The Bay of Plenty saw an increase in the number of jobs advertised in the month of December.

According to the latest figures from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment Jobs Online report, the number of vacancies rose by 1.8 per cent.

All occupation groups had increased job vacancies in the past month.

Nationally, the number of job vacancies rose by 1.4 per cent in December, with a 6.8 per cent rise over the year.

The December rise was led by increased vacancies in the hospitality and tourism (up 2.5 percent) and healthcare and medical (up 1.2 per cent) Industries.

All occupation groups had increased job vacancies in the past month. The biggest increases were for labourers (up 4.7 per cent) and clerical and administration (up 2.5 per cent).

'These results are consistent the positive growth in confidence described in ANZ's Business Outlook,” says MBIE's labour market trends manager, David Paterson.

Of the ten regions, nine experienced an increase in vacancies in December. Nelson/Tasman/Marlborough/West Coast saw the largest increase (up 1.9 per cent), followed by Bay of Plenty (up 1.8 per cent).

The Manawatu-Wanganui/Taranaki region had the only decrease (down 0.3 per cent).

Vacancies in Canterbury grew by 0.4 per cent in December, but fell by 2.3 per cent over the year.