The Jobs Market is Waking Up - And Bay of Plenty is Right in the Mix

Employer Candidate Employee Job Hunting

The national picture

April 2026 | Talent ID Recruitment

If you've been watching the NZ jobs market with one eye open, it's time to pay proper attention. The latest SEEK data is telling a story worth sitting up for, and here in the Bay of Plenty, we're seeing it play out in real time.

New Zealand's job ad market grew 13.0% year-on-year in March 2026, with a further 0.8% rise month-on-month. That's not a blip - it's the continuation of a recovery that has been building steadily since late 2025. Compared to Australia, where job ads fell 2.3% over the same period, Aotearoa is charting a noticeably different course.

The sectors driving that growth are clear: Construction is leading the charge with a remarkable 36.0% year on-year increase, while Trades and Services and Manufacturing, Transport and Logistics each recorded annual gains of 22.5%. Engineering, Farming, Animals and Conservation, and Community Services and Development are also performing well, with Healthcare and Medical continuing to hold steady.

There's an important caveat worth flagging for employers: applications per job ad nationally fell 2.8% month on month in March, the sixth consecutive monthly drop. More jobs are being advertised, but fewer candidates are actively applying. This is a candidate-short market in many sectors, and that has real implications for how you approach your hiring.

What's happening in the Bay of Plenty?

Bay of Plenty recorded 15.2% year-on year job ad growth in the March quarter - well above the national average, and one of the strongest results across the motu. Month-on-month, the region added another 0.7%, continuing a sustained upward trend.

Applications per ad in the Bay of Plenty rose just 0.9% year-on-year, which tells you something important: the market here isn't awash with candidates chasing the new roles. The pool is growing more slowly than the opportunity. For job seekers, that's encouraging. For employers, it's a reminder that good candidates still need to be attracted, not just advertised to.

The growth industries sitting behind these numbers - Construction, Trades and Services, Manufacturing and Logistics - align closely with what we're seeing on the ground in Rotorua, Taupo, and across the wider Bay of Plenty and Waikato catchment. Infrastructure projects, primary industry activity, and operational roles are generating genuine hiring demand.

The AI thread worth watching

One finding from the March data that caught our attention: references to AI-related skills in NZ job ads have more than doubled year-on-year, up 143.5%. AI mentions are now over five times higher than they were in 2019, though they still appear in only 2.9% of ads overall. ICT and Marketing and Communications are the sectors where this is most visible, but the direction of travel is clear. If you're a candidate in any professional or technical field, it's worth thinking about how AI literacy is showing up in your skill set.

What this means for employers and candidates in our region

For employers: the market is recovering, but the talent pool isn't keeping pace with the growth in vacancy numbers. If you've been sitting back waiting for CVs to land in your inbox, you may find the wait longer than expected in key skill areas. Now is the time to think about your employer brand, your recruitment process, and whether your approach is fit for a market where good people have options.

For job seekers: the shift is real. If you've been hesitant to make a move, the data suggests the conditions are becoming more favourable. Roles are increasing across the industries that underpin our regional economy, and applications per ad are still manageable. Getting your CV current and having a conversation with a recruiter sooner rather than later is well worth considering.

At Talent ID, we work across Rotorua, Taupo, and South Waikato, and we're watching this recovery closely. If you'd like to talk through what the current market means for your team or your next career step, we're always happy to kōrero.

Kellie Hamlett
Director, Talent ID Recruitment Ltd