Latest job figures show demand for labour "still there" - economist

A shinier job market outlook, with growth ticking up.  

The number of filled jobs lifted a seasonally adjusted 0.2% from July to August and 0.9% from last year.  

Gaps between sectors are starting to close, with gains for industries like construction and retail after months of decline.  

ASB Senior Economist Mark Smith told Mike Hosking the encouraging thing about the data is it shows demand for labour is still there. 

He says if it weren't for the Middle East conflict, the economy would be absolutely booming and job growth would be much stronger. 

But, Smith says, it suggests the unemployment rate will be heading downwards from here. 

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