Trade Me says the average salary for jobs listed on its site has hit a new record of more than $70,000.

The average salary for jobs on the site is now $70,069 – a six per cent increase on last year.

Auckland's average salary had a year-on-year increase of 5.8 per cent up from $68,036 in quarter two last year to $71,960 this year.

Wellington increased 5.9 per cent from $69,545 to $73,663 and Canterbury increased 6.9 per cent from $63,906 to $68,305.

While record average salaries are being seen in the big cities, the regions also continue to grow with new highs seen in the Bay of Plenty ($69,448), Gisborne ($68,496), Hawke's Bay ($68,135) and Otago ($68,326).

Trade Me Jobs sales director Matt Tolich says in a talent-short market, employers are using competitive pay as a means to attract quality workers to their industries and the regions.

'While the cost of living in Aotearoa continues to rise, it is promising to see that salaries are increasing too.”

Trade Me Jobs is experiencing record average advertised wages across hospitality and tourism, trades and services, retail and customer service, with a notable rise in applications for wait staff and chef roles.

'This shows that employers are working hard to make sure salaries are competitive in order to attract employees in this high cost of living environment.

'It's the workers that keep our country moving who are seeing record pay rates. It's our nurses, chefs, builders and customer service staff, both in the major cities and the regions.”

Job listings dropped 15 per cent nationwide in the second quarter of the year, compared to the first quarter.

Increases have only been seen in Gisborne (five per cent) and West Coast (one per cent).

Listings in architecture and IT had the greatest decrease in listings when compared with 2022.

Matt says this downturn is unsurprising given the current economic environment.

'Naturally we would expect to see fewer job listings with New Zealand now confirmed as being in a recession as many employers second guess that next hire. Couple that with the fact that we're in an election year which typically means we see listings slow down as we approach a general election.”

But unlike in a normal recession, the unemployment rate has not risen and the market is still talent-short, Matt says.

'All of these factors are making things interesting for both employers and job hunters.”

-Brianna Mcilraith/Stuff.