Brandwave

Hays vs Key Skills Recruitment:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Hays had more branded searches than Key Skills Recruitment among Wellington recruitment agencies in New Zealand. Hays had about 140 branded searches, while Key Skills Recruitment had 60. Hays made up 9.2% of all Wellington recruitment agency searches we track, and Key Skills Recruitment accounted for 3.9%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about Wellington recruitment agencies, Hays and Key Skills Recruitment each appeared in two of the five answers. Hays was mentioned before Key Skills Recruitment in two out of three answers that named either.

Among Wellington recruitment agencies in New Zealand in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Hays, about 2 searches for every 1 for Key Skills Recruitment

Hays 140 searchesKey Skills Recruitment 60 searches

Who does AI mention more?

Both were mentioned in 2 of 5 answers.

Hays in 2 of 5Key Skills Recruitment in 2 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Hays, named ahead of Key Skills Recruitment in 2 of 3 answers

Hays first in 2Key Skills Recruitment first in 1

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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. Key Skills Recruitment was mentioned in two out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Hays was listed before Key Skills Recruitment in two out of three answers that named either.

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.

Is Hays or Key Skills Recruitment more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Hays and Key Skills Recruitment by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all nine Wellington recruitment agencies we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.

Hays and Key Skills Recruitment among Wellington recruitment agencies in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for Hays, 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%

How has the Hays and Key Skills Recruitment comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings

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

3 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, Key Skills Recruitment lost share of searches among Wellington recruitment agencies in New Zealand, from 5% to 3.9%.

How are branded searches counted?

4 search terms

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

Hays

2 branded search terms

  • hays
  • hays temp agency

Key Skills Recruitment

2 branded search terms

  • key skills recruitment
  • key skills recruitment wellington

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among Wellington recruitment agencies

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