Tauranga job listings up 27 per cent to top nation

Luke McCartin, owner of Mr Miyagi and George, is looking for two new employees. Photo / John Borren

Job listings in Tauranga have gone up 26.7 per cent since last year - the highest growth of any region in the country, according to figures from Trade Me.

The figures show job listings increased by 7.3 per cent in Auckland, 5.9 per cent in Hawke's Bay, 4.5 per cent in Gisborne and 22.6 per cent in the Bay of Plenty. This was for July to September 2015 compared to the same period last year.

Trade Me head of jobs Peter Osborne said more Aucklanders had been applying for jobs in the Bay of Plenty.

The Bay had seen a 32 per cent increase in the number of job applications from people based in Auckland.

"Over the past year, 13 per cent of applications sent by Auckland candidates were for roles located outside the Auckland region."

Hospitality and tourism job listings were up 69 per cent, and trades and services listings were up 50 per cent.

Luke McCartin, owner of Mr Miyagi and George, said he was looking for people to fill a position at both of the businesses.

He listed the jobs on Tuesday and has already received applications.

"We get quite a lot of people applying that are qualified in different ways. We're a healthy food option, we make good food and they may have worked in a commercial kitchen with powdered mashed potato."

When looking for a new employee, while experience was a consideration, Mr McCartin put a lot of weight on how well the individual's ethos aligned with the business.

"At George, we're really passionate about good produce.

"Some people don't care if the food's organic or if it was sourced 300km away or 3000km away," he said.

Harper Smith Recruitment Tauranga director Paddy Shaw said he had noticed a big surge in job listings in Tauranga and the wider Bay of Plenty.

"Everything has picked up substantially. Next year is looking good too.

"Auckland is driving it. We've had a lot of interest from people wanting to relocate here from the South Island as well."

Mr Shaw said commercial construction was doing well and residential construction had surged recently after remaining steady for some time.

The Staffroom Limited director Jill Cachemaille said she had noticed a definite increase in job listings.

"We've been really, really busy, particularly in accounts administration kind of jobs, but not limited to that."

She had also noticed increasing numbers of calls from Auckland-based job seekers looking to relocate as well as confidence in the market.