Competition fierce in search for Wairarapa jobs

Local musician, music teacher and graduate Darren Knight, 42, said it was getting "harder and harder" to find employment.

Mr Knight worked as a drum tutor for secondary students for 15 years.

The Masterton man also recently graduated from the New Zealand School of Music in Wellington after returning to education and attaining third-level qualifications in music.

"To get anything now is difficult. I've been looking in Wellington and Masterton and there's not a lot going," he said. "I've applied for sales jobs in music stores and I've also a lot of painting experience and in the area of interior decorating but I can't find anything."

In some cases he had been congratulated by employers for reaching the final 20-30 from more than 1000 applicants.

"There are quite a few having the same issue as me. I'm hearing the same thing from them, they apply for the job only to find that the number of people competing for the job is huge."

He was willing to travel anywhere in Wairarapa or Wellington: "I'm getting on Trade Me and Facebook and promoting the fact that I'm looking for work. I've also gone to Wellington and approached shops and handed out CVs, but without any luck so far."

Mr Knight believes the Government is doing its bit but thinks the economic situation needs to be addressed locally as well as nationally.

"I think there are a lot more supports than there was, say, 10 years ago. There is now one-day seminars being offered to help jobseekers. There is only so much they can do if the jobs aren't there."