Temporary and casual staffing platform for Australia and New Zealand, Sidekicker, has released its first New Zealand Jobs Index, revealing that tight hiring conditions are finally easing for businesses.
The data for June recorded more than a 211 per cent increase Year-on-Year in the application-to-shift ratio. This is despite the average business posting 46 per cent more shifts YoY.
The Sidekicker Jobs Index analyses data from more than 2500 workers (known as Sidekicks) across businesses from several sectors in New Zealand, including Hospitality and Events, Warehousing and Logistics, and Customer Service, Administration and Office Support (White Collar).
Overall, there was a 67 per cent YoY increase in the number of casuals being hired per business, with hourly rates rising four per cent YoY.
Between May and June, there was a 24 per cent rise in the application-to-shift ratio, which was driven predominantly by international registrations, up 600 per cent YoY.
The Events & Hospitality sector specifically saw an application-to-shift ratio growing almost 200 per cent YoY, despite the average business posting 126 per cent more shifts compared to last year. H
ourly rates also rose four per cent YoY in this sector.
Sidekicker CEO and co-founder Thomas Amos says amid continued economic volatility, the findings were welcome news for New Zealand businesses.
“For New Zealand businesses struggling with hiring challenges, there’s finally a light on the horizon. With the return of international workers, the volume of registrations from local and international workers reached parity in June 2023 for the first time in Sidekicker’s history.
“If we look at our registration mix pre-COVID, local registrations were on average twice that of international workers,” Thomas says.
“One of the core drivers of the easing is the continued growth in international registrations, which have grown 600 per cent YoY. By comparison, local registrations have grown 62 per cent over the same period.
“Seeing this change in application-to-shift ratio, as well as the volume of international workers, it would be safe to say that the casual labouring crunch is significantly easing. We’ve come through COVID to the other side and it’s a new day for New Zealand businesses.”
New Zealand businesses are now on average requesting the same amount of casuals as their counterparts in Australia. A year ago, Australian businesses were hiring twice as many casuals but local businesses have now caught up, indicating a recovery in key sectors such as events and hospitality.
New Zealand businesses are also seeing a continued improvement in worker reliability. The previous wide gap between worker reliability in Australia and New Zealand has now closed.
Industry Insights:
- • Hospitality, Events & Exhibitions saw a strong monthly rise in shifts posted as well as a strong rise in applications, up 23 per cent monthly and 440 per cent YoY.
- • Warehousing & Logistics saw a slight monthly drop in shifts, though YoY the numbers grew 149 per cent. Applications continue to rise, an increase of 12 per cent monthly and 530 per cent YoY.
- • Promotions & Retail saw a drop in shifts posted but a rise in applications, a hike of 18 per cent monthly and 397 per cent YoY.
- • White Collar saw a monthly doubling of shifts posted, following a dip in May. Applications also rose, up 142 per cent monthly and 206 per cent YoY.
The Sidekicker Job Index is in line with New Zealand government figures which identify signs of softening in the formerly tight labour market.
Demand for labour overall appears to be slowing, while net migration has increased, including many Working Holiday Visa arrivals who are likely to seek casual and temporary work.
