Tourism industry booming, stat’s say
The tourism industry was a big winner in 2016, with statistics indicating a new record in international visitor spend.
The Tourism Industry Association recently reported that nationally, total expenditure in the industry was $34.7 billion in 2016 – an increase of 12 per cent on 2015 and 23.8 per cent on 2014.
International visitors spent a record $14.5 billion in 2016 – an increase of 19.9 per cent on 2015 and 40.7 per cent growth on 2014.
When looking at jobs vacancies, statistics from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment [MBIE] suggest there are plenty of jobs in the tourism and hospitality industries too.
MBIE’s Jobs Online statistics measure changes in online job advertisements from three internet job boards – SEEK, Trade Me Jobs and the Education Gazette.
Overall, the number of online jobs advertisements increased by 12.9 per cent on 2015.
By industry category, the largest percentage growth of advertised jobs was in the Hospitality and Tourism industry, with 21 per cent growth on December 15.
Vacancies in the Education and Training industry increased by 14.6 per cent, vacancies in the Healthcare and medical industry increased by 11.7 per cent, while sales, retail, marketing and advertising vacancies increased by 11.5 per cent.
The stat’s showed there were 10.9 per cent more construction industry jobs being advertised.
In the Information Technology industry, however, advertisement numbers decreased by 6.2 per cent on 2015.
When looking specifically at the occupations being advertised across all industries, the biggest increase was in jobs for machinery drivers and operators (up 32.8 per cent), followed by labourers (up 27.2 per cent).
Growth was seen in the numbers of sales jobs (15.7 per cent); technicians and trades workers (14.6 per cent); managers (14.6 per cent); community and personal services (9.4 per cent); clerical and administration (8.6 per cent).
Job advertisements for professionals saw the lowest percentage increase, at 4.4 per cent.
Regionally, there was a 29.1 per cent increase in total jobs listings in the Waikato, including Taupo. This was second only to Gisborne/Hawke’s bay (31.1 per cent increase).