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Bay of Plenty - The Hiring Market is Moving

Kellie Hamlett - Director, Talent ID Recruitment Ltd

Employer Human Resources

If you've been watching and waiting for the right moment to make your next hire, the data is telling
you something: that moment is now.

SEEK's February 2026 Employment Report confirms what many of us in the Bay of Plenty have been
feeling on the ground — confidence is returning to the market. Job ads nationally are up 12.2% year-
on-year, the strongest annual growth since 2022. And here in our rohe? The Bay of Plenty led the
national monthly uptick in February, recording 1.8% month-on-month growth and a remarkable
19.3% year-on-year increase.

For our clients in community services, hauora, and the not-for-profit sector, this is particularly
relevant. Community Services Development recorded 15.3% annual growth in job advertising
nationally — meaning your sector is active, and so is the competition for good people.

The good news for candidates is the same news employers need to pay attention to: applications per
job ad are easing. The extraordinary numbers we saw in 2024 and early 2025, when dozens of
applicants flooded every role are declining. That means the talent pool is becoming more discerning,
and great candidates have more options.

So if you have a role to fill, now is not the time to sit on it. The organisations moving quickly and
presenting compelling opportunities are the ones attracting the best people.

At Talent ID, we work with employers across the Bay of Plenty, South Waikato, and Hawke's Bay to
find the right fit, not just the right CV. If you're thinking about your next hire, let's kōrero.

Get in Touch

We're committed to being more than just your recruitment partner, we're here to support you in building and maintaining a compliant, effective, and people-centered workplace.

Kellie Hamlett
Director, Talent ID Recruitment Ltd

 

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