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Record vacancies as Great South Job Search kicks off in Southland

Wednesday, 23 June 2021

Great South Southland youth futures team manager Renata Gill ahead of next week’s job search, to be held in Invercargill and Gore.
Great South Southland youth futures team manager Renata Gill ahead of next week’s job search, to be held in Invercargill and Gore.

If you’re looking for a job perhaps the best place is to head to Southland as more than 870 jobs will be posted at next week's Great South Job Search.

It’s an increase of more than 200 vacancies posted at previous job search events.

Event organiser Renata Gill said the increased vacancies were predominantly focused in the agriculture and trade industries.

There are 200 jobs are available in the agriculture, fishery and forestry sector alone.

The community-focused event, returning for its fifth year in Gore and Invercargill, “aims to create a friendly and welcoming space for jobseekers,” Gill said.

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With the overflow in vacancies in the region and a reduction in the number of people utilising Jobseeker Work Ready beneficiaries, unemployment in Southland sat at 3.5 per cent at the close of last quarter.

The hospitality and tourism industry, which experienced the brunt of COVID-19 restrictions in 2020, still has 46 job vacancies posted at the search.

“We’re expecting an increase in vacancies as warmer summer weather brings visitors to the area,” Gill said.

In addition to regular seminars on CVs and interview skills, this year will feature a Southern Directionz​ led “My Skills Job Match” seminar.

The seminar, that will be held in Invercargill on Thursday, will focus on identifying key skill sets in applicants and matching them with relevant career fields.

For the first time, the Gore event will focus on specialised migrant job seeker support including advice from a licensed immigration advisor on Tuesday, June 29.