In 2023, talent shortages persisted and severe weather events increased the need for skilled frontline workers. Salaries increased due to inflation, but wage growth stabilised. This year’s report highlighted the need for flexible working arrangements and innovative hiring practices to cope with changing employment trends.
COVID-19 continued to shape the job market in 2022, accelerating existing trends and introducing new challenges. Remote work and flexible arrangements became the norm for many businesses, while regulations introduced new changes to the workforce. Despite the challenges, the market adapted and showed resilience throughout the year.
The pandemic and extended lockdowns had major ramifications for businesses, and transformed the way job seekers look for jobs. It accelerated some trends and reversed others. From the introduction of ‘essential workers’, to the Government’s new COVID-19 legislations, we saw many changes to the NZ employment market in 2021.
The arrival of COVID-19 meant 2020 was a rollercoaster of successes, change, and the need for new ways of working. The effects on the way that we work were far and wide. Working from home became essential and flexibility became a requirement. Uncertainty rattled the market in the second half of the year but we saw resilience like never before!