Top of the south unemployment lowest in New Zealand

Saturday, 5 November 2016

The number of people employed in the Nelson, Tasman, Marlborough and West Coast region has grown by 3800 over the last year to 92,700

The top of the South Island is showing signs it has recovered from the 2008 recession better than most regions with historically high employment, according to data released by Statistics New Zealand.

With only 2.8 per cent unemployment, the Nelson, Tasman, Marlborough and West Coast region had the lowest unemployment rate in New Zealand in the September quarter.

A 2.2 per cent drop on the same period last year put the catchment well ahead of the national average unemployment rate of 4.9 per cent.

The latest labour market report by Statistics New Zealand highlights the region as the only one showing 'significant change in unemployment rate over the year' despite 1.6 per cent drops in Waikato and Wellington.

* Nelson job market growth outpacing most of NZ

* Tourist spend $559 million in Nelson last year**

Even adjusting for seasonal variations in the workforce, this was the lowest unemployment rate for the top of the south and West Coast since December 2007 and similar to pre-recession levels.

Nelson MP Nick Smith said the region now had a record high number of people at work.

'The number of people employed in the Nelson, Tasman, Marlborough and West Coast region has grown by 3800 over the last year to 92,700.'

Many influences could factor into the area's outstanding success. Figures from Trade Me suggest the job market is improving and, with an aging population, vacancies were more likely to be filled by out-of-town workers.

Wilsons Abel Tasman CEO Darryl Wilson said greater employment was 'directly linked' to increased participation in the region's current tourism boom but 'it's equally a better environment post-GFC'.

'Businesses are more confident and we're in an expansion phase. You can carry staff over from the leaner months if you are confident you're going to have that cash flow.'

He said his company's 'nomadic workforce' had grown by 15 people in the last year with more staff staying on longer.