"While Tauranga's industries and corporate sector are definitely maturing, we still don't have the scale and depth of industry here that would support a sophisticated highly skilled professional workforce. There are pockets but not much more."
"This a concern, and could mean that these people will not be able to stay in Tauranga or will have to look at options like commuting. Or they will look at starting their own business from here, which is not a bad thing as this is as good a place as any to do that."
"Tauranga is certainly looking at developing itself as a centre for technology and innovation - and wants to attract more highly skilled people here that could be part of this."
Nationally, unemployment fell below 5 per cent for the first time in nearly eight years.
An extra 35,000 people were employed in the September quarter, with half of the growth occurring in Auckland, and a fifth in Otago.