Recruiter struggles to find applicants
Recruiter Jonny Peters has a problem: Jobs to fill and no applicants to take them.
The senior account manager at labour hire firm Hirestaff in Auckland said, despite warnings of growing unemployment, it was very hard to find peoplewho were looking for work.
‘‘We have a heap of roles available but are not getting many responses from job adverts. We read and hear on the news that there’s increasing unemployment, but we aren’t inundated with applications.’’
The business has seven advertisements live for carpenters, electricians and general labourers but Peters said he would be able to place many more construction workers than that on projects in Auckland and Waikato, if they were to come forward.
The labouring roles did not require any experience, just fit and reliable applicants, he said.
Peters said electricians could be paid about $40 an hour and labourers $20 to $22. ‘‘We don’t pay minimum wage.
‘‘We posted an ad for carpenters on Trademe and had one person apply.
‘‘I thought we would be absolutely flooded.’’
He has taken to advertising in hostels and contacting Work and Income.
There are predictions New Zealand’s unemployment rate could hit 10 per cent this year as the impact of Covid-19 is felt. More than 45,000 people have registered for an unemployment benefit since March 20.
Infometrics economist Brad Olsen said a lack of applicants for labouring positions was surprising.
‘‘All regions have seen thousands of job losses since March 20, and so it may point to a need for better co-ordination between labour hire and recruitment companies and the Ministry of Social Development’s employment centres.’’
However, he said it was likely to be harder to fill specialist construction roles – for now.
‘‘Construction levels are still holding up at present as builders work through the backlog of lockdown work and continue with projects already under way prior to the pandemic ... but with this pipeline set to dry up in the next nine or so months, there will eventually be a trend towards more construction workers being available.’’
‘‘We posted an ad for carpenters on Trade Me and had one person apply.’’
Jonny Peters
Hirestaff senior account manager