11 Jan 2017

Job ads grow for 16th consecutive month

1:26 pm on 11 January 2017

Job advertisements continue to paint a strong picture of the New Zealand economy.

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Photo: 123RF

The ANZ Bank's job ads index rose a seasonally adjusted 1.6 percent in December when compared with the month before.

It marks the 16th month in a row of gains.

The construction, manufacturing, retail and tourism sectors are driving the growth.

ANZ chief economist Cameron Bagrie said there was solid demand throughout the country, especially Auckland and Hawke's Bay.

"Such demand signals that the constraint in most regions is not whether there are opportunities, but whether the labour is available to take advantage of them," he said.

Mr Bagrie said despite record high migration to New Zealand, labour shortages are a reality and wage growth could be a key feature of this year.