New data provides real time insight into job market
PLUS: Get your entries in for the Startup World Cup.
Good afternoon Caffeinators!
Welcome to mid week, hope you’re all getting up and over the hump. Shorter newsletter today but not without some gems - including some great new data from the team over at Employment Hero giving some real time insight into the job market.
Got some great content in the pipeline for the rest of the week, including some on the ground reporting from yours truly when I attend the Icehouse Ventures 15th Annual Showcase tomorrow night. There will be some great startups attending and I will bring you a flavour of the night and a wrap of the most exciting pitches on Friday morning.
Here’s what’s in your Daily Shot of news you don’t want to miss
New data provides insight on the job market in NZ
Event: Startup World Cup New Zealand Final
Event: AI in action: Exploring the impact of AI on productivity
Caffeine’s ‘I Wish I Knew’ event is on tonight (and sold out!)
Got a tip, press release or just a comment? Drop us a note: hello@caffeinedaily.co - we love to hear from you.
Finn & the Caffeine team
We’re excited to partner with BNZ. As New Zealand's largest business bank, BNZ shares our mission to support the next wave of founders and operators. Over the coming months, we’ll be working together to share insights, tools, and stories that help you grow smarter and faster. Keep an eye out every Thursday for content powered by BNZ.
New data provides insight on the job market in NZ: While Caffeine is often interested in the future economy, the current one is where we have to build things. So new data points like those just released by Employment Hero, the HR software innovator used by over 10,000 businesses and 70,000 employees in New Zealand, are invaluable. It has just released its July job data revealing early signs of improvement in the labour market alongside the industries and regions leading wage growth.
Employment growth highlights
South Island employment up 5.4% year on year compared to 0.6% in the North Island
Casual work up 10.2% year on year compared to part-time (0.4%) and full-time (0.2%)
Construction and trade services have seen the greatest national rise in employment with 10.4% year on year growth followed by retail, hospitality and tourism at 4.2%
The younger the employee the greater the employment growth, with the total number of 18–24 yr olds employed up by 13.8% and 25–34 yr olds up by 3.5%
Wage growth highlights
South Island up 5.1% YoY, while North Island grew at 4.7% from a higher median hourly rate of $36.50 compared with $33.70 in the South Island
By contract type: part-time wages saw the biggest YoY lift (+5.3%), full-time rose 4.3%, while casual roles fell 1.1%
By industry: construction and trade services led the pack with +6.2% YoY growth, followed by science and technology at +5.1%
By age group: 25–34-year-olds saw the largest increase (+5.8%), with 45–54-year-olds close behind (+5.5%)
Check back tomorrow for a guest editorial from Employment Hero co-founder Ben Thompson to unpack what the data means for the NZ ecosystem.
Event: Startup World Cup New Zealand Final: Shouting out an amazing pathway for NZ founders to take on the world.
For the first time ever, Kāpiti will host the Startup World Cup New Zealand Final on 9 October 2025, powered by Pegasus Tech Ventures – the world’s largest startup pitch competition.
Startups from across the motu will go head-to-head in front of a live audience and expert judging panel. The winner will receive flights and support to pitch on the global stage in Silicon Valley on 17 October 2025, competing for a USD $1 million investment prize.
This event is more than a pitch night. It’s a high-energy celebration of Aotearoa’s creativity, capability and ambition. Expect standout founder pitches, insight from leading judges, and a vibrant crowd of innovators, investors and changemakers.
Don’t miss your chance to get involved. Entries close on Friday September 5.
Event: AI in action: Exploring the impact of AI on productivity - Actual productivity data is where the rubber of the AI revolution meets the road of this economy so very interested to see what comes out as the AI Forum releases their latest report on Monday. Be part of the conversation at the launch as the forum brings together leading voices from business, government, and research to unpack the real trends, opportunities, and challenges shaping New Zealand’s future with AI.
Details:
Auckland: Monday 25 August, 5–6 PM
Wellington: Tuesday 26 August, 5–6 PM
Free for AI Forum members | $30 for non-members
Caffeine’s ‘I Wish I Knew’ event is on tonight and sold out: Slightly self congratulatory parting shot today but just wanted to finish with a shoutout to all the founders and Caffeinators who have SOLD OUT our first ‘I Wish I Knew’ series, taking place in Tauranga tonight.
This one is close to our hearts. Its about bringing you lessons from a founder who is further down the road than you and all the things they wish they knew before they set out. If we had to distill the mission of Caffeine down to a sentence, we could do worse than that. For anyone who missed out, don’t worry we have plenty more events coming and can’t wait to see your faces there.
That’s it for today, thanks for reading. Want to get in touch with a news tip, bit of feedback or just to chat? Email hello@caffeinedaily.co
