Hawke's Bay job market to remain strong for some time

Hawke's Bay export receipts from apples have grown 80 per cent since 2010. Photo / Warren Buckland

For the third month in a row Hawke's Bay has topped the country for job advertisement growth.

In July it increased 11.7 per cent compared with July 2014, according to the ANZ New Zealand Job Ads survey.

In June it was 10.6 per cent and May 11.6 per cent.

ANZ senior economist Sharon Zollner said the region enjoyed buoyancy in the tourism and pipfruit sectors.

Hawke's Bay export receipts from apples have grown 80 per cent since 2010 and are expected to double within five years, thanks to new markets and varieties.

Pipfruit exports were benefiting from the fall in the New Zealand dollar "without actually getting the dairy pain".

"There are always winners and losers when exchange rates move," she said.

Hawke's Bay Tourism general manager Annie Dundas said a good summer season had flowed into winter.

June accommodation figures were up 17 per cent year-on-year and July was expected to be similar because of events such as the NRL game in Napier.

The exchange rate made the coming season promising.

"Tourism may well overtake dairy as New Zealand's biggest export earner this year," she said.

Hawke's Bay Chamber of Commerce CEO Wayne Walford said a national economic slump expected from low dairy prices would be minimal for Hawke's Bay because of its current strength in wine, pipfruit, horticulture, beef and lamb.

There was "positive energy" in the region.

"It will be interesting to see what some of the proposed developments do, like Ruataniwha - that will be another surge," he said.

"It is great to see businesses looking for people to add to and grow their business, it's just fantastic."

Pipeline Recruitment director Ian Beattie said the company was working with out of town candidates keen to move to Hawke's Bay.

There was a shortage of good candidates for some jobs but others attracted a surplus, such as administration, customer service and accounts.

"It's very distinct. We are seeing in some cases over supply of candidates and in some cases a real skill shortage.

"It's a really interesting market at the moment."

Ms Zollner said employers nationally were becoming more cautious about hiring staff.

She tipped Hawke's Bay job advertising growth to remain near the top of the table in the immediate future because of the survey's three month average, but warned it may have passed its peak.

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