MORE people are employed in Whanganui and Manawatu than at any time since December 2011 - and a local business leader is delighted with prospects for the region.
Statistics New Zealand figures show there were 8400 more people working in the region compared with two years ago, taking the total to 114,100.
Whanganui Chamber of Commerce chief executive Raewyn Overton-Stuart said she expected employment figures to be strong.
"The market is quite buoyant at the moment. The business owners I'm talking to are talking about growth and the positive things that are happening in our region."
She said she knew that a few businesses had had to cut back. "But I think there are enough positive things happening in business offsetting that."