Over 80% of Kiwis looking to change job, says report

Employers are actively looking for new candidates with 83% of New Zealand’s working population on the lookout for jobs. Kiwis stated dissatisfaction with their jobs, as one among several reasons for trying to change their current employer, a survey by Trade Me Jobs shows.

The report analysed that 83% of Kiwis are looking for employment, with 20% actively looking and applying for jobs, 9% actively looking, but not yet applied for jobs, 32% keeping an eye out for newer opportunities, 22% are not looking but would be open to a new opportunity if it came up and 17% not looking at all.

The report states that unemployment rates were up to 4% in December 2023 according to stats.nz and that 83% of employers stated that finding eligible candidates was a struggle. The report added that there were still skill shortages in New Zealand.


Four out of 10 employees sought better prospects elsewhere. A large percentage of employees stated burnout as the reason for change, with 40% claiming to face burnout, a surprising 16% up from the 2024 data.

The top reasons for leaving their jobs were dissatisfaction with workplace culture (18%), feeling undervalued (15%), feeling unfulfilled (14%), and burnout (12%). The key drivers for accepting new roles were better pay (17%) and improved career prospects (16%).

The details and job related information have been released in the eighth annual Jobs Markets Insight report by Trade Me Jobs. The survey shows the number of employees looking for new jobs or dissatisfied with their current job.

Aside from the economic turmoil in the world, employers have so far not claimed any disturbance with respect to the effect the economy had on the job market.

Trade Me’s head of jobs, Nicole Williams said “After a challenging 2024, where economic headwinds led to cautious hiring and employees holding on tightly to their roles, job seekers are now proactively seeking career growth and new opportunities.”

"When we asked this same question last year, two in 10 employees indicated an active intent to find a new job. To see that number now sitting at four in ten suggests a growing sense of optimism about what opportunities 2025 may present,” she added.