After years of performing at such a high level, Christchurch's economy is set to plateau.

The Canterbury Development Corporation's latest economic update shows activity levels remain high, while the housing market will ease slightly over the next year.

Christchurch's extremely low unemployment rate - which has meant unskilled workers are doing jobs beyond them - will lift slightly, increasing the calibre of those in the workforce.

The labour market will still attract high levels of skilled workers compared to the rest of the country.

CEO Tom Hooper said a slowing economy isn't a bad thing.

"The fact that our growth rates are going to slow down was inevitable.

"What it indicates is that we're actually getting further through the rebuild programme, and we're now at a period where we're using very high numbers as a comparison."

There's good news for Christchurch renters - prices are expected to drop slightly in the next year as the economy steadies.

Pressure will continue to ease off the housing market, and Hooper said there should finally be a bit of leniency on high rent prices.

"There's more stock coming online as the build programme gets further through, and also we're probably seeing the peak of that demand for the residential programme, where people were needing to move houses for their repair programme."