Canterbury's filled job numbers have returned to pre-earthquake levels.

New figures released by Statistics New Zealand show that the number of filled jobs in Canterbury rose 4.7 per cent for the December 2012 year.

Full-time employment rose 5.4 per cent, while part-time employment rose 3.4 per cent.

In the rest of New Zealand, excluding Canterbury, filled jobs rose 0.9 per cent over the same period. Fulltime employment rose 1.5 per cent while part-time employment fell 1.7 per cent.

It was the third quarter in a row showing an annual rise in filled jobs in Canterbury and was the largest annual percentage rise for the region since March 2010.

The total number of filled jobs in the Canterbury region is now similar to pre-earthquake levels.

Canterbury Employer's Chamber of Commerce chief executive Peter Townsend said he was "not surprised" to hear the figures.

"We've got the population back to pre-earthquake levels and our jobs are back to pre-earthquake levels. It's just going to continue to keep growing. This is positive progress."

Industries with the largest annual rise in filled jobs in Canterbury over the year were construction, healthcare and social assistance, arts and recreation, and other services.

However, some industries had not reached pre-quake levels. There were minor annual falls in professional, scientific, technical, administrative, support services and retail trade.

While construction jobs initially rose the most, he believed the economic impact would soon spread.

"With this amount of money coming into the region for the rebuild it's going to flow into hospitality and retail very soon. Everybody will benefit. This is just the initial influx."

- © Fairfax NZ News

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