Employers shun expo on careers

By STUART DYE

Organisers of one of Australasia's biggest career expos say they are "banging their heads against a brick wall" when trying to persuade employers to exhibit.

The Coca-Cola Careers Expo begins today at Auckland Showgrounds and more than 25,000 secondary school students are expected to attend.

Universities, polytechnics and private training organisations will be well represented, but expo organisers say they have not been able to get trade businesses to turn up.

"Have you tried to get a plumber recently?" says Guy Nash, expo seminar programme organiser.

The four-day expo is a one-stop shop of advice about study opportunities and careers for secondary students.

It provides a forum to explore tertiary and career options and offers practical strategies for making a successful transition from school to work.

For businesses struggling to recruit it should be rich pickings.

But Roger Barry, who organises the exhibitors, says as far as employers go, "it's a complete washout".

He said: "These are the people complaining they cannot recruit - but they won't take the opportunity to come and meet the next generation of potential employees.

"We would like three times the number of businesses we get, but it's like banging our heads against a brick wall."

According to the NZ Institute of Economic Research, 40 per cent of employers report difficulty finding skilled labour, 21 per cent struggle to find unskilled labour, and 16 per cent say that labour is the factor most limiting expansion of their business.

Organisers stress to exhibitors that the expo is not a recruitment fair, but a chance to provide information on career options.

As well as stalls by tertiary institutions, training institutes and businesses, the exhibition features a seminar programme offering students practical information from experts in fields spanning skilled trades, science, sport, health and architecture.

Evening seminars will be held on subjects as diverse as the science of food and wine, what maths contributes to rocket science, working with animals and trades.

The Auckland visit represents the second stop, after Christchurch, of the expo's annual tour. It will also visit Wellington and Dunedin.