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MINISTRY OF BUSINESS,
INNOVATION & EMPLOYMENT
HTKINA WHAKATUTUKI
18 January 2019
DOIA 1819-1012
Allen Reynolds
[email address]
Dear Allen Reynolds
Thank you for your request of 8 January 2019 under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act), for the
following information:
For the period 01 January 2000 to present -
Does MB/£ gather data on the hidden job market, or hidden jobs?
Has MBIE, or it's predecessors, gathered data on the hidden job market, or hidden jobs?
Has MBIE, or it's predecessors, gathered data on how employers have filled present or past jobs?
Has MBIE, or it's predecessors, gathered data on how job holders have gained present or past
jobs?
Sources of such data could include, but are not limited to, employees, employers, job recruiting
bodies, and organisations representing employers and employees.
If 'yes' to any question above, where/how can I gain access to this data?
Is this data, or has this data been, published in any form? If 'yes', please specify.
Is this data specific to New Zealand?
Is this data specific to any region(s) of New Zealand? If 'yes', name them please.
Is this data specific to particular job sectors? If 'yes', name them please.
The informal (or "hidden") job market refers to jobs which are found using informal search methods, for
example, recommendations from friends. We know that such methods are commonly used by employers
to fill job vacancies - the 2014/15 National Survey of Employers found that 56 per cent of employers with
job vacancies sought to fill these vacancies through word of mouth (sometimes in conjunction with
advertising on Trade Me or SEEK). The informal nature of these search methods, however, means that the
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) is unable to measure or monitor this 'market'.
MBIE does not gather data on the informal job market or jobs which are not advertised. MBIE also does
not gather data on how employers in the general workforce have filled jobs, or how job holders have
gained their jobs. Many agencies collect data about their own recruitment processes by asking candidates
how they heard about a vacancy. You may wish to contact agencies and ask for the information which
relates to their own organisation.
As MBIE does not collect the data you are seeking, your remaining questions are refused under section
18(g) of the Act, that the information requested is not held by MBIE. I have no grounds for believing that
