The uncertain economic environment could be the reason for climbing unemployment and declining job ads.

The latest Seek data shows job ads fell 0.8 percent last month, the third consecutive month of decline.

It suggests conditions remain strongest in the South Island, while centres like Auckland, Wellington, and Waikato face greater headwinds. 

Westpac Chief Economist Kelly Eckhold says the labour market has not emerged unscathed from the Iran war. 

"Perhaps at the start of the year, they were looking forward to a much better year, but business confidence really got buffeted around the last three or four months." 

LISTEN ABOVE