The same report says an increasing number of hiring managers plan to grow their teams.
A net 23.7 percent of employers across the country intend to increase permanent staff numbers in the second quarter of 2012, up 5.8 percentage points (pp) compared to the previous quarter, and up 3.8pp compared to the same time last year. In the South Island, hiring intentions have increased by third.
More than half of employers (net 53.6 percent) in the South Island are planning to increase their number of staff this quarter – this is the highest level of sentiment in the region in The Hudson Report’s 12 year history, and 35.4pp higher than the same time last year.
It reflects Canterbury rebuild effort which is finally starting to take shape, despite continued aftershocks and delays.
Broken down by sector:
• IT remains the most buoyant sector. More than four in 10 employers say they plan to increase staff this quarter.
• The construction/property/engineering sector holds steady at net 36.1 percent.
• There have been increases in sentiment in the financial services/insurance industries which sit at net 18.2 percent.
• Ditto the education sector, which sits at 29.1 percent.
The sentiment of medium-sized businesses (those with 20-200 staff) has lifted 9.4 percentage points to net 29 percent.
The confidence of large businesses (more than 200 staff) has also improved, with net 21.2 percent of employers planning to increase staff numbers, 3.9pp higher than the previous quarter.
Hudson provides permanent recruitment, contract professionals and talent management services worldwide.
