The Government is connecting more job seekers with employers through an upgraded jobs website backed by job matching technology, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says.

The Ministry of Social Development’s (MSD) existing jobs website, Kimi Mahi Mai – Find a Job, has been replaced by an upgraded job search site,MyMSD Jobs.

“The Ministry’s role is to help people who can work, move into work, and make sure employers can find the right people,” Louise Upston says.

“As the economy recovers, people on JobSeeker Support and prospective employers need an MSD jobs website that is modern and fit-for-purpose. This website upgrade will better help JobSeekers move off benefit and into work, and help employers find suitable candidates for jobs.”

MSD clients looking for work have Jobseeker profiles, which now contain more information about qualifications, experience, skills and strengths. Job matching technology compares candidates and jobs across the system to connect job seekers with more potential roles across New Zealand.

As of 10 August, more than 94,000 work-obligated clients on benefit have updated their profiles and can view jobs matched to their profile.

“Job seekers may be notified they are a skills match for jobs they wouldn’t have known about or considered before – opening up new opportunities they wouldn’t otherwise have had,” Louise Upston says.

Job seekers can now see potential job matches when they’re logged into MyMSD, update their new and improved Jobseeker profiles, and apply for more than 7700 positions available through the 2600 active vacancies. (One vacancy can represent multiple positions.)

This is the first phase of changes, focused on improvements for job seekers, Louise Upston says.

“In phase two, MSD will launch a dedicated portal where employers can create, edit and list their own vacancies, have those matched, and view and manage all their applicants.

“The Ministry informs me that feedback about the new system from MSD staff and clients has been positive, and there’s been a high rate of job seekers visiting the site and using the self-service tools.

“This is one part of MSD’s wider transformation programme, which is about delivering better services that make it easier for clients to know what they need to do, and enabling people to do more online so staff can spend more time working alongside those who need extra help,” Louise Upston says.

“Over time, more changes are coming so MSD can support stronger and more resilient families and communities, more people able to find and stay in work, and fewer kids growing up in benefit-dependent homes.”

MSD’s employment platform does not make use of generative AI. The system uses automation to support the job matching process which staff would otherwise do manually.