Same old, same old

🥱 Market Update: New year, same old job market...

🛑 At first glance, not much has changed in 2025. Online vacancy numbers (clearly not the only measure of the market but a good one all the same) are sitting at similar levels to the end of last year across New Zealand and Australia.

📉 A year-on-year comparison doesn’t offer much encouragement either. Based on my rough market analysis, SEEK listings in Australia are down about 8% compared to last February. In New Zealand, it's even worse—down 18% year on year. Meanwhile, unemployment figures haven’t improved on either side of the Tasman in the most recent numbers released. 

🌱 It’s undeniably tough for job seekers right now, and we’re not out of the woods yet. But it’s not all doom and gloom. There are signs of life - anecdotal evidence suggests more interviews are coming through, and the recruitment sector on both sides of the ditch remains cautiously optimistic about 2025.

💡 Mixed messages? Absolutely. But here’s my take: stop stressing about the ‘market.’ You can’t control the number of vacancies, so don’t waste energy on it. Instead, focus on what you can influence—your CV, sales pitch, and LinkedIn presence. How you market yourself and approach job hunting matters more than any statistic.

☎️ Need a hand? Drop me a line - I might know a career coach...