There are still jobs available in Rotorua but some sectors like tourism will continue to struggle. Photo / Getty Images
There are still jobs available in Rotorua but some sectors like tourism will continue to struggle. Photo / Getty Images
The Rotorua downturn in tourism and hospitality is likely to be offset by other sectors this year which will bring glad tidings for job seekers.
Experts say 2021 would be challenging for some companies but on the bright side new businesses had opened and many of the iconic attractions hadtransformed their offerings.
Destination Rotorua interim chief executive Andrew Wilson said 2020 was a real mixed bag from an economic perspective with some businesses suffering from a reduced visitor economy.
Destination Rotorua interim chief executive Andrew Wilson. Photo / File
Others involved in sectors like forestry and wood processing, manufacturing, construction, grocery and professional services doing very well, he said.
''We see their business confidence reflected in the range of roles listed on recruitment sites for those sectors and we expect to see that demand continue throughout the year.''
There were still challenges ahead for businesses that are dependent on high visitor volume as these had suffered from the pandemic more than others.
''But over the last few months, we've seen new hospitality and retail businesses open like the Fainting Goat and Kānuka Florist.''
New products had also been developed in existing businesses which included a new ride at Velocity Valley, a steaming cliffs kayak tour at Waimangu; Geysers by Night at Te Puia; and Tamaki Village's new cultural evening.
Hospitality New Zealand Bay of Plenty branch president Reg Hennessy, who also owns Hennessy's Irish Bar in Rotorua. Photo / File
Hospitality New Zealand Bay of Plenty branch president Reg Hennessy, who also owns Hennessy's Irish Bar in Rotorua, said 2020 was ''difficult'' for the industry.
''Rotorua relies heavily on foreign international tourists, which at the moment of course we have none of. Hospitality feeds off this business and so many other businesses feed off hospitality so it has a flow-on effect.''
The domestic visitor market had increased but it was still small compared to what ''has been lost''.
''I believe the district will continue to suffer until the border can be safely opened again. And who knows when that will happen.''
Hennessy said currently the industry was short of good staff and traditionally a lot of those roles were filled by backpackers and workers on visas.
1st Call Recruitment managing director Phil van Syp. Photo / File
1st Call Recruitment managing director Phil van Syp said it had its best year last year ''which is just crazy''.
He said hospitality was doing it tough at the moment but Kiwis are trying to do their best to keep the economy going.
''You just have to go through Rotorua on any given day and the busloads of tourists are missing. But people were being more flexible and in some cases are working two jobs.''
On the upside, the trades were and would continue to grow due to demand.
Van Syp said he thought the future looked bright.
''We are already extremely busy. We have work forecasted out to June which is unusual and I can't find enough people.'
''So if people really want to work send them my way because we have jobs coming out of our ears.''
Retail NZ chief executive Greg Harford said the retail sector was very diverse, and there's a wide range of roles in retail, ranging from frontline customer service staff to marketing, social media, buying and leadership.
''The retail sector is always in need of people who have great skills and are keen to work.''
That said, 2021 was likely to be challenging.
''There are significant extra costs in terms of employing staff coming from the next minimum wage hike, proposed changes to sick leave, and the proposed Matariki public holiday; all of which will be encouraging retailers to look very closely at their businesses and try to operate more efficiently.
"We would expect there to be fewer roles advertised in retail overall over the next year.''
Tauranga Chamber of Commerce chief executive Matt Cowley. Photo / File
Meanwhile, Tauranga Chamber of Commerce chief executive Matt Cowley said most sectors had a strong rebound after lockdown thanks to stronger consumer confidence than initially anticipated.
Many businesses have strong pipelines heading into 2021, including trades, architects and professional services.
Those who didn't do so well were more reliant on open borders, had pre-existing problems, or were just unlucky with timing, he said.
''Covid-19 showed the benefit of business continuity planning, including the need for workplace flexibility and having good communications plans to staff and stakeholders.
''Logistics is a prime example where companies who primarily had a just-in-time cost efficiency focus, are now building in just-in-case focus to ensure they can provide continuity in an uncertain world.''
But Cowley said there was still some uncertainty by chief executives on what Q3 and 4 2021 might look like once the Government's stimulus packages have gone through the economy and net migration was limited by border control policies.
Trade Me Jobs spokesman Matt Tolich said in the Bay of Plenty, the sectors that saw the biggest year-on-year increase in jobs listings in the last quarter of 2020 were manufacturing & operations (37 per cent), agriculture, fishing & forestry (15 per cent), and trades and services (14 per cent).
''While sectors like fishing & forestry typically experience a seasonal jump in Q4, in 2020 with no overseas workers to fill these roles, employers were forced to look locally and this is contributing to some big jumps in job listings.''
The latest data from the Ministry for Social Development shows in November 2020 there were 20,280 people on the Job Seekers benefit in the Bay of Plenty compared to 14,431 in November 2019.
