Editorial: Rising tide in the Bay lifts all

The Bay economy surges ahead.

The Bay economy continues to surge ahead.

As reported in the Bay of Plenty Times Weekend, the value of building consents issued in Tauranga in 2014 was the highest in seven years, driving more building activity and pushing more than 200 young Western Bay people into construction apprenticeships.

In total $467,631,998 worth of building work was given the go-ahead by the Tauranga City Council, a 13.8 per cent increase on 2013 and the highest value since 2007 when more than $476m worth of work was consented.

It's not just the building sector that is benefiting from a buoyant economy and renewed consumer confidence.

The latest Trade Me statistics show the number of jobs advertised on the site in the Bay from October to December 2014, grew by 26.3 per cent compared with the corresponding quarter in 2013.

The retail sector in particular is on the hunt for workers as business improves. The growing demand for workers is also helping push up wage offers with the average pay packet for Bay of Plenty jobs advertised on one major job search site increasing 10 per cent.

It wasn't that long ago that the Western Bay was contending with several serious setbacks - the Rena disaster and the arrival of Psa, as well as the fallout of the global financial crisis.

Combined, these events had a huge impact on the local economy and, in turn, on business owners. They toughed it out and now, hopefully, they are being rewarded.