Technical skills aren’t the only thing employers will be looking for when making hiring decisions this year, according to recruiting experts Hays.

Adam Shapley, managing director of Hays in New Zealand, said there are wider macro issues at play that will dictate the success of jobseekers this year, with skilled professionals who possess strong interpersonal and creative skills being most attractive to employers right now.

Shapley said employers also want people who can make data-based decisions, adapt well to change and are continuous learners.

“In response to rapid technological change, soft, social and emotional skills also continue to grow in importance and are becoming prerequisites across all job functions,” he said.

According to Shapley, Hays is seeing vacancy activity across many sectors, including finance, IT, marketing, HR, construction, office support and insurance.

DevOps engineers, analytics managers and revit technicians make the list of the top skill shortfalls for the first half of 2020.

Hays revealed the skills in greatest demand in 14 sectors and industries across New Zealand in its latest jobs report, covering January to June 2020.

The report, which is updated twice a year to reflect changing market conditions, also earmarks civil engineers, HR business partners, project coordinators and plumbers as core areas of demand until June 2020.

Other skills in demand for the six months ahead include positions in accountancy and finance, architecture, construction, contact centres, engineering, HR, IT, insurance, legal, marketing and digital, office support, policy and strategy, procurement, and trades and labour.