A new survey of 770 employers by a recruitment agency suggests jobs may be getting harder to find.
Manpower New Zealand says employers' hiring intentions are at their lowest ebb since the quarterly survey began more than four years ago.
Businesses were surveyed in seven different sectors across Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland.
It found 14% were anticipating a drop in staff numbers, compared to 5% a year ago.
The number planning to increase their staff has dropped 9%.
The agency says there's a decline in hiring prospects across the board, but wholesale and trade, along with mining and construction, appear worse off.
