New Zealanders became slightly more confident about job opportunities in the December quarter, though most people aren't expecting a pay rise this year.

The Westpac McDermott Miller employment confidence index rose 0.1 points to 113.9 in the fourth quarter, the highest level in a decade, with the present conditions index up 2.2 points to 117.9, while the employment expectations index dropped 1.4 points to 111.2.

Expected earnings growth dropped 1 point to a net 24.3 per cent of employees who anticipate a pay rise over the coming year, which senior economist Satish Ranchhod said was around the confidence levels seen during the global financial crisis.

"This nervousness about earnings growth is widespread, and is particularly acute in regions such as Gisborne/Hawke's Bay and Canterbury," Ranchhod said. "It's also evident across most income groups."

New Zealand's strong run of economic growth has been supported by a nationwide construction boom, record tourism, strong inbound migration, and the recent recovery in the dairy sector. The net inflow of migrants has largely kept wages flat.

Ranchhod noted there was one exception to this pessimism – households earning less than $30,000 per year have become notably more upbeat about the earnings outlook.

The number of households in this income bracket reporting that they received a pay increase over the past twelve months having risen sharply since the start of last year – put down to the unemployment rate dropping to a nine-year low in 2017 and planned increases to the minimum wage.

The employment confidence survey shows of the 1555 people surveyed, a net 26.8 per cent experienced past earnings growth, down from 29.8 per cent in the September quarter.

A net 9 per cent of those surveyed saw more job opportunities currently, an improvement from a net 1.7 per cent in September, while a net 2.1 per cent were optimistic about expected job opportunities, from -0.5 per cent.