ChamberWorks launches to help overwhelmed Rotorua employers find the right candidate

MSD Rotorua regional labour market manager Adam Adkins speaks to local businesses about the launch of ChamberWorks. Photo / Supplied

Hundreds of job applications were “overwhelming” a Rotorua businesswoman looking for a few casual staff.

Postie store manager Tracey Dunbar said she would only read the first 10 applications and choose from those because it was “too much”.

Dunbar sought help from the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) about six months ago.

She shared her success story with a group of Rotorua businesspeople at a recent Rotorua Business Chamber event to launch the ChamberWorks programme in Rotorua.

Auckland launched the programme first a week earlier.

It is a partnership between MSD and the New Zealand Chambers of Commerce.

The free programme helps employers by pre-screening local candidates, building digital and wellbeing skills, and providing access to workforce support.

Dunbar had a permanent team but needed some casual staff to help during busy periods, like holidays.

She said an MSD staff member went into her store to let her know about the services they provide.

After realising she did need help, Dunbar got in touch and outlined her needs.

Dunbar said they told her, “Leave it with me”.

About a week later, she was sent four candidates who had been “pre-interviewed”.

“I hired all of those people,” Dunbar said.

“They were all fantastic.”

Three of the four still worked for Dunbar. One seeking full-time work started at Pak’nSave.

Speaking at the launch, MSD Rotorua regional labour market manager Adam Adkins said the programme would cut through the problem of “hundreds of CVs”.

It aimed to make recruitment “really easy”, saving time and effort.

He said about 60% of candidates referred went on to be hired, reflecting the quality of matching.

Adkins said Rotorua had a “massive” local talent pool, with about 5500 people on Jobseeker Support.

He said the pool was growing as the economy shifted and more people were looking for work after businesses closed or made changes.

The profile of job seekers had also changed, with more “high-skill” candidates holding qualifications or years of experience.

Adkins said this created a “rich” talent pool for local businesses.

The ChamberWorks programme offered “flexi-wage” support, which helped employers pay wages, along with training and ongoing support for employees if needed.

It was government-funded and provided a “bit of compensation”, Adkins said.

Jen Murray, Taiohi Tūrama Rotorua Centre for Youth chief executive, said ChamberWorks could support their work by giving access to additional resources for young people and employers.

The centre provides free primary health, mental health and social services for under-24s.

She said it was becoming harder for young people to find work as more experienced candidates applied for entry-level roles.

Rotorua Business Chamber chief executive Melanie Short speaking to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. Photo / Michelle Cutelli Photography

Rotorua Business Chamber chief executive Melanie Short said ChamberWorks was “one of the most exciting opportunities for both businesses and for people seeking employment that’s been presented for a while”.

She was looking forward to “rolling it out really strongly” to ensure “great results”.

ChamberWorks will be available across the country’s 23 chambers.

Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston said in a statement the initiative was “meeting a gap in the market”.

“Employers frequently tell me recruitment is one of the biggest challenges they face,” Upston said.

“It makes sense for these two key groups to work together because MSD has the largest talent pipeline of workers in the country.”

Annabel Reid is a multimedia journalist for the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post, based in Rotorua. Originally from Hawke’s Bay, she has a Bachelor of Communications from the University of Canterbury.