Bay of Plenty and Waikato Lead Recovery in Job Market Growth

Employer

Strong regional performance signals positive outlook for local employers

New data from SEEK's November 2025 Employment Report shows encouraging signs for Bay of Plenty and Waikato employers, with both regions outperforming the national average in job advertisement growth.

Regional Highlights
The Waikato region posted 2% month-on-month growth and an impressive 13% year-on-year increase in job advertisements, while Bay of Plenty recorded 1% monthly growth and 12% annually. Both regions are tracking well above the national growth rate of 9% year-on-year, signaling strong momentum in the central North Island.

Rob Clark, SEEK NZ Country Manager, notes that "Wellington and Waikato are both tracking above 12% year-on-year, indicating solid momentum in the central regions."

Key Market Shifts
A significant development in November was the first decline in applications per job ad since early 2022, dropping 1% month-on-month. This shift suggests the labour market is gradually rebalancing, potentially giving employers in our regions better access to quality candidates after an extended period of intense competition.

Industry Performance
Several sectors show particularly strong growth relevant to Bay of Plenty and Waikato employers:

Healthcare & Medical: Up 2% month-on-month, with growth recorded every month since February 2025. Advertised salaries in this sector have increased 4.3% year-on-year.

Construction: Demand has grown 27% annually, driven largely by South Island and Wellington activity, but with implications for the wider market. Advertised salaries are up 2.6% year-on-year.

Community Services & Development: Strong 17% annual growth with advertised salaries increasing 3.7% year-on-year, particularly relevant for iwi organisations and Māori health entities.

Real Estate & Property: Leading salary growth at 9.7% year-on-year, reflecting the competitive nature of this sector.

Salary Trends
Advertised salaries across New Zealand increased 0.8% quarter-on-quarter and 2.5% year-on-year, the first acceleration in annual growth since November 2023. The "Rest of North" region (which includes Bay of Plenty and Waikato) recorded 3.0% annual salary growth, outpacing both Auckland (2.5%) and Wellington (2.0%).

What This Means for Employers
The data suggests a more balanced market is emerging. While job seeker competition has eased slightly, salary expectations continue to rise, particularly in high-demand sectors. Bay of Plenty and Waikato employers are well-positioned in a recovering market, but will need to remain competitive on remuneration to secure top talent.

For those recruiting in healthcare, construction, or community services, the combination of strong job ad growth and rising salaries indicates these remain candidate-driven markets where attractive packages and strong employer value propositions will be essential.

Data sourced from SEEK NZ Employment Report and Advertised Salary Index, November 2025