Heartening news as region's job market set to soar

The job market in Hawke's Bay is thriving thanks to an increase in employment opportunities, a recruitment specialist says.

According to data released by Seek.co.nz, there was a 10.88 per cent increase in the number of jobs advertised on the site in Hawke's Bay compared with 2013. The Bay was the seventh highest region in the country for growth in job numbers.

The figures also showed a 12.04 per cent increase in the number of applications for roles in the area.

Branch manager at Kelly Services Caroline Kermode said it was heartening to see the rise, particularly for people wanting a foot in the door. "I have noticed there are a lot of opportunities for entry-level positions, which is great. So that is things like administrative positions, production workers and opportunities for people who haven't necessarily had experience but have a good work ethic going on," she said.

"The increase is in the lower level learning skilled role, and the medium level jobs, but the higher level jobs opportunities are still the same, static."

Ms Kermode said she expected an increase in people applying for roles once they realised there were more positions available. "I have always said that we don't necessarily have a skill shortage here in the Bay - we have a job shortage - so I think once people start seeing that there are more opportunities now and they can get the skilled jobs, they will apply," she said.

"The problem is that we have had good people leave because they just can't get the work so I am hoping that people will soon realise there are more jobs available and come back to the Bay."

Ms Kermode said she expected good results in the job market for 2015.

"I think we are going to see a boost now which will run through to the end of March - April, then it will slow because Hawke's Bay is still quite seasonal. Around August things should ramp up yet again.

"This year is already been better than last year," she said. "This is going to be a good year for everybody."

Hawke's Bay Today general manager Russell Broughton said some sectors were offering more job opportunities while others lagged behind.

"We are seeing a lot of job activity from schools, in the horticulture sector, the councils and the district health boards but there are also a lot of areas that are not as active as they might have been previously, like manufacturing type sectors."

Nationally, an extra 20,000 jobs were advertised on the Seek website in 2014 - a 10 per cent increase on 2013.

Seek general manager Janet Faulding said the growth in job listings was a reflection of a "rockstar economy".

"It's fantastic to see increasing business confidence trickle down to the job market ..."

Southland had the biggest growth in job numbers at 31.95 per cent followed by Marlborough at 28.62 per cent on the previous year.

The data also showed a 3.6 per cent increase on the previous year in people wanting new jobs.

NZME.