Brandwave

How popular isHays?

In September 2026, people searched for Hays by name about 2,040 times in New Zealand, a 13.2% decrease from the previous year. These searches made up 9.2% of all New Zealand Wellington recruitment agency searches, placing Hays fifth out of nine agencies. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about Wellington recruitment agencies, Hays appeared in two of the five answers and was the fourth most recommended of the nine.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

Hays is the fifth most searched of 9 competitors and the fourth most recommended in AI answers.

  1. Beyond RecruitmentShare of searches 26.1%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
  2. Robert WaltersShare of searches 20.9%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
  3. Madison RecruitmentShare of searches 12.4%Mentioned in 1 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 8th
  4. Archway RecruitmentShare of searches 10.5%Mentioned in 2 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
  5. HaysShare of searches 9.2%Mentioned in 2 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th

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Top Wellington recruitment agencies in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Hays was mentioned in two out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Hays is the fourth most recommended of the nine.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Beyond Recruitment1st
  2. Robert Walters2nd
  3. Archway Recruitment3rd
  4. Hays4th
  5. Trade Assist5th
  6. McLaren Recruitment6th
  7. Key Skills Recruitment7th
  8. Madison Recruitment8th
  9. Alpha Recruitment–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Beyond Recruitment4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Robert Walters4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Archway Recruitment2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Hays2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Trade Assist2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Key Skills Recruitment2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Madison Recruitment1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • McLaren Recruitment1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Alpha Recruitment0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about Wellington recruitment agencies

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 21, 2026.

Which Wellington recruitment agencies compete with Hays?

Hays against Wellington recruitment agencies in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for Beyond Recruitment, Robert Walters, Madison Recruitment, Archway Recruitment, Hays, McLaren Recruitment, Trade Assist, Alpha Recruitment, Key Skills Recruitment. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthBeyond RecruitmentRobert WaltersMadison RecruitmentArchway RecruitmentHaysMcLaren RecruitmentTrade AssistAlpha RecruitmentKey Skills Recruitment
Oct 202524.4%19.5%13.4%14.6%10.4%6.7%3%3.7%4.3%
Nov 202522.8%17.9%15.9%13.8%11.7%6.2%3.4%4.1%4.1%
Dec 202521.6%25.5%14.7%9.8%10.8%6.9%4.9%2.9%2.9%
Jan 202623.2%18.3%16.2%12%9.9%9.9%3.5%3.5%3.5%
Feb 202624%19.2%16.2%9%12.6%8.4%4.2%3.6%3%
Mar 202620.2%24.2%13.6%12.1%8.6%8.6%4.5%4%4%
Apr 202621.7%21.1%15.1%11.2%11.2%7.9%3.3%3.3%5.3%
May 202621.9%26.2%14.8%9.8%9.8%8.2%2.7%3.3%3.3%
Jun 202623.5%22.9%12.4%14.7%8.2%6.5%2.4%4.1%5.3%
Jul 202622.6%27.1%13%13.6%6.2%8.5%1.7%2.8%4.5%
Aug 202620.8%20.1%17%11.9%6.9%9.4%5.7%3.1%5%
Sep 202626.1%20.9%12.4%10.5%9.2%7.2%5.9%3.9%3.9%

  1. 1.Beyond Recruitment

    26.1%

    Held 1st. 400 estimated branded searches, +21.2% vs prior month. Share +5.4 points.

  2. 2.Robert Walters

    20.9%

    Held 2nd. 320 estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.8 points.

  3. 3.Madison Recruitment

    12.4%

    Held 3rd. 190 estimated branded searches, -29.6% vs prior month. Share -4.6 points.

  4. 4.Archway Recruitment

    10.5%

    Held 4th. 160 estimated branded searches, -15.8% vs prior month. Share -1.5 points.

  5. 5.Hays

    9.2%

    Moved from 6th to 5th. 140 estimated branded searches, +27.3% vs prior month. Share +2.2 points.

  6. 6.McLaren Recruitment

    7.2%

    Moved from 5th to 6th. 110 estimated branded searches, -26.7% vs prior month. Share -2.2 points.

  7. 7.Trade Assist

    5.9%

    Held 7th. 90 estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.2 points.

  8. 8.Alpha Recruitment

    3.9%

    Moved from 9th to 8th. 60 estimated branded searches, +20% vs prior month. Share +0.8 points.

  9. 9.Key Skills Recruitment

    3.9%

    Moved from 8th to 9th. 60 estimated branded searches, -25% vs prior month. Share -1.1 points.

Compare popularity between Hays and its closest rivals

Every comparison with Hays

13 comparisons

How has branded search demand for Hays changed in New Zealand over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Hays in New Zealand fell from 2.4K to 2K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Hays’ share of searches among Wellington recruitment agencies in New Zealand decreased from 10.4% to 9.2%.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Hays’ share of searches among Wellington recruitment agencies in New Zealand peaked at 12.6% in February 2026 and was lowest at 6.2% in July 2026.

How did search popularity change for New Zealand Wellington recruitment agencies in September 2026?

6 changes

  1. In September 2026, Hays overtook McLaren Recruitment to rank 5th among Wellington recruitment agencies in New Zealand, with 9.2% of the searches.

  2. In September 2026, Alpha Recruitment overtook Key Skills Recruitment to rank 8th among Wellington recruitment agencies in New Zealand, with 3.9% of the searches.

  3. In September 2026, Beyond Recruitment gained share of searches among Wellington recruitment agencies in New Zealand, from 20.8% to 26.1%.

  4. In September 2026, Robert Walters gained share of searches among Wellington recruitment agencies in New Zealand, from 20.1% to 20.9%.

  5. In September 2026, Madison Recruitment lost share of searches among Wellington recruitment agencies in New Zealand, from 17% to 12.4%.

  6. In September 2026, McLaren Recruitment lost share of searches among Wellington recruitment agencies in New Zealand, from 9.4% to 7.2%.

How are Hays’ branded searches counted?

6 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Hays’ name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.

  • hays
  • hays dunedin
  • hays labour hire
  • hays recruitment
  • hays tauranga
  • hays temp agency

Do you work for Hays? To request corrections or removal please contact us via our support page and we will be happy to assist.

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Where does Hays compete?

Hays is ranked in six competitor sets. Each share is worked out among that set's brands, so it differs from set to set.
Competitor setRankShare of searchesRanking
Temp staffing agencies13th of 130.04%Show ranking
Auckland recruitment agencies7th of 95.8%Show ranking
Christchurch recruitment agencies7th of 94.8%Show ranking
Wellington recruitment agencies5th of 99.2%Shown above
Dunedin recruitment agencies9th of 92.2%Show ranking
Tauranga recruitment agencies5th of 82.9%Show ranking
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Is Hays your brand?

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