The release of the GradNewZealand 2020 Top 100 Graduate Employers report brings with it a slew of insights about the organisations for which newly minted graduates feel the most enthusiasm. Tech giant, Microsoft, tops the list at number one, closely followed by Air New Zealand, Xero, Beca, PwC, the Ministry of Education, Deloitte, EY, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Accenture, rounding out the top ten.
Notably, the report reveals that New Zealand’s soon-to-be graduates are especially eager to enter the country’s public service, with 22 government organisations named among the country’s Top 100 graduate employers.
Topping the list at number six was the Ministry for Education, which offers a structured 18-month graduate programme designed to help new graduates enter careers in policy development. Also appearing in the Top 100 are the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade; New Zealand Police; the Ministry of Health; the Ministry of Social Development; the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment; Auckland Council; the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet; the New Zealand Defence Force; the Ministry for Primary Industries; Auckland Transport; and more. In total, seven government organisations made the top 20, making this the most popular industry for graduates.
The results suggest that young New Zealanders are eager to participate in the country’s rich civic life. They also reflect the New Zealand public service’s strong reputation for integrity and impact, ranking second among 38 countries in the 2019 International Civil Service Effectiveness Index and second among 180 countries in the 2018 Transparency International Corruption Perception Index. The enduring popularity of the public services comes in the midst of ongoing efforts by Minister for State Services Chris Hipkins to modernise the public service, with a focus on reforming organisational structures, reducing bureaucracy, and improving leadership.
Interestingly, the GradAustralia 2020 Top 100 Graduate Employers report also featured a preponderance of public service institutions, with nineteen in the Top 100. This would seem to suggest that the appeal of public service jobs—typically seen as well-paid, supportive, and stable—is consistent on both sides of the pond.
‘The sterling reputation of New Zealand’s public service means that its strong representation in the 2020 GradNewZealand Top 100 Employers report isn’t especially surprising,’ says Grant Robson, Director of GradNewZealand. ‘Graduates want stability, a clear career progression, intellectual stimulation, and competitive remuneration. This makes the public service an obvious choice.
Sector winners include:
The definitive list of the Top 100 Graduate Employers can be found on the GradNewZealand website (as of Thursday 13th February), and students can pick up a copy of the latest edition at career fairs and their university careers service centre throughout New Zealand in March. The Top 100 Guide includes 200 pages of comprehensive employer profiles, sector information, insider tips on how to get hired as well as real-life stories from graduates on the job.
For Top 100 insights and survey methodology, click here.
For more information, contact Grant Robson, Managing Director.