February's three-day Covid-19 lockdown in Auckland appears to have had a knock-on effect on the city's job market. According to employment website Seek says job ads fell 3 per cent in Auckland during February compared to the previous month, although nationally they fell only a marginal 0.3 per cent. Wellington and Canterbury experienced strong monthly job ad growth of 3 per cent and 2 per cent respectively. Faulding said that was the smallest year-on-year difference in the past 12 months, suggesting ''sustained improvement to the national job market.” While short regional lockdowns remained a risk, the job market was on track to return to pre-Covid levels. In the main centres, Auckland job ads were down 12 per cent annually and by 1 per cent Canterbury, but Wellington was racing ahead with 6 per cent more ads than last February.

Source: Stuff March 11, 2021 11:05 UTC