Skilled job vacancies advertised online increased by 6.3 per cent in the past year, according to the latest Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment Jobs Online report.

Ministry Labour Market and Business Performance Manager David Paterson says that the annual growth is consistent with the growth in employment over the past year.

'The Jobs Online report is an authoritative source of New Zealand labour market knowledge and includes analysis of key trends across industries, occupations, and regions.

'Strong growth reinforces the overall expansion in the labour market and improved employment and participation shown in the latest Household Labour Force Survey results.”

Over the year skilled vacancies increased in five out of eight industry groups with the largest increase in the hospitality and tourism (up 0.9 per cent) industries. Job vacancies increased in all occupation groups with the biggest increase for professionals (up 6.3 per cent), followed by managers (up 6.2 per cent), and technicians and trades workers (up 5.7 per cent).

Skilled vacancies increased in six out of ten regions over the past month, with the largest increase in Manawatu-Wanganui/Taranaki (up 2.3 per cent).

Source: Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.