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NZ's Hottest Jobs in 2026… And How to Get Paid More in Any of Them
Description
One in four young people in NZ can't find work. But some jobs are up 200% year on year.
The job market hasn't collapsed - it's split. And if you're on the wrong side of that split, waiting for things to improve isn't a strategy.
In this episode, we get into which jobs are actually booming right now, what the latest Stats NZ unemployment numbers really mean once you dig past the headline figure, and what it tells us about where the economy is actually heading.
Then we get practical. How to make yourself the person your employer can't afford to lose. How to job hunt strategically when most roles are never even advertised. And how to ask for a pay rise, with real scripts, not vague advice about knowing your worth.
We also talk honestly about AI: what it actually means for your career right now and the two smart plays depending on where you want to go.
In this episode:
- The Stats NZ unemployment data and what's buried in it
- The top 10 most in-demand jobs in NZ right now
- Why the hidden job market is 70-80% of all roles (and how to access it)
- Two career strategies for navigating AI
- How to ask for a pay rise: timing, preparation, and the exact words to use
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This podcast was filmed & produced by Fanaticals
Video editing & content production by Lana Byrne
Audio engineering by Tash Chittock