Job ads in sharp rise

WELLINGTON—The number of job advertisements in newspapers rose strongly in February as the economic recovery flowed through quickly, says ANZ Bank.

For the three main centres – Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch – the number of jobs advertised rose to 21,386, up 2.7 per cent on January, and up 3.4 per cent on February last year.

The number of advertisements was up 18 per cent since the low in August last year.

"The rebound in the job ads series suggests that the economic recovery is filtering through to the job market relatively quickly," the bank said in its latest monthly survey. About 3000 more advertisements were being run a month in the main centres compared to the August low.

Auckland had the strongest monthly increase, up 3.2 per cent on January. Christchurch had the highest annual change, up 8.4 per cent, but just 1.2 per cent in January.—NZPA.