"It did hit a number of local businesses pretty hard but we are seeing a lot of organisations that have come through, that are leaner and meaner and working smarter and starting to go again in terms of expansion."
Mr Beattie believed the vacancy figures reflected new businesses coming to the area as well as existing employers becoming more active.
Many people, including Aucklanders, had wanted to move to the area in the last six to eight months.
"I'm sure that's creating its own momentum in Hawke's Bay."
Whether there were jobs available for them depended on their skill sets.
"In some areas we're finding there's a surplus of jobseekers and in some areas we're finding there's a shortage."
There had been skill shortages in information technology, high end accounting and engineering. There were vacancies in logistics, office administration and high-end accounting.
Mr Beattie said more sales and marketing roles were also arising. Companies tended to cut back on those sorts of roles during the recent global financial crisis.
Nationally, online job vacancies were steady in August, according to MBIE.
During the month skilled vacancies decreased by 0.1 per cent and total vacancies increased by 0.3 per cent. The largest increase in skilled vacancies was in the hospitality and tourism industry, while the biggest decrease was in information technology.
Skilled vacancies increased for trades workers and technicians but fell for managers and professionals.
In the year to August, the biggest increase in skills vacancies was in the education and training industry. The biggest decline was in information technology. Vacancies again increased for trades workers and technicians but decreased for professionals.
Over the year, the fastest-growing occupations for managers were cafe and restaurant roles. For professionals the fastest-growing occupation was solicitor. For trades workers and technicians the fastest growing jobs were bakers and pastry cooks.APNZ
