Pre-election preparedness - what to focus on when the future is uncertain.

As we count down to the upcoming election in October, at Starfish we’re mindful of the uncertainty a (likely) change in government can bring. That said, we continue to see strong demand for candidates which is cushioning both the recession and election impacts.?

We are seeing a to be expected pre-election pressure to reduce contract and consultancy costs across the public sector, with a proposed saving of $4B over the next three years. However, resource and talent attraction are a highlighted issue across all government agencies which points to future growth in permanent roles to address both of these pain points. It is likely we’ll see the creation and development of practices of capability across the market with employers focussing on permanent hiring and employee experience strategies to encourage talent.

The three months leading up to the election on October 14 has seen a huge reduction of project and programme opportunities, due to the reluctance to commence initiation phase of new projects due to potential change in government direction and legislation. Again, this is normal in the election cycle and to be expected.?

We’ve been through a few governments in Starfish’s 20 years and there are some unique aspects to how election cycles impact employment in New Zealand:

Public sector hiring - The New Zealand public sector often institutes hiring freezes on non-essential roles during election campaigns. This affects education, health, and local government jobs in particular.

Māori economy - Māori organisations and businesses may increase hiring for initiatives targeted at lifting Māori voter turnout and engagement.

Agriculture industry - Agricultural policy is always a hot election issue in New Zealand. Farming, forestry and horticulture groups often expand lobbying and policy staff.

Swing electorate shifts - As candidates target swing electorates like Northland, Auckland Central, Waiariki and ōtaki, associated industries in those regions can see upticks.

Tourism sector - Tourism is New Zealand's largest export industry. Election tourism promises can drive hiring in transportation, hospitality, tour operators and other related companies.

Public engagement - Advocacy groups related to top election issues like child poverty, housing, healthcare and climate change boost public outreach and organising crews.?

Market uncertainty - NZ's small, open economy is sensitive to election impacts. Some hiring managers may hold off on new domestic roles until post-election.

So, while global patterns hold, specifics like freeze on public sector roles, influence of the Māori economy, and the outsized impact of tourism promises make election cycle hiring in NZ unique.

We approach the election cycle with a ‘prepared for anything’ mindset and find our ability to be adaptable and responsive stands us, our clients and candidates, in good stead.?

Here’s our tips for job seekers during the election cycle:

• Be prepared for hiring delays - With public sector freezes and general uncertainty, hiring may slow down. Be persistent.
• Partner with specialist consultants who know the market, the trends and can offer you credible advice and add value to your search plan.
• Have realistic commercial expectations on salary and contract rates and try being flexible.
• Delays in approval to hire and financial pressure is leading to delays in gaining approval to hire contract resource.?
• Network purposefully - Attend industry events or connect with contacts in politically active nonprofits, tourism agencies, agricultural groups.
• Check in with your recruiter regularly - Given shifting priorities, new roles may be posted with little notice.
• Contract rates have reduced across most core capabilities compared to 6 months ago.?
• Be prepared - Update your CV, cover letters, LinkedIn profile and reference list so you can apply quickly when the right role appears.
• Practice interview skills - Prepare for interviews by practising for commonly asked questions related to your experience and political awareness.

Our expectations post-election, that post 100-day plan this may lead to a small spike of newly funded opportunities from mid-November through to early December, but the next significant spike will be from February through to June 2024.