NZ's Hottest Jobs in 2026… And How to Get Paid More in Any of Them
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What does the current job market look like in NZ?
Some jobs are still making serious money right now, even though it's tough out there. Because let's be real, it is tough out there. But these are times when we can lay the groundwork for springing ahead in the future, where getting strategic really pays off. There are some jobs still booming, so we're talking hiring up nearly 200% in a year. But it's so different by industry and by skill set, and that's the key. You need to know the trends when we're in an environment like this. When you know what is happening, it lets you make the moves that still get you ahead. And this applies whether you're wondering about changing jobs, changing your entire career, or just wanting a pay rise where you are. Knowing what's happening in the job market right now can help you get that all-important strategy together to make that happen.
Knowledge is the key to getting more money coming in. Just waiting for things to get better and land in your lap. That's not it. You could be waiting a long time. You could be waiting forever. So today we're getting into which jobs are making the most money right now and what that tells us about where the economy is actually heading. We're going to talk about AI, honestly, because you could not like it, but you can't really ignore it either. And then we're getting very practical. How to make yourself the person your employer can't afford to lose. How to job hunt strategically in a market that's moved. And how to ask for a pay rise with actual scripts, not just vague, fluffy advice about knowing your worth.
The real nitty gritty of this. So welcome to Making Sense. It's the podcast for people who want financial freedom without giving up their coffee. I'm Frances Cook, financial journalist and fellow financial freedom seeker who makes money simple for you. I want to help as many people as possible reach financial freedom by taking control of their money. You can help me in that mission. Two really easy ways. First, hit subscribe wherever you like to listen. YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or any other podcast player. Then send this episode to a friend so we can all level up together. Then the show grows and I can keep giving you the money info that makes a difference for your life. Okay, back to it. Okay, let's jump in because I want to talk about what you can actually do, whatever situation you're in, to get yourself paid well.
But before we can do that, I just have to run through a little bit of the state of play here, where things are actually at currently. And Look, it is a little bit grim, okay? We're not in the business of denying facts here. We are in the business of looking at reality and then taking control of the things that we can. We've got the latest figures from Stats and Zed on unemployment. On the surface of it, it's probably what most of us are suspecting right now, how things are feeling. 5.3% unemployment in the March quarter, which is historically not a great number. That's kind of medium to high, but it is down slightly from what it was before. It was 5.4% before and now it's 5.3%. So, you know, heading the right direction.
But unfortunately, that is a little bit of good news with devil in the detail. Because remember, I've been reading these reports for a underneath that big average number to understand what's actually happening. And there's another number buried in these reports called underutilization. Now, what that is, is that's people who want to be doing more work, but they can't. They can't find it. So they might be part-time or casual when what they really want and probably need is a full-time job. Now, the underutilization rate is at 12.9%. And that's hundreds of thousands of people needing more work than they can actually get right now. And it's also not evenly spread as well. So if you're in Auckland or Wellington, it's worse.
Unemployment in both those big cities is sitting above 6%. which is a tough one for people because those are expensive places to live. If you're young, it is brutal. Frankly, no other way to describe it.
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Chapters
5 chapters
1
What does the current job market look like in NZ?
0:00–6:57
2
Which jobs are currently in high demand in New Zealand?
6:57–16:38
3
How can you strategically navigate the hidden job market?
16:38–24:00
4
What are the two career strategies for dealing with AI?
24:00–31:11
5
How can you effectively ask for a pay rise?
31:11–37:44
Speakers
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