Great South’s free Job Search Expo next week in Gore and Invercargill will provide much-needed support to Southland’s labour force as it battles the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Great South business services general manager Ben Lewis said about 600 people came through the doors last year in Gore and Invercargill. 

“The numbers attending the seminars ranged from 6 (in Gore) to 25 (in Invercargill). How many people will come to Job Search 2020 is a bit of an unknown, but we expect numbers to be slightly more than last year due to the current economic climate,’’ Mr Lewis said.

The Covid-19 pandemic and the Tiwai Point smelter closure announcement has changed the focus on the job search events this year.

“Previous Pop Up Job Shops have been about promoting all the job opportunities in Southland available at that point in time. 

“This year, when we began planning this event, we weren’t sure how many vacancies there would be so changed the focus to supporting job seekers through a wider range of seminars and speakers, plus ensuring a very wide range of people were available to chat to them in a welcoming and non-threatening way. 

“Interestingly, the number of vacancies advertised through the Southland jobs portal www.southlandnz.com/work is almost back up to the levels it was before lock-down. 

“We also know there are dairy farmers and agricultural contractors keenly seeking staff because of few migrants in the system. 

“The kinds of issues Pop Up Job Shop visitors were concerned about that year were predominantly help with CVs and interview skills and we expect this will be similar this year. 

“There are more people than you might imagine who are seeking part-time work (for a whole lot of reasons – family, health etc) and we expect that to be a theme again this year,” Mr Lewis said.

Statistics New Zealand reported 45,713 filled jobs in Southland in the quarter ended April 2020, a drop of 2010 (4.21% change) from filled jobs in March (47, 723 jobs).

An independent report by Infometrics has forecast 5000 job losses in the region, relating to the pandemic, by the end of March next year.

Mr Lewis said as at 3 July, 3,348 people were on the job seeker support benefit in the Southland region, up from 2,246 on 20 March, just prior to lockdown, “bringing the proportion of the working age population on this benefit up to 5.3% compared to 4.4% at the same time last year. This is the second lowest rate in the country, behind Otago.’’ 

Southland job listing data collected by Great South showed a sharp decline in advertised jobs over lock down, but the number has started steadily increasing again, he said. 

Agriculture, fishing and forestry accounts for nearly a third of all jobs currently listed, Mr Lewis said.

The Job Search Expo is for all Southlanders looking for employment advice and opportunities, including changing their career.

The expo will include job boards, seminars, and the opportunity to connect with employment support.

Job search and career specialists, industry career representatives, and community organisations are supporting the expo.

Free seminars will be held each day. 

Job seekers will also be offered practical advice on topics such as updating CVs, preparing for interviews and how to best find suitable work across the region. 

Great South staff will be at the Invercargill sessions to discuss the Skills Placement Programme, supporting migrants connecting with employment opportunities in the region.

Information about Southland Youth Futures, which builds pathways between education and employment, will also be available. 

GORE: Tues 28 July, 10am to 4pm, The Hub, 1 Brennan Lane, Gore

INVERCARGILL: Wed 29 July to Fri 31 July, 10am-4pm; Sat 1 Aug, 10am-1pm, Invercargill Public Library