Last update on: March 26, 2025, 7:30 am
The last Beyond recruitment Economic and work report 2025/26 reveals that New Zealand employers demonstrate renewed confidence and adaptability in the context of continuous economic uncertainty and the rapid transformation of jobs between industries.
Compiled annually, beyond the recruitment report provides impulse verification on the perspectives of employers concerning hiring intentions, economic conditions and changes in the national workforce.
This year’s data show that employers’ confidence is starting to stabilize after Pandemic. Only 58% of employers considered the last year as difficult – a significant drop of 71% the previous year. Small and medium -sized enterprises, as well as large companies, were the most optimistic, while organizations with more than 1,000 employees have shown a little more restraint.
The economic slowdown has been identified as the first problem for 31% of respondents, closely followed by the growth of operational costs and the evolution of regulations, at 25%. Although many companies are cautious, they are not static – 37% intend to maintain the existing workforce and 28% seek to grow, especially among SMEs.
The adoption of AI has experienced a significant dynamic, with 83% of organizations now using or investigating AI tools, which reflects a major change compared to previous years. Rather than considering AI as a threat, many see it now as added value. A notable 43% proactively resists its staff to effectively operate in workplaces improved by AI.
Liza Viz, CEO of Beyond Recruitment, noted:
“While organizations are cautious in their job strategies, their resilience is clear. Employers are strategically positioning themselves to capitalize on the planned market improvements, in particular thanks to the development of the workforce and the increased adoption of technology such as artificial intelligence (AI).
“The time has come for employers to invest in their people and focus on their workforce.
Flexible work has now become the standard, 77% of organizations that have adopted hybrid models. Remote work and flexible planning are now considered to be the basic benefits of employees, while the design of offices continues to evolve to take care of the long -term modifications of work models.
The other main dishes to remember from the report include:
- A salary leveling increases around the 3% mark, with 38% of employers who planned salary increases in this range.
- The growing confidence of employers in the domestic talent basin, which reduces dependence on recruitment abroad.
- Stronger commitments to Dei, in particular the executive levels, reshape leadership recruitment strategies.
The 2025/26 survey has gathered information from more than 500 senior managers in a range of sectors, including government, health care, manufacturing, technology and professional services.