Job market bouncing back, net listings show

The job market showed great resilience in the second half of 2009, according to a study of 48,000 jobs listed on Trade Me Jobs.

Trade Me Jobs head Keith Muirhead said the market held steady despite challenging economic conditions.

"In the middle of 2009, we were deep in a recession and unemployment was forecast to hit 8 per cent," he said.

"Against that backdrop, advertised job vacancies have started to bounce back, which is a great result," Mr Muirhead added.

The industries most affected during the downturn had led the recovery.

"We've seen a large increase in demand for frontline bank staff, building-related trades and senior sales professionals," he said.

Doctors were the best paid, with an average salary of $143,495. Information technology jobs dominated the top of the list, while the average pay offered for financial controllers was $115,472.

Wage inflation was still evident, especially in highly skilled jobs, Mr Muirhead said.

"To our surprise, the pay packets on offer rose for the majority of professions, when compared to the first half of the year.

"In our six-figure jobs section, which accounted for 16 per cent of all fulltime jobs listed, pay rates increased at an annualised rate of 2.8 per cent," he said.

Wellington kept its position as the best-paid location, with average pay of $72,471. However, the Wellington region suffered from one of the sharpest declines in advertised vacancies, down 7.4 per cent compared to the first half of 2009.

"The Wellington employment market has borne the brunt of public sector belt-tightening, while the other main centres have rebounded," Mr Muirhead said.

Employers and job-seekers should be optimistic about the year ahead, with confidence returning to the employment market, he said.

Mr Muirhead said he expected to see more demand for fulltime workers as employers planned with greater certainty. He wouldn't be surprised if skilled workers, who have sat tight through the recession, started to explore opportunities.

- NZPA