Jobs & Money Detail
Job prospecting in Canterbury
Maike van der Heide takes a look at what the Canterbury region, and the city of Christchurch in particular, has to offer for those looking for a job.
As the biggest city on the South Island, Christchurch offers the best of both worlds for those who want to live in a crowd-free environment but close to all the amenities of a major city. It's attractive to Brits not only because it's the closest thing they'll get to home – Christchurch is renowned for its 'Englishness' – but also because there are lots and lots of jobs available there.
A change of career
Graham Hinds recently joined the team at recruiting company Canstaff after emigrating to New Zealand from the Midlands. Graham, who has been living in New Zealand for just a few months, is a bricklayer by trade but now specialises in finding jobs for other tradesmen – or, as is more the case in such a booming market, tradesmen for jobs – in Canterbury. "I'm finding that people need lots of advice, like how much finance they really need when they come, which I'm able to give them." Graham, his wife and their two children, aged 14 and 11, live on a lifestyle block in Fernside near Rangiora, a half-hour drive from central Christchurch and Graham's work. The Hinds family emigrated after holidaying in New Zealand 18 months ago and found that they rather liked the country. "Christchurch is, in my opinion, the nearest to England you'll get outside of the UK," states Graham. "Locals call Rangiora 'Pomiora' because there's so many English people here." He also reveals that he, like many other Brits, was shocked at how many jobs there are available and how real the skills shortage actually is. But he adds that Brits also face another nasty surprise. "There's plenty of work available as long as you have the right qualifications and the right aspirations. But one of the biggest shock [for Brits] is what they're likely to be paid. When they come to the office they say, is that all? It's surprising to them. But most of them then say that they've moved here for other reasons than finance, anyway." This, Graham says, probably accounts for some of the skills shortage – the better the pay, the more people are likely to come – but he has heard this situation is not uncommon in other parts of New Zealand as well. "The labour market is getting very tight and that's one of the main things which might stop growth in New Zealand."
Pay aside, those who do make it to the job interview process find it a lot more casual than in the UK, says Graham. "We put on a suit for the interview but most people are told to just come in casual wear. That's quite pleasant. Sometimes the interviews are very, very informal." Graham also says that often someone's personality and attitude will count more that their qualifications when going for a job. By his own admission he is a prime example of this: his recruitment job is a complete departure from any work he has ever done before.
Graham also states that the ability to fit into a team is especially important in a work climate such as Christchurch's, where most companies are tiny when compared to the UK. "You very often work together with the (company) owner," he explains. "If you are punctual and have a good attitude then your employers will look after you." This has its perks, as Graham has found employers are often flexible when it comes to family time. "I moved here to spend more time with my family. We had our own business in the UK, but I'm 46 now and it's time for me to start spending more time with my kids."
Shortages to continue
Graham's boss, Canstaff's general manager Matt Jones, says that there is certainly no sign that the skills shortage is easing. He says that the trades market is still very strong and that there are also shortages of staff in the health sector that the industry is desperate to fill.
Agriculture is also going "from strength to strength," according to Matt, with a continuing increase in dairying. Engineering is another major employer, as is the Information and Communication Technology sector. Specifics aside, basically jobs need to be filled across the board, from accountants and lawyers to farmers. From Canstaff's perspective it is Brits who are predominantly filling these positions. Matt says that Brits, and to a lesser extent Germans, make up around 90 per cent of their client base. According to Matt, what appeals to a majority of migrants who choose to settle in Canterbury is that those who like the bright lights of the city, but don't necessarily want to live among them, can perfectly mix and match their lifestyle preferences. "A lot of people come to buy lifestyle blocks 20 minutes from the city," he says. This is especially the case for Brits, Matt says, because Christchurch is considered to be similar to, say, somewhere like Cambridge in the UK.
Employment overview
Primary industries such as the fishing, forestry and agricultural sectors create the second-largest workforce in Canterbury and agricultural goods make up half the region's total exports. In fact, 90 per cent of Canterbury's land is used for farming, particularly for grazing and crops. However, wine is also becoming more popular, and the region now has the fourth-largest acreage of grapes in New Zealand.
The processing of all the products of this farming and growing, along with the manufacture of machinery, equipment and electronics and food and beverage, has meant that manufacturing has also become one of the region's more important industries. The latter makes up 30 per cent of manufacturing employees. Engineering is also strong in the region, servicing the primary industries, while the retail industry is one of the largest employers in Canterbury, which partly reflects the influence of the region's burgeoning tourist industry. Christchurch Airport is the second most used international airport in New Zealand – behind Auckland – which creates work for the usual transport, tour and hospitality sectors that benefit from a major airport. Hospitality continues to suffer from one of the worst skills shortages in Canterbury. Business services is the largest industry in
Canterbury in terms of economic contribution.
Health workers can find employment at one of Christchurch's major hospitals – Christchurch Hospital, Burwood spinal unit, Christchurch Women's Hospital and Princess Margaret Hospital, while for those seeking education-based jobs the city also has two universities, Canterbury University and Lincoln University, and nine state-funded tertiary institutes alongside 12 private tertiary education providers. With a growing population, Christchurch's trades industry is looking healthy and in 2005 some 8,000 people were employed in general construction, with a further 10,500 working in construction-related services.
Finally, those looking for work in the electronics and IT industry will be pleased to hear that Christchurch has been dubbed the Silicon Plains of New Zealand, with the electronics sector growing faster in Canterbury than anywhere else in New Zealand. In total, Christchurch has over 200 software companies and a report by the Canterbury Development Corporation estimated one in every 300 people in Christchurch writes software for a living.
According to the job site Seek.co.nz in the first week of November 528 jobs were being advertised in Canterbury. Of these, accountantcy jobs were most in demand with 157 positions available, followed by 155 jobs in administration, 140 in sales and marketing and 138 in IT and technology. The fewest available positions were in the legal, advertising, media and entertainment sectors.
For further information:
Canstaff
Career Services
Related articles:
Auckland IT job opportunities
New Zealand industry sectors to watch
Getting a job in New Zealand
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