Taupō job market hits 15 year high

Figures released by Enterprise Great Lake Taupō today show that the Taupō regional job market has exceeded previous pre-recession figures with total regional employment now sitting at 18,539 jobs.

“We have been working hard to create jobs for our people for many years,” says Fritz Frohlke of Enterprise Great Lake Taupō, “and we thrilled that we’re now seeing that focus pay off.”

To compare, the 2014 total employment figure was 17,911 and the figure hasn’t exceeded 18,000 since 2008.

“We’re seeing the job growth coming from our key sectors of dairying, agriculture, forestry and logging, manufacturing and energy,” explains Fritz, “with most of the sectors showing gradual year on year growth since the GFC ripple effect hit Taupō in 2008.”

The economic report, prepared by independent economists ESL Ltd, contains a number of other positive growth indicators for the region, including;

· A significant gain in population and household numbers (for the year ending June 2014).

· Significant growth in the value of new residential, commercial-industrial and rural building and also in consented total building alterations.

· Additional commercial-industrial building development most apparent in the visitor accommodation, hospitality and office sectors. Also noticeable development activity in the rural sector.

· Increased retail spending and limited overall employment growth overall in the sector generally.

· An increase in commercial visitor night-stays and direct visitor spend in nominal terms.

· Increased employment and labour earnings and reduced unemployment.

A number of large scale developments have occurred in recent months around the region, and with two new large format retail stores about to open in Taupō there appears to be a strong sense of positivity in the town.

“Our regional economic growth rate of 4.2% for the year ended March 2015 is ahead of the national average 3.3% and demonstrates that great things are happening across our district,” says Fritz. “Although we know that the current dairying sector forecast is not looking rosy, our other sectors are expected to continue to grow and we are confident that our local economy will go from strength to strength.”

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