21 Apr 2016

Survey shows employers hiring

1:41 pm on 21 April 2016

Employers may be feeling more cautious about their business prospects but they don't appear to be holding off hiring new staff.

ANZ's latest job advertisements survey rose a seasonally adjusted 2.9 percent in March, after a 1.2 percent rise the month before.

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Photo: 123 RF

Advertisements on the internet climbed 2.8 percent, while newspaper ads rose 4.4 percent.

ANZ senior economist Sharon Zollner said there were differences between the north and the south.

"Job ads in the Auckland region continue to trend up strongly, Wellington job ads are holding their own and Canterbury's job ads continue to trend down," she said.

In the regions, Hawke's Bay continues to be the pick of the bunch, rising 10 percent on a year ago.

Earlier this month, the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research's survey of business opinion found business confidence had fallen with market volatility and a gloomy dairy sector.

"The New Zealand economy continues to grow, but the recent QSBO survey highlighted that firms are increasingly aware of emerging risks.

"Recent job ads data is consistent with our view of a cautious but still-positive economy," Ms Zollner said.