Hibiscus Coast locals are grappling with a challenging job market as national job advertisements experienced a notable decline in May.

According to SEEK NZ, job ads fell by 5% last month, marking the fourth consecutive month of decline.

Year-on-year figures reveal a substantial 30% decrease compared to May 2023, underscoring the ongoing economic pressures.

The construction sector bore the brunt of this downturn, with engineering roles particularly affected, seeing a 12% drop in job ads.

Rob Clark, Country Manager at SEEK NZ, highlighted the broader implications, stating, "It is an incredibly tough labour market at the moment, with declining ad volumes in most regions and sectors."

In regional insights, Taranaki and the West Coast were outliers with modest increases in job ads, contrasting sharply with declines observed across many regions, notably Marlborough and Wellington, which saw decreases of 46% and 42% respectively compared to last year.

Applications per job ad remained steady in April, continuing a trend of heightened competition among job seekers.

This dynamic is particularly pronounced in sectors like manufacturing, transport & logistics, and trades & services.

"This data reflects ongoing challenges in the job market," Clark noted. "Despite fluctuations, applications per job ad remain exceptionally high, signalling continued competition for available roles."

Local economists suggest that while there are pockets of resilience, the overall trend reflects broader economic uncertainties impacting job creation and market stability.

The data underscores the need for ongoing monitoring and adaptation in workforce strategies to navigate current economic challenges effectively.