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.
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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
National Survey of Employment Intentions - First Findings [PDF 464KB]