10 Dec 2015

Weak NZ dollar helping hiring activity

11:06 am on 10 December 2015

A weaker New Zealand dollar is helping create steady hiring activity, according to a new survey of employers.

One dollar coin

Photo: RNZ

The survey of a cross-section of 650 employers by ManpowerGroup highlighted opportunities for exports and tourism growth as a result of the lower dollar.

Hiring expectations were up slightly from the last quarter, with a net 13 percent expecting to take on more staff, and only 4 percent thinking of downsizing their workforce.

However, that's well down on the year earlier when a net 27 percent of employers were looking to hire more people.

Despite the downturn, ManpowerGroup New Zealand manager Neil Munroe said it was still a competitive labour market.

"The businesses feel that they are well shaped for market conditions, they will move fast to take any advantage they see in the market by hiring specific skills," he said.