Stats NZ has released its February report, outlining the indication of changes in the labour market.
Goods-producing industries were up 0.2 percent (911 jobs,) and service industries were up 0.4 percent (7,889 jobs) as well. Primary industries, however, were down 1.7 percent, which is equivalent to 1,761 jobs.
The largest change in the number of filled jobs compared with February 2022 was accommodation and food services, rising to 8.5 percent (12,242 jobs,) leading transport, postal and warehousing, which was up 6.2 percent (5,524 jobs.) Professional, scientific, and technical services rose to 2.9 percent (5,495 jobs,) and healthcare and social assistance was up 1.8 percent (4,706 jobs.) However, agriculture, forestry, and fishing was down 4.9 percent, equivalent to 5,151 jobs.
By region, the largest change in the number of filled jobs was in Auckland, up 20,203 jobs (2.6 percent). Canterbury was up 3.4 percent, adding 10,184 jobs in the area, and Waikato was up 3.0 percent (4,760 jobs). Both Wellington and Otago regions saw an increase in jobs above 4,000.
In February 2023, compared with 2022, the number of jobs rose by 1.8 percent nationally for men, equivalent to 20,947 jobs, and 2.9 percent nationally for women, equivalent to 32,988 jobs.
The largest age range to have come into employment was 15-19-year-olds, which has risen to 12.1 percent. Senior citizens 65+ rose to 6.8 percent, whilst those 35-39 years were up 4.8 percent, 60-64 years rose to 4.8 percent, and 40-44 years were on 4.1 percent.
Actual gross earnings on an accrual basis for the February 2023 month were $13.6 billion, compared with $12.5 billion for the February 2022 month.
The number of enterprises on the Stats NZ business register (a register of all economically significant enterprises in New Zealand) rose by 1,830 (0.3 percent) to 582,162 in February 2023 from January 2023. There were 4,725 entries within the month, with 2,892 exits.
