More job vacancies a sign economy improving

File photo

An increase in online job vacancies in June from May is being touted by the Department of Labour as another sign economic conditions in New Zealand are improving.

The 2.3 per cent rise in the Department's Jobs Online index was boosted by advertisements for skilled vacancies outside the main urban centres, a green-shoot for what has been a troubled regional economy in New Zealand.

Nationwide skilled vacancy advertisements rose 1.5 per cent in June from May, the index showed.

The rise showed employment prospects continued to improve in June, Department of Labour Head of Research and Analysis, Vasantha Krishnan said in a media release.

"This is supportive of other indicators that point to a gradual increase in economic activity. It reinforces the Department's expectation that employment will grow in 2012 and 2013, bringing down the unemployment rate," Krishnan said.

"The Jobs Online index shows that the strongest growth in skilled vacancies was happening outside the main centres. Skilled job vacancies grew by 12.0 per cent in the South Island (excluding Canterbury) and by 7.3 per cent in the North Island (excluding Auckland and Wellington)," Krishnan said.

Industries with the biggest growth in skilled vacancies across the country were accounting, HR, legal and administration (up by 9.0 per cent) and hospitality and tourism (up by 8.5 per cent).

Overall, the number of skilled vacancies in the month of June was 17.1 per cent higher than a year ago, while the total of all vacancies was 18.2 per cent higher.

- INTEREST.CO.NZ