New data has found healthcare to be leading the way on job growth, with a sizable increase during the year ending April.
Healthcare has continued to lead job growth, according to Infometrics’ latest employment indicators report.
Filled job numbers rose 0.2 percent (4,333 jobs) between March and April 2026 (seasonally adjusted). The March rise was revised down from 0.3 percent to 0.1 percent. This is the second consecutive month that filled jobs have risen after the February result was revised down to be flat.
Employment in the primary sector rose 0.4 percent (411 jobs) in April (seasonally adjusted), the third consecutive monthly rise. Goods-producing sector jobs edged up 0.1 percent (288 jobs), the same growth rate as the two months before. The service sector, which makes up more than three-quarters of all jobs, saw job growth of 0.2 percent (3,650), the second consecutive monthly rise.
Growth in job numbers of 0.5 percent from April 2025 represented the fastest annual increase in two years, reflecting the upward momentum in the jobs market that has been gradually building in recent months.
Comparing April 2026 with April 2025, the most jobs were created in healthcare (5,527), transport (2,386) and agriculture (2,248). Manufacturing saw the biggest fall (-3,238). The rate of job declines continued to ease in several industries that have been shedding jobs: manufacturing, construction, media and telecommunications, rental, hiring and real estate, and administrative services. Job numbers rose in utilities, wholesale, financial services, and professional services following declines in previous months.
The South Island continues to create jobs at a steady clip, with a 1.7 percent pa increase between April 2025 and April 2026. North Island job numbers were revised down to a 0.3 percent pa fall between March 2025 and March 2026. However, April 2025 to April 2026 saw a 0.2 percent increase in filled jobs North of Cook Strait. Canterbury (2.3 percent pa), the West Coast (2.0 percent pa), Southland (2.1 percent pa) and Otago 1.5 percent pa) continue to lead regional job growth nationally. In the North Island, Waikato (1.3 percent) posted the fastest rate of job growth.
Employment of young people continues its decline, with jobs filled by 30-year-olds and under down 1.5 percent pa in April 2026 compared with April 2025, the 33rd consecutive fall. Jobs filled by over-30s rose 1.0 percent pa, the ninth consecutive increase. Jobs filled by males rose 0.1 percent between April 2025 and April 2026. The number of jobs filled by women rose 0.6 percent.
Rob Heyes from Infometrics said that as April’s economic data begins to filter through, Infometrics has been waiting to see the extent to which conflict in the Middle East and associated price rises will dent New Zealand’s economic recovery.
He said, as far as the labour market is concerned, the message so far is not much at all. The job market recovery remains nascent, but job growth is happening, led by healthcare.
“Healthcare employment tends to be relatively insulated from broader economic conditions, but strong employment growth is encouraging given that the sector is not awash with funding.”
More news here.
