Business. Scoop » Canterbury Keeps The Job Market Ticking
Press Release – Trade Me JobsTrade Me Jobs General Manager Greg Cassidy says the two cities are moving in opposite directions, largely offsetting each other. Canterbury’s jobs boom, resilient blue-collar. . .
Press Release – Trade Me JobsTrade Me Jobs General Manager Greg Cassidy says the two cities are moving in opposite directions, largely offsetting each other. Canterbury’s jobs boom, resilient blue-collar hiring, and modest wage growth were the standout stories of the second quarter of 2026, according to new Trade Me Jobs data released today. Opposing forces: Canterbury listings up, Tāmaki Makaurau-Auckland downCanterbury continues to be the standout growth region, with listings up close to 15 per cent year-on-year, extending the 21 per cent rise recorded in the first quarter. This contrasts with Auckland, where listings, largely concentrated in the central city and North Shore, are down 8 per cent on the same period last year. Trade Me Jobs General Manager Greg Cassidy says the two cities are moving in opposite directions, largely offsetting each other. “Canterbury is proving to be the engine room of the national job market right now. What’s particularly interesting is that we’re seeing a very similar script play out across the property market. While Auckland and Wellington feel the pinch of a wider slowdown, Canterbury is showing remarkable resilience across both employment and housing,” says Mr Cassidy. “It’s not just Christchurch either. Job listings growth appears broadly spread across the region rather than concentrated in any single district, with Waimakariri, Selwyn, and Ashburton all recording year-on-year increases of between 25 and 43 per cent. “On the West Coast, listings also rose year-on-year (+7%), and the region boasts the highest average salary of the quarter at more than $79,000. ”Wellington (+4%), Manawatū/Whanganui (+4%), and Waikato (+1%) also finished the quarter ahead of last year. Marlborough (-10%), Bay of Plenty (-8%), and Hawke’s Bay (-8%) recorded the steepest regional declines in listings when compared to the April-June 2025 quarter. Transport and construction defy the slowdownTwo industries stood out for growth in the quarter: Transport & Logistics (+13%), and Construction & Roading (+9%). “Transport and logistics growth is being driven by demand for drivers and couriers, while construction hiring is rising across the board, from labourers to machine operators and supervisors,” says Mr Cassidy. Pay edges higher, and Auckland takes the big city salary crownThe national average advertised salary rose to $74,969, up nearly 2 per cent on both last quarter, and a year ago. Auckland overtook Wellington as the highest-paying major city, with the capital’s average salary slipping more than 1 per cent (YoY) to $75,896, while Auckland’s grew 2 per cent to $77,930 (YoY). “It’s a good-news story for jobseekers’ wallets, with advertised pay rising in most regions. Taranaki led the country with year-on-year salary growth of over 7 per cent, with those in Trades & Services being rewarded too, with pay up close to 6 per cent, making it the biggest increase of any industry,” says Mr Cassidy. The West Coast (+5%) and Bay of Plenty (+4%) rounded out the top three regions for year-on-year salary growth, while Gisborne and Wellington showed the weakest performance in the April–June quarter, down between 1 and 2 per cent compared to the same period last year. Trades & Services (+6%) and Agriculture, Fishing & Forestry (+4%) saw the largest year-on-year pay increases, while roles in Sales (-7%), Education (-4%), and Engineering (-4%) recorded the steepest declines. Average Salary by RegionRegionAverage PayYoY growthQoQ GrowthAuckland$77,930+2. 1%+2. 7%Bay Of Plenty$74,520+4. 0%+2. 5%Canterbury$73,155+1. 4%+2. 3%Gisborne$74,923-1. 8%+3. 3%Hawkes Bay$72,399+1. 8%+2. 2%Manawatu / Whanganui$70,407-0. 6%-1. 0%Marlborough$71,504+0. 7%+3. 2%Nelson / Tasman$72,457+1. 3%+1. 5%Northland$74,619+2. 4%+3. 7%Otago$76,277+3. 2%+3. 9%Southland$74,332+1. 9%+1. 5%Taranaki$74,157+7. 4%+5. 4%Waikato$74,393+1. 6%+1. 6%Wellington$75,896-1. 2%-0. 2%West Coast$79,013+5. 3%+3. 4%Content Sourced fromscoop. co. nzOriginal url