RNZ Afternoons Interview

RNZ Afternoons Interview: How to cut through in this brutal job market

March 30, 2026 1:30 PM

With the unemployment rate sitting at the highest it's been in a decade, 5.4 percent, hunting for a new job can feel like the ultimate up-hill battle. We're hearing stories of unprecedented number of applicants of people being declined almost as soon as they've sent their CV, while others tell us they never hear back at all. Add in rising costs and all this chat about AI, it can be hard to know where to even start. So to share some insights into job hunting in this tough market is Gabrielle Cutfield, founder of Emerging Engines.