New jobs ads are up 45% since this time last year, easing the country further away from the low points of the recession, according to new data released today from SEEK New Zealand.

While the latest unemployment figures have shown a higher than expected rise in unemployment to 6.8%, results from the SEEK New Job Ad Index point to the possibility of a more promising quarter ahead.

As Annemarie Duff, General Manager of SEEK New Zealand points out, the June quarter unemployment rate is a retrospective look at April, May and June and doesn't take into account strong ad volumes for July.

"The number of new job ads on seek.co.nz increased by 6.3% in July alone. As New Zealand's largest job source, this is a credible indication that a positive trend may be waiting in the wings. True, we have experienced a more sluggish May and June, but the latest July results paint a much brighter picture," says Ms Duff.

This positive outlook is echoed in the SEEK Employment Index (SEI) with results showing a rise of 5.2% in July 2010. The SEI is the ratio of new job ads placed on seek.co.nz during the month to the number of applications for those jobs. This month's positive growth is attributed to the numbers of new job ads racing ahead of the numbers of applications for those roles.

"SEI growth of 5.2% in July is the highest increase we have seen since January and contributes to a considerable 30% improvement since July last year. Most importantly, this has been driven by strong growth in labour demand - more jobs being listed in proportion to the numbers of applications per job is the outcome that most jobseekers desire," says Ms Duff.

Regional North Island has seen the most significant increase in the SEI with overall growth of 8.5% in July, closely followed by 7.2% rise for Auckland.

"The SEEK indicators for July 2010 are the first indicators for the September quarter and by all accounts suggest that more growth and a positive labour market may lay ahead for the second half for 2010." says Ms Duff.

Job Applications

July's top five most competitive occupations:

1. Call Centre/Customer Service - Call Centre Operator

2. I.T & T - Help Desk/Support

3. Administration - Reception

4. Retail & Consumer Products - Retail Sales Assistant

5. Hospitality & Tourism - Waiting Staff

July's top five most competitive occupations remain the same as June's with only one exception -

Hospitality and Tourism have made the top five list replacing Administration roles of the list of the top five most competitive occupations.

July's top five most sought after employees:

1. Legal - Solicitor

2. Healthcare & Medical - Allied Health

3. IT & T - Architect

4. Retail & Consumer products - Store Management

5. Sales - New Business Development

Solicitors are the most sought after employees for the month of July, with these roles receiving the least amount of applications per advertisement. An unusual addition to see in the top five list is the Retail & Consumer products industry, featuring in the most sort after employees list for the first time this year.