New Zealand's employment confidence declined in the March quarter in signs that labor conditions remained subdued and within the levels seen post-pandemic, according to a report by Westpac and McDermott Miller published Tuesday.

The Westpac McDermott Miller Employment Confidence Index fell to 88.3 in the March quarter from 91.6 in the three months to December 2024.

Nearly all of the survey measures fell during the period. The biggest fall was in current job opportunities, which declined to negative 51.6 from negative 44.

The current employment conditions index and the past earnings growth measure also shed over 7 points each.

Meanwhile, the expected job opportunities measure slightly improved and was up to negative 19.4 from negative 20.7.

Employment confidence was down in four of 11 regions, including Auckland.