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Businesses in north Rodney say a lack of a trained workforce is making hiring difficult.
This is good news for those who are moving to the area and are willing to retrain, or youth who are approaching employment age and want to upskill.
MS Engineering general manager Graham Buchs says sourcing skilled labour in the manufacturing industry has meant supporting migrants to move to the area.
“I have placed a heavy emphasis on training, and our apprenticeship scheme grew to support eight apprentices at its peak,” he says.
“This provides the industry with sorely needed tradesmen, but also allows the business to train the people it needs within the company.”
Wharehine general manager Andrew Booth says the company is currently hiring for a number of roles, including truck drivers, excavator operators and site traffic management supervisors.
“We are happy to bring on young, energetic locals with a willingness to learn. We really do have to put the time into training, as the numbers of new people entering our industry is dwindling,” Andrew says.
A number of companies related to the construction industry agreed that major growth-driven projects in the area, including the Warkworth to Puhoi motorway, have siphoned off the local workforce.
Atlas Concrete Warkworth depot manager Troy Rolfe-Vyson says truck drivers ought to be on the Government’s skills shortage list.
“It’s not an issue of pay rate – there just aren’t the people to fill the positions.”
Rodney Aggregates business manager Daniel Le Roux says his business has retrained everyone from baristas to dressmakers to perform jobs in the quarry industry.
Davco Electrical director Dave Morrison says when he lists a job, the majority of the applications he receives are from overseas, many from people do not even have visas to work in New Zealand.
“The problem in our area is a low population and a lack of training opportunities,” Dave says.
A Biomarine Oysters spokesperson says they hire factory workers from a combination of WINZ applicants, backpackers and local youth.
“People who can afford to live in Warkworth are not usually looking for factory jobs. We take on youth when they are taking a gap year after study.”
Springboard managing director Gary Diprose says its programme has had several successes in getting local youth into employment.
“We have managed to get kids into hospitality and construction jobs, such as the motorway, and the wastewater pipeline in Snells Beach.
“It’s vital to employ youth as the area grows – it gives labour to the community and ensures young people find their fit.”
According to Statistics New Zealand, the unemployment rate in the Auckland region dropped from 4.3 per cent in December 2018 to 4.1 per cent in December 2019.
Nationally, the unemployment rate has fallen from 6.3 per cent to 4 per cent in the last 10 years.
