Job ads across New Zealand fell by 8% in June, continuing a downward trend observed since February, according to the SEEK Employment Report released last week.

The annual decline now stands at 35%, reflecting a challenging market for job seekers.

"It is a pretty tough market for jobseekers at the moment, with demand for workers declining in almost all regions and in most of our largest industries," said Rob Clark, SEEK NZ Country Manager.

Southland was the only region to see an increase in job ad volumes, up by 3%, primarily driven by a rise in Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics roles. Conversely, Auckland, Wellington, and Canterbury saw significant declines, with job ads down by 8%, 9%, and 7%, respectively.

The largest industry, Trades & Services, saw a double-digit decline of 12%, contributing significantly to the overall fall.

Retail & Consumer Products experienced the steepest drop at 18%.

However, some sectors such as Consulting & Strategy and Banking & Financial Services bucked the trend, with ad volumes rising by 9% and 2%, respectively.

Applications per job ad increased by 1% in May, indicating a competitive job market, especially in sectors like Retail & Consumer Products, where applications per ad have more than doubled since last year.

Clark noted that the Matariki public holiday and ongoing economic pressures contributed to the hiring slowdown.