Worker confidence about keeping their jobs or finding new ones has hit a nine-year high.

Photo: Frank Film

The Westpac-McDermott Miller employment confidence index edged up in the September quarter to 113.8, its highest level since 2008.

A reading above 100 means optimists outnumber pessimists.

It follows a drop-off in confidence earlier in the year.

Westpac chief economist Dominick Stephens said the solid economy was creating jobs and there was demand for staff.

"New Zealand workers are reporting increases in job opportunities, and they expect that the number of job openings will continue to increase over the coming year," he said.

At a regional level, Auckland was the most confident region, followed by Southland and Canterbury, while Nelson and Wellington trailed the pack.

However, Mr Stephens said wage expectations were at their lowest level in nearly a decade.

"The number of workers who expect to receive a pay increase over the coming year is languishing at the sort of lows we saw during the financial crisis," he said.