“Ongoing and new investment in major infrastructure projects continues to drive employment growth in the construction and affiliated industries, with most regions recording rising demand for workers in those roles,” he said.
Monthly job ad volumes in the construction sector rose 3.4% in December and have risen 42.9% annually.
Double-digit annual growth was also seen for jobs in engineering (17.6%) and manufacturing, transport and logistics (12.2%).
However, Clark said not all sectors were growing, with softer activity in the professional and consumer services as well as the public sectors.
There was a drop in monthly job ad volumes for retail and consumer products (-2.2%), information and communications technology (-1.5%) and hospitality and tourism (-1.1%).
On a regional basis, Taranaki (3.0%), Manawatu (2.1%) and Gisborne (2.1%) recorded the largest growth in the North Island for monthly job ads in December.
Auckland recorded declines both month on month (-1.1%) and year on year (-0.7%).
Auckland’s monthly decline was due to falling demand for workers in retail and consumer products (-5.2%) as well as hospitality and tourism (-3.3%).
Otago led the South Island for month-on-month growth in job ads (0.8%).
Annually, Tasman (20.5%), West Coast (18.3%) and Otago (18.2%) recorded the largest growth in the South Island in December.
“Overall, the long-term data points to a recovering labour market, with pockets of expanding opportunities – albeit at a measured pace, as we head into 2026,” Clark said.
