KEY POINTS:
A survey of employers shows continuing demand for staff with specialist qualifications in this country and Australia.
The salary survey, carried out by Hays employment consultancies, found most employers in this country reported annual staff salary increases of 3 to 6 per cent.
Hays regional director in New Zealand Jason Walker said that reaffirmed the solid base on which Australasia's business strength was built.
"Steady jobs growth is still the dominant feature of Australasia's recruitment market and there are plenty of examples of significant salary increases that testify to its ongoing strength."
Half of the respondents across Australasia expected permanent staffing levels to increase while only 4 per cent saw any decrease in the coming 12 months.
With the level of infrastructure investment showing no sign of abating across New Zealand, pressure continued on candidate sourcing and salaries.
Logically, the highest salary increases were for roles where the need for candidates was highest, he said.
Notable trends included salary rises of more than 6 per cent for 38 per cent of construction, property and engineering employers, 39 per cent of mining and resources employers, and 45 per cent of professional services employers.
There was a rise in highly attractive relocation packages and incentive schemes to attract international applicants to legal positions in Auckland.
But the survey also found that despite the market's strength, a rapid rise in salaries across all areas of the mining, engineering and construction markets in recent years had largely reached a plateau.
The survey covered 1700 respondents, 534 of them from this country.
- NZPA
