Golden year predicted for Wairarapa

Masterton Mayor Lyn Patterson says 2014 promises to be a good year with consumer and business confidence on the rise and a consequent lift in earnings in the offing.

Wairarapa is poised to cash in on a buoyant 2014, with nationwide predictions of economic growth, more jobs and better pay.

Masterton mayor Lyn Patterson said 2014 promised to be a more positive year.

"I would like to think that if economic conditions have improved there'll be more money in the kitty for everyone and that people would be able to get a pay rise."

New Zealand business confidence is the strongest it has been since the recession and the national economy is forecast to have 3.3 per cent growth this year, well above the 2.3 per cent average for "rich club" nations in the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

The OECD predicts post-earthquake reconstruction in Christchurch will drive investment and for farm exports to recover from the drought - offering the prospect of more jobs, lower unemployment and higher wages nationwide.

Despite the rosy predictions, new figures released by the Seek jobs website show the number of listed Wellington region jobs fell last year. More than 43,000 jobs were advertised a 5 per cent drop on 2012. Wairarapa-specific figures were unavailable.

Nationwide, 252,000 jobs were advertised on Seek in 2013.

Mrs Patterson said consumer confidence was on the rise and local retailers had told her they had a good Christmas season.

"There's most certainly a higher sense of confidence in where we're going for 2014 than what I felt even two years ago."

The council had established an economic development taskforce to get under way in 2014, looking at how council could better support businesses and encourage new industries to the region.

It also planned to focus on employment opportunities, particularly for Masterton youth.

The roll-out of ultrafast broadband would help rural and urban workers to improve their productivity. Mrs Patterson said: "It's really important for our primary industry to have the use of that technology as much as what it is for our businesses in the urban area."

She predicted forestry would generate more Wairarapa jobs over the next 20 years.

Seek New Zealand general manager Janet Faulding said the top three job categories in terms of available positions last year nationally were information and communication technology, trades and services, and administration and office support roles, representing more than 30 per cent of the job market.

Trades and services staff were in demand with more than 20,000 jobs advertised during 2013, with big growth in the labourers, maintenance and handyperson services, and building trades.

Design and architecture experienced the biggest jump, with a 59 per cent surge in opportunities, on the back of the growing property market.

"With the unemployment rate set to decline ... competition will be fierce to attract top talent in the year ahead." APNZ