Meanwhile, the region's unemployment dropped to 7.1 per cent from 9.3 per cent in the previous quarter, compared with 8 per cent a year ago.
Ministry of Social Development figures show 7178 Rotorua residents received benefits in the March quarter - close to 500 fewer than a year earlier.
Mike Bryant, Bay of Plenty regional commissioner for social development, said the Rotorua labour market was steady.
"As well as the general job search support available to all clients through Work and Income, we are providing more intensive support to targeted groups - particularly those who are at risk of being on a benefit for a long period of time."
Forest Industry Contractors Association chief executive John Stulen said booming exports to China were giving Rotorua's forestry industry a boost.
"The production has been maintained throughout the Chinese New Year and that's unprecedented."
A combination of "more jobs and more hours" had helped contribute to employment growth in the sector, while wood volumes and prices were peaking, he said.
"It's the best it's been since October 1994."
Nadene McClay, manager of Waiariki Institute of Technology Careers and Employment Centre, said most of last year's forestry school graduates either had work by the time they completed their course or secured it shortly afterwards.
"This is partly due to increases in logging, locally, but also forest management graduates are in high demand.
"This is an area more people should be encouraged to enter," she said.
She said trades graduates were often recruited before finishing their courses and hotel, tourism and hospitality and culinary students were also being snapped up.
Mrs McClay said students were generally optimistic about their job prospects and were encouraged not to wait until they had finished their studies to think about it.
Local MP Todd McClay said this week a new study to evaluate opportunities for increasing investment, employment and incomes in the Bay of Plenty would bring more benefits to Rotorua.
"This Bay of Plenty Regional Growth Study is part of the Government's commitment to helping all of our regions attract investment and create more and higher-paying jobs," he said.
"Rotorua's forestry sector has grown in size consistently over the last five years thanks to the hard work of local industry and the Government's commitment to grow the sector.
"There are a number of factors to consider which will further stimulate investment and growth in the next few years and this study will build on the work already under way in the region."
Nationally, the employment rate rose 0.4 per cent to 65.1 in the three months to March, and 1.4 per cent compared with a year ago.
Employment is at its highest rate since December 2008, while national unemployment remains at 6 per cent.
