Career expo goes online
The annual Sort It Careers Expo normally attracts thousands of senior school students and job hunters from across Manawatu¯Whanganui each year to a packed hall at Palmerston North’s CET Arena.
But this year’s 28 exhibiting companies, and tertiary education and training organisations, will swap booths for four weeks of webinars and online workshops.
Central Economic Development Agency chief executive Linda Stewart said with physical distancing still in effect, the agency chose to take the expo online, rather than postpone or cancel it.
‘‘Sort It takes on a new significance given the post Covid-19 career challenges faced by school-leavers and those looking to re-enter the workforce.’’
Government figures show there were 8850 Manawatu¯-whanganui people on the Jobseekers’ Benefit when the lockdown hit in March.
That number grew by 380 people aweek on average during the lockdown and by May 8 had reached 11,172.
Stewart said Manawatu¯ needed talented workers more than ever.
The region was in a good position to recover from the coronavirus crisis, with strong health, defence and education sectors. It had a broad economy that extended from farms to software, along with manufacturing, science and logistics, she said.
‘‘We also have $3.5 billion worth of infrastructure projects under way or due tp start this decade, so our talent pool is more important than ever.’’
The Sort It online programme and webinars will be available to watch live or to download on the expo website, or through an app.
Although it’s smaller than last year’s expo, which had 75 exhibitors and pulled in more than 4000 people, going online gave it a national reach, Stewart said.
‘‘As webinars are recorded, if people miss one they can catch up and watch it later with parents, caregivers and wha¯nau.’’