Craig Renney
@clrenney.bsky.social
NZCTU/Te Kauae Kaimahi Economist & Director of Policy. Treasury Security Risk. Believer in a Better Aotearoa. Also at https://craigrenney.substack.com/
Nearly five thousand nights on this set of islands. Never gets old.
November 5, 2025 at 6:37 AM
Nearly five thousand nights on this set of islands. Never gets old.
With 400,000 people wanting more work and not being able to get it - small shifts in job ads won't cut it. There are 36,309 more people on Jobseeker over the past two years (217,818 in Sep 2025), and the only plan is to take it away from 18/19 year olds.
November 4, 2025 at 4:02 AM
With 400,000 people wanting more work and not being able to get it - small shifts in job ads won't cut it. There are 36,309 more people on Jobseeker over the past two years (217,818 in Sep 2025), and the only plan is to take it away from 18/19 year olds.
Across all skills levels job ads are down across two years. But low/unskilled jobs have been hit particularly hard. How much this is due to changing employment patterns in the economy is unclear. The loss of highly skilled job ads might explain some of our migration issues
November 4, 2025 at 4:02 AM
Across all skills levels job ads are down across two years. But low/unskilled jobs have been hit particularly hard. How much this is due to changing employment patterns in the economy is unclear. The loss of highly skilled job ads might explain some of our migration issues
Across 10 jobs sectors measured by MBIE job ads are down across 2 years.
- Down 27% in construction
- Down 33% in health
- Down 31% in IT
- Down 35% in manufacturing
- Down 30% in sales
Even down 16% in primary industries
- Down 27% in construction
- Down 33% in health
- Down 31% in IT
- Down 35% in manufacturing
- Down 30% in sales
Even down 16% in primary industries
November 4, 2025 at 4:02 AM
Across 10 jobs sectors measured by MBIE job ads are down across 2 years.
- Down 27% in construction
- Down 33% in health
- Down 31% in IT
- Down 35% in manufacturing
- Down 30% in sales
Even down 16% in primary industries
- Down 27% in construction
- Down 33% in health
- Down 31% in IT
- Down 35% in manufacturing
- Down 30% in sales
Even down 16% in primary industries
MBIE measures job ads across 10 regions. Across 2 years (Sept 2023) Job ads are down in every region.
- Down 34% in Auckland
- Down 35% in Wellington
- Down 32% in Manwatu/Whanganui
- Down 33% in Northland
- Down 26% in Waikato
Down everywhere
- Down 34% in Auckland
- Down 35% in Wellington
- Down 32% in Manwatu/Whanganui
- Down 33% in Northland
- Down 26% in Waikato
Down everywhere
November 4, 2025 at 4:02 AM
MBIE measures job ads across 10 regions. Across 2 years (Sept 2023) Job ads are down in every region.
- Down 34% in Auckland
- Down 35% in Wellington
- Down 32% in Manwatu/Whanganui
- Down 33% in Northland
- Down 26% in Waikato
Down everywhere
- Down 34% in Auckland
- Down 35% in Wellington
- Down 32% in Manwatu/Whanganui
- Down 33% in Northland
- Down 26% in Waikato
Down everywhere
#nzpol Filled jobs out this week - and the number of filled jobs went up - Whoop! That's great news. Only 45,692 jobs to go until we are back to where we were at the election.
Something happened in November 2023, and jobs started to fall....
Something happened in November 2023, and jobs started to fall....
October 29, 2025 at 3:09 AM
#nzpol Filled jobs out this week - and the number of filled jobs went up - Whoop! That's great news. Only 45,692 jobs to go until we are back to where we were at the election.
Something happened in November 2023, and jobs started to fall....
Something happened in November 2023, and jobs started to fall....
#nzpol with Andrew Little and the new Labour Councillors, celebrating the victory in Wellington. 31,000 doors knocked on, 8,000 phone calls made. Wellington is in safe hands and has a brighter future.
October 11, 2025 at 5:16 AM
#nzpol with Andrew Little and the new Labour Councillors, celebrating the victory in Wellington. 31,000 doors knocked on, 8,000 phone calls made. Wellington is in safe hands and has a brighter future.
Families are increasingly feeling the pinch – with electricity costs up 11.4% just this year. The average energy bill in Victoria is $347 a quarter. In Auckland, it is $603 a quarter. It’s adding to cost pressures, particularly for middle and low-income families.
September 29, 2025 at 10:50 PM
Families are increasingly feeling the pinch – with electricity costs up 11.4% just this year. The average energy bill in Victoria is $347 a quarter. In Auckland, it is $603 a quarter. It’s adding to cost pressures, particularly for middle and low-income families.
NZ generates the same amount of electricity that we did 10 years ago, despite the population increasing by around a million people. Electricity-intensive industries are leaving. Investment in expanding supply/generation by the generators fell significantly after privatisation.
September 29, 2025 at 10:50 PM
NZ generates the same amount of electricity that we did 10 years ago, despite the population increasing by around a million people. Electricity-intensive industries are leaving. Investment in expanding supply/generation by the generators fell significantly after privatisation.
#nzpol Monthly employment data - and there are 4,814 more jobs than this time last month! Whoop. Only 42,746 to go to get us to where we were at the last election. 62 jobs lost every single day of this government, one roughly every 23 minutes. A 🧵
September 29, 2025 at 1:18 AM
#nzpol Monthly employment data - and there are 4,814 more jobs than this time last month! Whoop. Only 42,746 to go to get us to where we were at the last election. 62 jobs lost every single day of this government, one roughly every 23 minutes. A 🧵
#nzpol Big turnout for the Women’s Day of Action for pay equity. Billions of dollars have been stolen from low-paid female dominated workforces. This government can find huge tax cuts for tobacco companies, landlords, and big businesses - but not fair pay. That must change.
September 19, 2025 at 11:11 PM
#nzpol Big turnout for the Women’s Day of Action for pay equity. Billions of dollars have been stolen from low-paid female dominated workforces. This government can find huge tax cuts for tobacco companies, landlords, and big businesses - but not fair pay. That must change.
The full data set on kpi.nz looks like this. On their measure victimisations are down. Only in the footnotes it states “There is no measurement of total crime over a long time”. So this data doesn’t tell us about NZ crime at all.
September 4, 2025 at 3:18 AM
The full data set on kpi.nz looks like this. On their measure victimisations are down. Only in the footnotes it states “There is no measurement of total crime over a long time”. So this data doesn’t tell us about NZ crime at all.
#nzpol Big turn out tonight at the Living Wage Election Forum Event. The Living Wage right now puts an extra $172 a week into the pay packet of a full time worker. Dignity at work comes from decent pay for everyone - not from tax cuts.
September 3, 2025 at 6:46 AM
#nzpol Big turn out tonight at the Living Wage Election Forum Event. The Living Wage right now puts an extra $172 a week into the pay packet of a full time worker. Dignity at work comes from decent pay for everyone - not from tax cuts.
There has been much discussion of a two-speed economy. But there are only three regions with job growth since the election (Otago, HB, Marlborough). Auckland has 21,499 fewer jobs. Wellington has 7,657 fewer jobs. Jobs have been lost on both the North Island and the Mainland.
August 29, 2025 at 1:34 AM
There has been much discussion of a two-speed economy. But there are only three regions with job growth since the election (Otago, HB, Marlborough). Auckland has 21,499 fewer jobs. Wellington has 7,657 fewer jobs. Jobs have been lost on both the North Island and the Mainland.
Young people are being hit hard by the current rise in unemployment. There are 58,403 fewer 15-29 years filling jobs since the election. There has been an 18% fall in the number of jobs filled by 15-19 year olds. There has also been a fall of 6,806 in those aged 50+ in work.
August 29, 2025 at 1:34 AM
Young people are being hit hard by the current rise in unemployment. There are 58,403 fewer 15-29 years filling jobs since the election. There has been an 18% fall in the number of jobs filled by 15-19 year olds. There has also been a fall of 6,806 in those aged 50+ in work.
Since the election, we have lost 28,332 jobs in goods-producing industries & 9,621 jobs in services. For all of the talk of a primary industry boom, we have only put on 925 jobs - around a single job a day. In the 3 years before the election we created more than 300,000 new jobs.
August 29, 2025 at 1:34 AM
Since the election, we have lost 28,332 jobs in goods-producing industries & 9,621 jobs in services. For all of the talk of a primary industry boom, we have only put on 925 jobs - around a single job a day. In the 3 years before the election we created more than 300,000 new jobs.
#nzpol Monthly jobs rose this month – great! Except we have 36,734 fewer jobs than at the election. There are 17,573 fewer jobs than this time last year. Total wages have fallen 4% in real terms. If the current economic plan is working – its not working for working people. A 🧵
August 29, 2025 at 1:34 AM
#nzpol Monthly jobs rose this month – great! Except we have 36,734 fewer jobs than at the election. There are 17,573 fewer jobs than this time last year. Total wages have fallen 4% in real terms. If the current economic plan is working – its not working for working people. A 🧵
Not everywhere is gaining. Since the election retail sales have been concentrated on what you might call 'the basics' - supermarkets and electrical goods (my guess is mobile phones). Everything else kept falling, especially clothing, liquor, and building supplies
August 25, 2025 at 7:51 AM
Not everywhere is gaining. Since the election retail sales have been concentrated on what you might call 'the basics' - supermarkets and electrical goods (my guess is mobile phones). Everything else kept falling, especially clothing, liquor, and building supplies
#nzpol Retail trade data out today. The Govts economic strategy right now hinges on interest rate cuts turning up as increased spending. Retail sales are coming back - its just painfully slow. They are still behind where they were at the election
August 25, 2025 at 7:51 AM
#nzpol Retail trade data out today. The Govts economic strategy right now hinges on interest rate cuts turning up as increased spending. Retail sales are coming back - its just painfully slow. They are still behind where they were at the election
#nzpol Nurses and health care workers are out campaigning today for safe staffing, decent contracts, and a properly funded public health system. They support you when you and your family need help the most. Support them today.
July 29, 2025 at 10:00 PM
#nzpol Nurses and health care workers are out campaigning today for safe staffing, decent contracts, and a properly funded public health system. They support you when you and your family need help the most. Support them today.
Since 2023 the number of filled jobs in manufacturing is down 10,283. Construction down 16,603. Professional, Scientific and Technical Services down 9,411. Administrative and Support Services down 10,812. Retail trade down 7,915. Accommodation and Food Services down 5,855.
July 28, 2025 at 4:40 AM
Since 2023 the number of filled jobs in manufacturing is down 10,283. Construction down 16,603. Professional, Scientific and Technical Services down 9,411. Administrative and Support Services down 10,812. Retail trade down 7,915. Accommodation and Food Services down 5,855.
Jobs fell in Auckland (-16,114 since June 2023). Wellington (down 8,438). Manawatu-Whanganui (down 2,776). Hawkes Bay (down 1,341). N'land (down 1,153). Taranaki (down 1,040). Waikato (down 725). Nelson (down 693). Canterbury put on 1,666 jobs – against 29,620 between 19 & 23
July 28, 2025 at 4:40 AM
Jobs fell in Auckland (-16,114 since June 2023). Wellington (down 8,438). Manawatu-Whanganui (down 2,776). Hawkes Bay (down 1,341). N'land (down 1,153). Taranaki (down 1,040). Waikato (down 725). Nelson (down 693). Canterbury put on 1,666 jobs – against 29,620 between 19 & 23
The real pain is being felt by young people. Over the past year, 20,149 fewer jobs are being filled by 15-24 year olds. Even those aged 25 to 29 are suffering, as there are 9,921 fewer jobs for them. It’s no wonder so many young people are looking at leaving the country right now
July 28, 2025 at 4:40 AM
The real pain is being felt by young people. Over the past year, 20,149 fewer jobs are being filled by 15-24 year olds. Even those aged 25 to 29 are suffering, as there are 9,921 fewer jobs for them. It’s no wonder so many young people are looking at leaving the country right now
#nzpol Data from Stats NZ today demonstrates how far we have fallen in the labour market. Between June 2019 and June 2023, we put on 225,000 new jobs. Since then, we have lost 31,216 jobs. A filled job is lost every 34 minutes. A thread
July 28, 2025 at 4:40 AM
#nzpol Data from Stats NZ today demonstrates how far we have fallen in the labour market. Between June 2019 and June 2023, we put on 225,000 new jobs. Since then, we have lost 31,216 jobs. A filled job is lost every 34 minutes. A thread