"Searches for information on jobs like teachers, nurses, GPs and police officers show that people aspire to careers where they can make a difference," said Tim Fowler, Chief Executive of the Tertiary Education Commission.

Job trends from 2018 also show unemployment is at its lowest level in over 10 years, falling to 3.9 percent, according to November 2018 figures released by Stats NZ.

"We’re noticing a buoyant job market with some school leavers opting to enter the workforce where they may have traditionally gone straight into tertiary education. However there’s still an important role for tertiary education and training to help people build their skills and give them more career choices after their study," added Tim Fowler.

The top 10 jobs searched for on the careers.govt.nz site as at 10 December 2018:

1. Police Officer
2. Registered Nurse
3. Psychologist
4. Secondary School Teacher
5. Accountant
6. Pilot
7. Primary School Teacher
8. Surgeon
9. General Practitioner
10. Veterinarian

The top 10 jobs searched for in 2018 in the main centres as at 20 December 2018:

Auckland

1. Police Officer
2. Registered Nurse
3. Psychologist
4. Accountant
5. Secondary School Teacher
6. General Practitioner
7. Pilot
8. Surgeon
9. Primary School Teacher
10. Veterinarian

Wellington

1. Psychologist
2. Police Officer
3. Registered Nurse
4. Accountant
5. Primary School Teacher
6. Secondary School Teacher
7. General Practitioner
8. Surgeon
9. Pilot
10. Veterinarian

Christchurch

1. Police Officer
2. Nurse
3. Secondary School Teacher
4. Psychologist
5. Pilot
6. Primary School Teacher
7. Veterinarian
8. Accountant
9. Surgeon
10. General Practitioner