Acute labour pressures easing for businesses

Temporary and casual staffing platform Sidekicker, has released its first New Zealand Jobs Index, revealing that tight hiring conditions are finally easing for businesses.

The data for June recorded more than a 211 percent increase year-on-year (YoY) in the application-to-shift ratio. This is despite the average business posting 46 percent more shifts YoY.

The Sidekicker Jobs Index analyses data from more than 2,500 workers across businesses from several sectors in New Zealand, including hospitality and events, warehousing and logistics, customer service, administration and office support.

Overall, there was a 67 percent YoY increase in the number of casuals being hired per business, with hourly rates rising four percent YoY. Between May and June, there was a 24 percent rise in the application-to-shift ratio, which was driven predominantly by international registrations, up 600 percent YoY.

The events and hospitality sector specifically saw an application-to-shift ratio growing almost 200 percent YoY, despite the average business posting 126 percent more shifts compared to last year. Hourly rates also rose four percent in this sector.

Thomas Amos, CEO & Co-Founder of Sidekicker (pictured), said that amid continued economic volatility, the findings were welcome news for businesses.

“For New Zealand businesses struggling with hiring challenges, there’s finally a light on the horizon. With the return of international workers, the volume of registrations from local and international workers reached parity in June 2023 for the first time in Sidekicker’s history. If we look at our registration mix pre-Covid, local registrations were on average twice that of international workers,” Amos said.

“One of the core drivers of the easing is the continued growth in international registrations, which have grown 600 percent YoY. By comparison, local registrations have grown 62 percent over the same period.

“Seeing this change in application-to-shift ratio, as well as the volume of international workers, it would be safe to say that the casual labouring crunch is significantly easing. We’ve come through Covid to the other side and it’s a new day for New Zealand businesses.”

Kiwi businesses are now on average requesting the same amount of casuals as their counterparts in Australia. A year ago, Australian businesses were hiring twice as many casuals but local businesses have now caught up, indicating a recovery in key sectors such as events and hospitality.

New Zealand businesses are also seeing a continued improvement in worker reliability. The previous wide gap between worker reliability in Australia and New Zealand has now closed.

Industry Insights:

Hospitality, Events & Exhibitions saw a strong monthly rise in shifts posted as well as a strong rise in applications, up 23 percent monthly and 440 percent YoY.
Warehousing & Logistics saw a slight monthly drop in shifts, though YoY the numbers grew 149 percent. Applications continue to rise, an increase of 12 percent monthly and 530 percent YoY.
Promotions & Retail saw a drop in shifts posted but a rise in applications, a hike of 18 percent monthly and 397 percent YoY.
White Collar saw a monthly doubling of shifts posted, following a dip in May. Applications also rose, up 142 percent monthly and 206 percent YoY.

The Sidekicker Job Index is in line with New Zealand government figures which identify signs of softening in the formerly tight labour market. Demand for labour overall appears to be slowing, while net migration has increased, including many Working Holiday Visa arrivals who are likely to seek casual and temporary work.

https://sidekicker.com/nz/