Auckland households felt a bit better about work in the December quarter, even as job hunting stayed tough.

Westpac McDermott Miller’s Employment Confidence Index rose 3.9 points to 93.8 in the December quarter 2025, released on Wednesday.

A level below 100 still means more households are pessimistic than optimistic.

The lift came mainly from views about the year ahead.

The expectations index rose 5 points to 104.1, while the current conditions index rose 2 points to 78.3.

On current job opportunities, a net 54.5% said it is hard to find a job.

Expectations for job opportunities a year ahead were less negative than in the previous quarter.

Auckland’s employment confidence rose to 95.6, up 6.1 points over the quarter.

Northland also lifted, while Wellington fell and sat at the bottom of the regional rankings.

Westpac said the unemployment rate has likely peaked at 5.3%, with only a gradual improvement expected over 2026.

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