Dozens of keen job seekers eagerly waited for the ribbon to be cut at the opening of this morning’s Job Search event at Invercargill Library.

They were rewarded with 600 jobs posted on the wall, including 23 new jobs posted today.

Recent business enterprise graduate Gordan Jiang said he was keen to see what jobs and training were on offer in the region. 

"I've been looking for a job for a month now," he said.

Mr Jiang moved with his partner Landy Feng to Southland two years ago.

He said they would love to stay and find work but if they don't soon get work, they would seriously consider leaving the region. 

The four-day event focuses on connecting job seekers with support, information and employment opportunities and providing support to Southland’s labour force.

Between 50 and 60 people went to today's event in Invercargill and more job seekers were at the Gore sessions earlier this week. It is estimated at least 500 people will have visited the job fair by the time it closes on Saturday.

Great South organised the job fair to try and cushion the blow of potential job losses in the wake of the Covid-19 recession and the possible closure of the Tiwai Smelter next year. The smelter closure alone is expected to impact on 2600 jobs.

Great South chief executive Graham Budd said he hopes to see people thinking about what jobs they would like to go into now, before the Government wage subsidy ends in September. 

"I think we're expecting that when the [Government] wage subsidy runs out in September there could be another wave of redundancies."

"On a positive note, this is an opportunity for people to think about what other jobs and industries that they'd like to go into."

Great South chief executive Graham Budd opens the Job Search event, with Ben Lewis, Liz Clark, Pat Hoffmann and Renata Gill. PHOTO: Allison Beckham

Great South Southland Youth Futures co-ordinator Allison Beckham said it was great to see the number of job vacancies back up to what they were pre-Covid-19 lock down, although there had been a bit of a re-shuffle in the number of jobs available in each sector. 

"Obviously, there are less jobs in hospo... but we are seeing high[er] amounts in agriculture, forestry and farming," she said.

The trades and agriculture sectors had the greatest number of jobs advertised. 

Shannan Clarke from Front-line Training Consultancy, talking to students from James Hargest College and YMCA. PHOTO: Allison Beckham

Recruitment agency administrator Jo Jo Stephens, of First Base, said even though some may not be able to find a dream job right now, people had been quick to adapt and "pivot" into a different role or industry that they might have never given a go, pre-Covid. 

The event included free seminars throughout the day on job-seeker topics such as how to build a stand-out CV, how to have a successful interview, how recruitment agencies work and understanding employee rights and responsibilities. 

The seminars were run by representatives from Southland recruitment agencies, employment consultants, lawyers, and government officials.

The Great South Job Search event continues at the Invercargill Library tomorrow and Friday from 10.00am to 4pm and on Saturday from 10am to 1pm.