Hundreds apply for new roles

More people are seeking work and there’s less jobs available, so when Connings Food Market advertised for staff to fill its new Nelson store, hundreds applied.

Connings’ human resources manager Kate Pullar says she received about 100 applications on the first day the jobs were advertised, and they kept coming.

“There’s been a huge amount of applications. Every time I check my emails there’s more.”

Admittedly, she says its different hiring multiple staff for a new store as opposed to a couple of jobs at the existing Appleby store, but it is also a sign of the times.

The Seek NZ Employment report for June recorded the number of jobs advertised in Nelson Tasman was down 28 per cent compared with a year ago and down three per cent on the previous month.

While Trade Me Jobs data shows the number of job applications rose by 75.7 per cent in Nelson in the April to June quarter compared with the previous year and in Tasman they rose 56.6 per cent.

Nationwide, its latest data showed the number of jobs listed decreased by 39.7 per cent in the April to June quarter compared with the same time last year.

At the same time, the number of job applications nationwide rose 61.6 per cent.

The increase in job applications was attributed to the increasing challenge of securing a new role with less options available to jobseekers.

Nationally, job applications were higher on average for listings in hospitality-tourism, transport and logistics, and retail, which tended to have more entry-level roles.

Trade Me’s data also showed the average national salary reached $72,717 which is up 3.7 per cent year on year.

However, that was mainly due to fewer lower-paying job listings.

The number of jobs paying less than $60,000 had dropped 60 per cent compared with last year.

Meanwhile, at Connings the job seekers are after one of the 25 roles from management to school kids that are needed for the new store on the edge of Wakatu Square Carpark.

The store is expected to open in October and Kate expects more staff will be needed down the track once it establishes its customer base.

The initial pop-up store is going into the building that was occupied by the Community Art Works, with building underway to prepare it for the business which is mainly fresh fruit and vegetables.

The leased site also includes the former 4 Seasons Outdoor Furniture store.

Kate says eventually the business will expand to replicate the Appleby store with a larger range of meat and other products.

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