Job Prospects... At a glance
Job prospects for this occupation are average. The demand for human resource (HR) professionals is expected to grow slightly in the next decade. The chances of getting a job are fair, especially for those with experience in specialist fields such as remuneration, learning and development, change management, diversity, and health and safety. Income is high.
HR professionals are responsible for the management of people, capability, talent and culture in an organisation. This work includes recruitment and selection, health and safety and wellbeing, employment relations, organisational development, using human resource management information systems (HRMIS), remuneration and rewards, and learning and development.
Their tasks may include:
Employers seek HR professionals with experience and tertiary qualifications in subjects related to human resource management, including:
Useful qualifications include a Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Business Studies, Bachelor of Applied Management (majoring in human resource management or industrial-organisational psychology), Bachelor of Law, and a Bachelor of Human Resource Management or a Graduate Diploma in Human Resource Management.
| Bachelor of Business Studies (HR) |
|---|
| $19,500 over three years |
Average costs in 2018 for a domestic student. Costs vary between institutions. First time students may be eligible for fees-free tertiary education for their first year of study, which will reduce the total cost. For more information about fees-free eligibility, go to feesfree.govt.nz. Further costs include materials, textbooks, and accommodation.
Rents vary from place to place. Estimated market rents by region, city and suburb are available on the MBIE Tenancy Services website.
The StudyLink website provides general budget advice for students, and the Sorted website provides help with detailed budget planning.
Tenancy Services: www.tenancy.govt.nz/rent-bond-and-bills
StudyLink: www.studylink.govt.nz
Sorted: www.sorted.org.nz/calculators/money-planner
Many universities and polytechnics offer relevant courses throughout New Zealand.
Since 2011, the number of students completing a Bachelor of Human Resource Management has generally been rising.
Qualification completions chart
Source: Ministry of Education
HR practitioners can join the membership-based Human Resources Institute of New Zealand (HRINZ). Members must uphold a Code of Professional and Ethical Behaviour and are entitled to professional development and a range of helpful information.
HRINZ, membership: www.hrinz.org.nz/Site/My_Membership/benefits.aspx
The salary range for an HR practitioner starts at around $49,000 for new graduates, and can go to about $150,000 for senior roles (such as HR general managers).
In 2018, the average income for HR professionals was estimated to be around $86,500.
| Estimated Average Income | |
|---|---|
| $86,500 |
Source: MBIE estimates based on Statistics NZ Census and Labour Cost Index
Human resource professionals’ employment
| Historic | Projected Growth | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 2013 | 2021 | 2026 |
| 10,761 | 12,039 | 14,412 | 15,944 |
| 1.6% | 3.0% | 2.0% | |
Source: Statistics NZ Census and MBIE projections. Percentages are compound annual growth rates.
*Growth projections are for the broader category “Human Resource and Training Professionals”.
The number of people employed in the broader category ‘Human resource and training professionals’, grew between 2006 and 2013, and employment numbers are projected to continue to grow quite quickly until 2026.
There is strong competition for generalist and entry-level jobs. On the other hand, HR practitioners with experience and expertise in internal recruitment, change management, learning and development, culture and diversity management, remuneration and rewards, and employment relations are in high demand for both permanent and contract positions.
In New Zealand as a whole, there are fewer vacancies in the public sector and local bodies, and fewer vacancies in the manufacturing, construction and retail industries.
Employment chart
Source: Statistics NZ Census and MBIE projections
| Overseas | In further study | Receiving a benefit | In employment | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20% | 2% | 1% | 66% | $53,000 |
Source: Tertiary Education Commission
*Three years after completion of Bachelor Degree - Business & Management.
Three years after completing a bachelor’s degree in business and management, the large majority of graduates are in employment. A fairly high proportion of graduates were overseas, while very few were receiving a benefit. The median salary three years after graduation was estimated to be about $53,000.
HR professionals are not on Immigration New Zealand's skill shortage lists.
Immigration NZ, skill shortage list: skillshortages.immigration.govt.nz
The number of online job vacancies for HR professionals decreased has lagged behind the average for all occupations during the last eight years. This could mean that it has become harder to find a job in this occupation, or that recruitment has moved away from online job boards.
Jobs advertised chart
Source: Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment
HR practitioners’ vacancies are advertised through websites such as Trade Me Jobs and Seek and, increasingly, through social media like LinkedIn.
Trade Me Jobs: www.trademe.co.nz/jobs
Seek: www.seek.co.nz
LinkedIn: nz.linkedin.com
HR practitioners may move into management positions such as human resources manager, corporate services director, training and development manager, general manager or chief executive.
They may also move into specialist human resources roles such as:
Employee relations adviser/manager
Employee relations advisers help management, staff and union members to work co-operatively, and manage the negotiation of employment agreements, personal grievances or disputes, and other employment issues.
Recruitment consultant
Recruitment consultants work with candidates (people looking for work) and clients (employers looking for people to hire) to help match candidates to jobs.
Learning and development adviser/manager
Learning and development advisers identify the learning needs of organisations and plan training based on these needs.
Employment relations adviser/manager
Employment relations advisers help resolve workplace disputes by advising on workplace relations policies and representing industrial, commercial, union, employer or other parties in negotiations on rates of pay and conditions of employment.
The following occupations are related roles or alternative titles. Some of the roles may require a higher level of skill than entry-level human resource professionals.
More information on HR professionals is available on the Careers New Zealand and HRINZ websites.
Careers New Zealand: www.careers.govt.nz
HRINZ: www.hrinz.org.nz/Site/Resources/hrm_in_nz.aspx
The Australian New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) is the official classification of occupations in New Zealand.
The occupation of human resource professionals has been coded to the following ANZSCO codes for the purpose of this report:
1323 – Human Resource Managers
2231 – Human Resource Professionals