8001 more jobs in the Bay of Plenty

Business is booming for 1st Call Recruitment, Phill van Syp is confident about the success and future. Photo/File

Figures show more than 8000 new jobs were created in the Bay in the year to September - but competition for positions is also heating up, experts say.

Employment growth in the Bay of Plenty has jumped 6.1 per cent and accounted for 8100 new jobs across the region, according to Statistics New Zealand.

Priority One projects manager Annie Hill said Tauranga and the Western Bay were the main drivers behind the employment growth as the sub region was increasingly seen as a viable place to do business.

"The jobs are being created by a mixture of the expansion of businesses already based here, as well as new jobs coming into the area with businesses that are relocating from elsewhere, particularly Auckland.

"There has been very strong growth in the professional services sector, the kiwifruit sector and in manufacturing, as well as strong demand in emerging sectors such as ICT."

Priority One's Wish You Were Working Here initiative which shared CVs of expats and locals seeking jobs had 200 people on the database, she said

Tauranga Chamber of Commerce chief executive Stan Gregec said business confidence was at an all time high.

"It's been a boom year for Tauranga growth and economic activity. That is definitely translating into more job opportunities, which is good news."

But with the movement of so many new people into the region, there was also pressure on jobs - especially non-specialised or unskilled jobs, Mr Gregec said.

"I think Tauranga business owners will continue to recruit into the New Year, as they look to another solid year ahead."

Recruitment agencies say competition for jobs has also increased over the past year with some vacancies attracting up to 150 applications. Some job seekers said they were struggling to find positions as a result.

Halee Reid, Tauranga branch manager of Drake recruitment company, said a part-time administration role received 150 applications and was removed three days after being advertised due to the response.

However, other highly-skilled jobs including quantity surveyors, draughtsman, audiologists and specialists in the health field were difficult to fill.

1st Call Recruitment's Phill van Syp said there was a "ridiculous" number of jobs for plumbers, builders and tradies.

The company was looking to employ another recruiter to keep up with the workload as it was placing 30 to 40 people a week into jobs, he said.

Staff Room director Jill Cachemaille said it was a competitive marketplace. In the past out of 150 applications there may have been up to 10 high calibre candidates but "now it's up to 15 which is brilliant but makes it tough for candidates".

Advice to job seekers
Tauranga Chamber of Commerce chief executive Stan Gregec advises job seekers to be proactive and creative in their job search, do their homework on prospective employers and attend events to make connections with key people.
Halee Reid, Tauranga branch manager of Drake recruitment company believes potential candidates often underestimated the importance of a tailored cover letter to stand out from the crowd.
1st Call Recruitment managing director Phill van Syp says employers look for consistency. "It looks really bad on a CV if you see people moving every three to six months."