''Absolutely ridiculous'' is how one job recruiter has described the current market in Rotorua as 70 per cent of applicants in the running for work were no shows at interviews.
That scenario was being played out across the city, with employers dismayed at the number of Kiwis who weren't interested in putting their hand up.
The news comes hard on the heels of increased vacancies and a labour shortage that has seen job hunters move into the "driver's seat''.
Kristen Bangs from Top Staff Solutions said employers were desperate for help and earlier last week she had interviews scheduled all morning - and not one person showed up.
''Probably about 70 per cent of interviewees don't show up. It's just unbelievable.''
She attended a Ministry for Social Development forum one month ago and was told there were 9600 people on benefits and ''that just blows my mind''.
In her view there were no consequences for MSD clients who didn't go to job interviews.
''In the past they would get their benefits stopped ... now there is no incentive for them to turn up to a job interview.''
At the moment she was trying to fill vacancies for exterior cleaners and sawmill workers.
Bangs wanted to encourage people to not be afraid to apply for jobs and go to the interviews.
''I don't want people to be scared about coming for an interview and getting turned down because that is unlikely at the moment.''
Talent ID Rotorua/Tauranga director Kellie Hamlett said the job market was moving really quickly.
''It's a candidate-driven market and good people are finding work quickly. They get alternate offers and we lose candidates to other roles.''
However, she acknowledged there was a lack of skilled candidates and Hamlett had noticed employers were advertising vacancies differently.
''They are putting jobs on noticeboards and on banners outside their businesses because the traditional advertising streams on Trade Me and Seek were not working as well. I think that is because of the sheer number of people looking for employees.'
''It's very competitive, which is also driving salaries up.''
Hamlett said it had a variety of roles including everything from infrastructure design to chief executive and government department positions.
Red Stag Group chief executive Marty Verry said it always had vacancies but ''it's tight, it's not easy out there''.
''We are lucky Red Stag is an employer of choice in the industry so we attract staff ... however there will come a time when some of these sawmills that are needed to build houses won't be able to operate fully.'
''So that will have flow-on effects and is something to think about.''
Hennessy's Bar owner and Hospitality New Zealand Bay of Plenty branch president Reg Hennessy said he had eight job vacancies and chefs were doing dishes.
Candidates for those jobs were also not bothering to show up, he said.
Rotorua Chamber of Commerce chief executive Bryce Heard said it was getting the same reports about people wanting to be career beneficiaries.
''A lot of that is from our bigger employers particularly. The difficulty is getting people to show up for interviews and to show up for work.''
But on the positive side, the chamber had been running a business start-up clinic.
''We are finding a lot of those people that aren't keen to work a structured 40-hour week for an employer are very keen to be self-employed and they have some great ideas.
''We are getting quite a few into productive self-employment and we have been overwhelmed with applicants. MSD are also referring people who have been on the benefit for a long time who want to work at their own rhythm for themselves.''
Ministry for Social Development Bay of Plenty regional commissioner Mike Bryant said its experience showed the majority of people who received a benefit want to be self-reliant and have the dignity of work.
When people were on a benefit, there were responsibilities and obligations they needed to meet, he said.
''If they fail to do so, they can have their payments reduced or stopped. This applies with job interviews arranged for jobseekers.
''To ensure a jobseeker can realistically meet their obligations, their individual circumstances are taken into consideration before they are referred to a job, for example their health, childcare needs, or physical fitness.''
Bryant said the number of people on benefits in the Rotorua territorial authority to the end of March was 9045.
''Anecdotally, while Covid had an impact on our labour market, overall, the region has shown signs of resilience in the construction, horticulture, forestry and transport sectors.
''Demands continue in the health sector not only for home and aged care, but also for specialised roles in the mental health, medical, nursing and allied health fields. The hospitality industry has picked up slightly in Rotorua.''
The ministry also had many initiatives around moving people into work, which included working with a range of employers and industries.
To the end of May 2021, 18,663 people in the Bay of Plenty were on Jobseeker support.
Trade Me Jobs sales director Matt Tolich said job hunters were now in the ''driver's seat'' and Rotorua had experienced a 47 per cent increase in job vacancies in the second quarter of 2021 compared to the same timeframe in 2019.
The largest increases in job listings in Rotorua were seen in manufacturing and operations (up 255 per cent), construction and roading (up 93 per cent)and hospitality and tourism (up 74 per cent).
''Rotorua is a job market that relies heavily on backpackers and migrant workers so it's not too surprising that this market has been hit hard by our borders being closed.''
The average wage in Rotorua rose 5 per cent on 2019 to $60,665, he said.
"On top of this, Kiwis appear to be sticking it out in their current roles until our borders are open, and the world begins to return to normal.
''We know that job security is highly important to employees at the moment. In a recent survey we conducted with 1400 Kiwis, just 17 per cent said they were looking to move roles in the next 12 months. That's down from 27 per cent in 2020.''
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