Rotorua job boom: Where the skills shortages are

Sefton Electrical owner Dave Sefton said the business grew 35 per cent in 2017 and he took on 11 staff. Photo/Andrew Warner

The number of job listings in Rotorua has jumped but people are still being recruited from overseas as the skills shortage continues to bite, experts say.

The latest figures from Trade Me show new job listings were up 6.6 per cent in the last quarter of 2017 year-on-year, compared to 2.6 per cent nationally.

Trade Me Head of Jobs Jeremy Wade said transport and logistics alongside trades and services had incredibly strong growth in Rotorua over that period - listings up 65 and 47 per cent respectively.

''This is most likely a reflection of both population growth and the impact of nationwide spending on infrastructure and housing. However it's notable that hospitality and tourism roles, which are typically the core part of the Rotorua economy, were down 24 per cent year-on-year," he said.

''What we're seeing is a lot of the regions are out-performing our three main centres and Rotorua's job market is comparable to the average regional performance.''

Within the Bay of Plenty, Rotorua's job market was stronger in comparison to Tauranga, where new job listings were down 2.6 per cent.

''Looking ahead to 2018, we expect the skill shortage to worsen and as a result, job hunters can expect to see better offers dangled in front of them.''

CLAAS Harvest Centre manager Bruce Rankin said it still had one job advertised for a diesel mechanic and had recruited another mechanic from South Africa.

''If you snooze you lose and the best offer wins basically . . . there is a massive skills shortage and competition. What we are finding is people that are good at their jobs are looked after but the other side of it is you can turn over staff that you don't necessarily want as they are snapped up too.''

The Rotorua business, which employed about 20 staff, was also training more apprentices in the wake of the skills shortage, he said.

Master Builders Association Rotorua president Bill Clement said there were definitely openings in the building sector.

''But I think at the end of the day a lot of it is to do with the attitude of the applicant. We need people that are dedicated to the job.''

Clement said he was aware of ''a few new subdivisions popping up and I think that will continue for some time as we have a lack of new houses being built''.

Tissink Builders Ltd owner Roland Tissink said business was 40 per cent busier in 2017 compared to 2016 and he was still looking for carpenters.

''I have had lots of inquiries but they aren't qualified so it's hard to get people.''

On the flipside Sefton Electrical Ltd took on 11 staff last year and owner Dave Sefton said it had no problem with recruitment.

He put that down to the company's reputation, culture and the fact ''we pay well, generally a dollar or two more''.

The business grew 35 per cent last year and two new apprentices will start in the next two weeks.

It had entered into emerging markets and focused on supporting other electrical businesses in town, Sefton said.

Shades Trucking North Ltd manager Alan Coddington said it had put on two more trucks and drivers which allowed for more capability.

It transported mostly boats and caravans and he said business was travelling well off the back of house prices.

''But with the change of government who knows if they start talking growth taxes and that sort of thing, I don't know if that will dry things up or not. However we have been in business for a lot of years.''

One Staff operations manager Steve Burrows said qualified tradespeople were hard to find and there was a huge demand for carpenters, electricians and plumbers.

The number of applicants varied but was never enough with inquiries coming from as far afield as Asia, South Africa and the United Kingdom.

By the numbers
Year-on-year job growth in Rotorua
1. Construction and roading
2. Transport and logistics
3. Trades and services
4. Office and admins
5. Engineering
- Source Trade Me