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The number of job applications rose 2 percent to a record high in July, with low-skilled opportunities attracting hundreds.
The latest SEEK NZ Employment Report said the volume of advertisements rose 1 percent in August on the month earlier, and 4 percent on the year earlier, which was the first annual increase since November 2022.
"Hiring activity has noticeably picked up this quarter following months of little to no change," SEEK country manager Rob Clark said.
"There was increased activity across most industries and all of the larger regions in August. We have not seen such broad-based growth in a very long time."
The data indicates strong growth in the largest industries, with increases in manufacturing, transport, and logistics (3 percent), and trades and services (2 percent).
Only two industry sectors saw a month-on-month drop in advertisements, including farming, animals, and conservation (-1 percent), and government and defence (-1 percent).
However, there was a pickup in annual growth in government and defence advertisements over the year earlier, with a 21 percent increase in the year ended in May.
All regions, apart from Taranaki (12 percent) recorded either no change or some growth on the month before, with a 4 percent increase in Hawke's Bay, and 3 percent increases in Otago and West Coast.
"Auckland has now recorded two months of rising ad volumes, which supported the national uptick more broadly," Clark added.
"Hiring within real estate & property has been increasing steadily for the past 13 months, and along with government and defence, is among a number of industries to have recorded double-digit annual growth in job ads."
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