FILE
Job seekers, polish up your CVs as Rotorua should have another strong year of economic growth ahead, a local recruitment consultant says.
While still below the national average for pay packages, Rotorua, along with the rest of the Bay of Plenty, was one of the regions to experience the strongest economic growth in 2014.
Salary data from SEEK New Zealand shows pay for roles in the Bay of Plenty rose 10 per cent from January to $69,318 in December 2014.
And according to Trade Me statistics, the number of jobs advertised on the site from Rotorua and the Bay of Plenty region from October to December 2014, grew by 26.3 per cent compared to the same quarter in 2013.
Personnel Resources/Temp Resources Rotorua team leader Angelique Tizard said she was feeling very positive about Rotorua's growth in 2015.
"Rotorua is an awesome place to live and I would expect to see unemployment figures continue to decline this year. Job seekers should definitely start polishing up their CVs if they haven't already as I think Rotorua will be in for another strong year."
Ms Tizard said while the job market was improving, job seekers still needed to be prepared.
"Register online with a recruitment agency to start the process and get some professional advice. Don't underestimate the power of networking, let your friends and family know you are looking for a job so they can keep an ear out for anything suitable."
Ms Tizard said the job process could take a while and job seekers should persist.
"You could be in a new job within a month or so if you are lucky but for many people it will take much longer - sometimes the interview process alone can take three or four weeks. Patience and persistence is key."
Talent ID recruitment and human resource specialist Olivia Burman said they had a lot of positive interest from candidates looking for work or wanting a change in career.
"There is plenty of work available here in Rotorua and the wider Bay of Plenty with many industries advertising for new staff in all types roles."
She said job seekers were told it could take at least three months to find a suitable role.
"We generally like to temp our candidates in the meantime to help boost their income levels."
Orca Engineering & Marine owner Andre Verdonk said his company found it difficult to find the right employee for a trade role.
"We have been advertising the job for around three months, which is a really long time to have a job unfilled," he said. "The problem is that there are not enough skilled tradesmen in New Zealand. We have had a reasonable response to the job advertisement but 95 per cent of people who have applied are not right for the job."
Mr Verdonk said there has been an influx of Kiwis wanting to return from Australia who were applying for jobs.
Rotorua Chamber of Commerce chief executive Darrin Walsh said it didn't surprise him that the Bay of Plenty was one of the places with the highest growth in 2014 and said last year showed some good, positive signs for the city.
Mr Walsh said he had seen an increase in the number of jobs being advertised in the area.
"2015 could be good year for those skilled workers in a particular industry as employers may pay a little extra to secure good talent."
- Additional reporting Regan Schoultz NZME.