New figures show a big jump in Western Bay job ads.
Local job listings increased 9.4 per cent region-wide last quarter compared to the same period last year, according to Trade Me Jobs.
Tauranga listings jumped 12.6 per cent with more than 1100 job listings advertised in the first three months of 2013.
Construction workers were in hot demand in the Western Bay.
National personnel administrator Aroha Tito said the firm had double the vacancies it had at the same time last year.
The company specialised in earthworks and carpentry staff. Ms Tito said more substantial projects had created jobs.
It had been hard to recruit key staff as many had moved to Christchurch to help with the re-build, Ms Tito said.
Mount Maunganui builder Dave Shaw, owner of Shaw Builders, said he had employed two new apprentices in the past two months and would be looking for more staff soon.
"We've always had a huge amount of work but now we've got more than we ever had."
Mr Shaw said he had no trouble finding apprentices through the technical institutes but had not looked for qualified builders for some time.
"If I have to, I'll advertise in Australia. There's not a lot of work over in Oz," he said.
Managing director of 1st Call Recruitment, Phill van Syp, said the March turnover for his company was up about 500 per cent on the same month last year.
The number of job listings had increased hugely this year and the company had already placed 84 people.
Sales, management and manufacturing plant job listings had increased noticeably, as had construction.
"If we found a builder today, we could place him tomorrow."
An analysis of more than 41,000 job ads listed in the first three months of 2013 shows the national employment market grew 5.3 per cent year-on-year. However, nationwide listings were down 3.2 per cent from the December quarter.
Head of Trade Me Jobs Ginny Ryder said there were hints of a slow shift in favour of job hunters as job numbers rose, and demand for employment fell. "That's good news for people hunting that dream job."
Data from the SEEK New Job Ad Index, also released this week, found new job advertisements on the website were up 4.9 per cent nationally compared to March 2012.
The figures follow a government announcement trumpeting a 29,000 fall in the number of Kiwis receiving benefits, the lowest number of beneficiaries at this time of year since 2009.
Bay of Plenty jobs
Up 9.4 per cent on the same quarter in 2012 and up 6.4 per cent on the December quarter
Tauranga listings up 12.6 per cent on the same quarter in 2012 and up 8.5 per cent on the December quarter
1107 Tauranga listings in the 2013 January-March quarter
Western Bay of Plenty listings up 32.7 per cent on the same quarter in 2012, however, down 3 per cent on the December quarter
65 Western Bay of Plenty listings in the 2013 January-March quarter
$50,848 - Average advertised salary for Bay of Plenty jobs
$53,125 - Average advertised salary for Tauranga jobs
$49,458 - Average advertised salary for Western Bay of Plenty jobs
$59,758 - Average advertised salary nationwide