%pa), with all other regions declining.
- Employment of young people remains challenging, with a 2.5%pa fall in employment of under-30-year-olds, compared to a 0.6%pa increase in over-30-year-olds.
...and our reaction
- It’s not surprising to see flat job growth in December, especially after November’s growth was revised up to a strong 0.5%. Filled jobs have been up and down for the past six months, which is better than being consistently down, but shows that New Zealand’s economic recovery remains paltry.
- New Zealand’s economic recovery also remains patchy, with stark contrasts between North and South, and even within each island. Waikato jobs rose 0.6%pa in December, compared to a 0.5%pa decline in Auckland. Differences in industry growth explain some, but not all, of the regional differences. Construction jobs fell 3.1%pa, which hits growth areas like Auckland. Agriculture jobs rose 2.1%pa, which benefits more rural regions.
- Job advertisements fell 3.9% between November and December (based on Infometrics seasonal adjustment of MBIE data), which suggests that January filled jobs won’t be substantially different to December.
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