• By Check-a-Salary
  • Posted Wednesday 24 th January 2024

New Zealand vs. The United Kingdom Job Markets: Size & Opportunities

People always search for better opportunities, and work is usually an important part of every individual’s lifestyle. Some prefer to stay in one place and feel comfortable, while others consider different opportunities, including relocation, to get their dream jobs.

The grass is always greener on the other side – while some NZ residents may think of moving to the UK, considering it a world financial centre, others search for prospects on the Kiwis' land. Estimating which continent is the best for job seekers is difficult, as each has its benefits and pitfalls.

Undeniably, potential employees should pay attention to numerous factors like their proficiency and skills, career expectations, and environment. It’s time to compare the UK and NZ job markets and learn more insights about both.

Size of the Job Market in New Zealand

The research indicates that the NZ job market is more promising than that of the UK. The number of employed workers has been growing steadily in the last few years, and the trend is predicted to be kept in 2024. New Zealand is an attractive hub not only for Kiwis but also for foreign residents, as the country implements special measures to attract specialists from abroad.

Entering its job market is considerably easy compared to the UK. Let’s look at some popular sectors providing good career prospects!

Job Opportunities for Kiwis in the Gambling Industry

New Zealand is a tourist country, so it’s not surprising a lot is connected with this industry. Skilful workers are always in demand in hospitality, logistics, etc. However, there’s one hidden gem that many would like – gambling. It’s not a secret that this niche is well-developed in the country: Kiwis and visitors gladly engage in this entertainment.

Not many players think how many people stand behind the amazing infrastructure of real money pokies and live dealer games. However, the market is still not complete, so it’s a great idea when searching for employment in New Zealand. Here are some industry vacancies job seekers can consider:

  • Croupier: dealing cards during the game and ensuring transparency is essential, so casinos regularly search for such workers. Most provide training and don’t require special skills from those applying for this job.
  • Online Gaming Programme Manager: gambling establishments’ operations are complicated, and this position requires strategic planning, communication with stakeholders, resources management, and working with documentation
  • General manager: this person should be the face of the business, providing hospitality to clients and guiding other employees to offer exceptional service and the best conditions

The professions listed above belong to the top gambling jobs among New Zealanders in 2023-2024. Of course, gambling and tourism are not the only sectors providing Kiwis with job opportunities. Other in-demand industries include retail trade, construction, food services, and logistics.

It’s not mandatory to be a skilled worker, as New Zealand offers multiple vacancies that don’t require proficiency. Ageing is one of the country's challenges, so there’s always the necessity for a younger workforce.

The UK’s Job Market Size Overview

According to the UK Labour Marcet statistics in 2023, the job market comprised 33% of employees under 16 and 75.8% of workers aged 16 to 64. On the other hand, the unemployment rate reached 2.4, meaning that over 1.6 million 16+ UK residents don’t have a job. The market regularly experiences changes: for instance, the latest trend in remote work transformed many companies’ activities.

Job Opportunities and Vacancies for British People

The country still offers numerous occupations: from vacancies requiring high proficiency to those accepting applicants without relevant experience. Supermarkets, hospitals, charities, business process outsourcing services, and direct selling and marketing are the leading industries, providing employees with numerous job opportunities.

The most demanded vacancies in the United Kingdom include the following:

  • Engineer: working on the entire process from the prototype to the final product, providing detailed technical plans, calculating costs and forecasts, completing documents
  • Software developer and tester: working on computer code, performing testing, considering customers’ feedback, improving and updating software or game tester, which is extremely popular.
  • Data scientist: identifying reliable data sources, analysing relevant information, creating algorithms, and offering solutions to improve the company’s performance
  • Sales assistant: serving customers considering their needs and demands, processing payments, working with documentation, managing product inventory

The job market in the UK has remained stable for years; undeniably, salary is the decisive factor for a worker applying for a particular position. However, offering more money is not always the solution for employees within the country. Applicants also count on improved working conditions and additional perks like insurance and educational resources for career growth.

The Final Word

It’s difficult to compare the UK and NZ regarding job opportunities, as both countries have a lot to offer. While the tourist and gambling sectors are prevalent in New Zealand, the state still offers numerous vacancies for highly skilled personnel and those without relevant experience.

At the same time, the business environment is well-developed in the UK; many youngsters prefer to engage in startups, boosting the digital world. The UK and NZ provide multiple opportunities for locals. However, foreigners can also enter their job markets and show proficiency in the chosen field.




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