First survey wave

The first wave was conducted between September and October 2020 and the document presents some key findings from the first wave of the survey.

First Findings - December 2020

The first wave was conducted between September and October 2020 and 2,049 employers responded to the survey.

The First Findings document presents some key results from the survey.

Background and method

This survey measures changes in workforce size and composition, and workforce arrangements, from before the Prime Minister announced that New Zealand had moved to Alert Level 3 and would shortly move to Alert Level 4. It also measures intentions for 6 and 12 months in the future.

2049 employers responded to the online survey which is the first of 2 survey waves. The second wave will take place in March/April 2021.

The results have been weighted by industry and employee size to be representative of New Zealand businesses. The sample was sourced from Stats NZ’s New Zealand Business Register.

When the interviewing was undertaken in September and October, New Zealand, with the exception of the Auckland region, was at Alert Level 1. Auckland was at Alert Level 2 for the first half of the interviewing and moved to Alert Level 1 in October. Interviewing was undertaken before the 2020 New Zealand general election.

Changes made by employers since March 2020

Changes in staff numbers 

Have you experienced a decrease, no change, or increase in staff?

  Full-time permanent staff Part-time permanent staff
Decreased 23% 8%
No change 70% 86%
Increased 7% 5%

Since 22 March 2020 has the number of staff currently employed in each of the following categories changed?

The greatest decrease in staff has occurred for businesses with 20 or more employees among their full-time permanent staff.

Businesses with 20 or more staff

  Decreased % No change % Increased %
Full-time permanent 39 46 15
Part-time permanent 14 77 9
Casual 12 75 12
Fixed term agreements 6 84 8
Contractors 10 82 6

Businesses with 6 to 19 staff

  Decreased % No change % Increased %
Full-time permanent 29 62 10
Part-time permanent 11 81 7
Casual 9 83 7
Fixed term agreements 3 90 5
Contractors 5 90 4

Businesses with 1 to 5 staff

  Decreased % No change % Increased %
Full-time permanent 17 79 5
Part-time permanent 5 90 4
Casual 3 90 5
Fixed term agreements 2 95 0
Contractors 6 90 3

Note: ‘don’t know’ responses are not shown and percentages may not add to 100% due to rounding.

Not all changes in staff numbers are attributed to COVID-19 

62% of employers who reported a change attributed at least some of the changes to COVID-19

36% said none of the changes were due to COVID-19

Were any of the changes due to COVID-19?

  %
All of them 39
Most of them 7
Some of them 16
None of them 36
Don’t know 2

Changes in workplace arrangements

Since 22 March 2020 what changes have you made to employment and workplace arrangements?

64% of employers reported making changes.

  %
Reduced work hours for existing staff 38
Introduced or increased flexible working arrangements 22
Reduced wages or salaries of existing staff 19
Required or encouraged existing staff to take paid leave 17
Laid off staff 12
Re-deployed existing staff into different roles 11
Hired more staff 11

Future employment plans

Changes in staff numbers 

What are your intentions and plans to hire new staff?

48% of employers are looking to hire new staff right now, within 6 months, and/or within 12 months.

  %
Looking to hire new staff right now 15
Looking to hire new staff right now and/or will (possibly) be looking to hire new staff within the next 6 months 33
Looking to hire new staff right now and/or will (possibly) be looking to hire new staff with the next 6 and/or 12 months 48

Businesses with 20 or more employees are significantly more likely to be looking to hire new staff right now:

  %
Businesses with 20 or more employees 41
Businesses with 1 to 19 employees 11

Employers looking to hire people right now were asked:

What types of new staff would you hire?

  %
Tradespeople 25
Labourers/process workers/machine operators 20
Administration/office staff 17
Sales and marketing/communications and PR staff 17

These job types are similar for new staff required in 6 months and 12 months.

Employers who stated they will (possibly) be looking to hire new staff within the next 12 months were asked:

What might your staff numbers look like in the next 12 months compared to the current numbers?

Businesses with 20 or more staff

  Decrease % No change % Increase %
Full-time permanent 12 22 64
Part-time permanent 6 70 22
Casual 6 73 19
Fixed term agreements 5 76 15
Contractors 5 80 10

Businesses with 6 to 19 staff

  Decrease % No change % Increase %
Full-time permanent 12 32 51
Part-time permanent 9 62 23
Casual 5 73 17
Fixed term agreements 3 82 8
Contractors 3 81 10

Businesses with 1 to 5 staff

  Decrease % No change % Increase %
Full-time permanent 13 34 50
Part-time permanent 5 64 27
Casual 5 67 24
Fixed term agreements 1 84 9
Contractors 5 71 18

Note: ‘don’t know’ responses are not shown and percentages may not add to 100% due to rounding.

Skills shortages

Employers who have plans, definite or otherwise, to hire staff in the next 12 months were asked:

Do you think New Zealand will face a shortage of people with the occupational skills the business needs within the next 12 months?

  %
Very likely 23
Quite likely 27
Not that likely 33
Not at all likely 10
Don’t know 6

What are the main occupational skills the business is looking for in new staff?

  • Personal qualities (eg reliable, honest, willing to learn, flexible, have initiative etc)
  • Trade skills (qualified, experienced, and supervisors)
  • Organisation skills and management
  • Labourers (manual handling, warehouse work, cleaners)

Why do you feel New Zealand is likely to face a skills shortage within the next 12 months?

  • Particular industries are reliant on overseas workers
  • Not enough qualified, skilled, trained, or experienced workers in NZ
  • Lack of experienced trades workers/suitable people entering particular trades
  • Willingness to work/attitude

Download the First findings infographic

Last updated: 10 June 2022