Job ads rise across the country - Seek

Seek said a pick up in job data last month was partly due to a strengthening housing market and increased building activity. Photo / Thinkstock

Job growth across the country last month shows the Kiwi labour market is strengthening, according to seek.co.nz.

Seek's New Job Ad Index for May showed a 6.4 per cent year-on-year increase in the number of new jobs.

Jobs were up 3.8 per cent from April, the first time since December 2011 that month-on-month growth has been seen nationwide, said Janet Faulding, Seek NZ general manager.

"This is an encouraging sign for the New Zealand labour market. May's rise in job numbers can in part be attributed to the strengthening housing market and building activity picking up, which are beneficial for the economy as a whole," Faulding said.

"This will likely be reinforced as reconstruction activity in Canterbury increases throughout the year."

Job ads grew by 4.6 per cent in Canterbury from last month, and 33 per cent from a year ago.

The country's two largest markets, Auckland and Wellington both showed strong growth.

New job ads in Auckland were 3.9 per cent up from last month and advertised roles in Wellington grew by 2 per cent in May, now 7.9 per cent higher than May 2011.

"The New Zealand economy is slowly and steadily improving, but there is still an underlying air of financial uncertainty both locally and globally," Faulding said.