What the Kaikoura earthquake means for job seekers

​New Zealand is once again reeling from a new spate of earthquakes. The destruction is still being understood, and the scale of repair and reconstruction is being assessed. What issues do the recent earthquakes present for job seekerslooking for work in New Zealand? 

More earthquakes for New Zealand

In 2010 and 2011 Canterbury was hit by two destructive earthquakes that caused what the Reserve Bank estimates to be 40 billion dollars' worth of damage. Since then the Canterbury region has been in a period of intense redevelopment that has led to high demand for skilled labour in the construction area.

In November of this year the upper South Island and lower North Island were hit by a 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck near Kaikoura. The initial earthquake has been followed by hundreds of aftershocks, some of which have been as large as 6.0 on the Richter scale, the Telegraph reported. The initial quake did its most significant damage in Kaikoura, and was felt strongly in Wellington and Christchurch.

​

A need for workers

While the exact effects of the most recent earthquakes are still being assessed, what is clear is that the repairs and reconstruction are going toneed a lot of workers. The Canterbury rebuild is still an ongoing project, with much work still needing to be done. But beyond that the recent earthquakes have added several new demands on New Zealand's construction industry. 

Kaikoura

Excavating and repairing the Kaikoura roads that have been damaged by the quakes and the resulting slips is going to be an extensive project that may require as many as 1,000 extra workers, Radio New Zealand says. In particular there will be a demand for heavy machinery drivers to help clear the roads of rubble.

Wellington and Tauranga

Several buildings in Wellington will be demolished, the New Zealand Herald reports, with many more in need of repairs. Buildings to be demolished include three Wellington City Council-owned buildings and part of the Queensgate Shopping Centre.

Insurance company Vero told the Herald that they had received more than 1,000 claims because of the earthquake.

​

In Tauranga, buildings that have been assessed and found to be below standard for earthquake resistance are being told by the council that they need to be strengthened. So far 57 buildings have been given notice mostly in Tauranga's business district and Mount Maunganui, but more are still being assessed.

Marlborough

Steven Joyce, Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment, told Radio New Zealand that the Marlborough region was going to be in severe need of labour. The area already had a labour shortage, and would now need extra workers to help the wine industry repair quake damage.

The November quake means even more demand for people to fill construction jobs.

Tradestaff's role in the reconstruction

The twin undertakings of reconstructing Christchurch and coping with Auckland's housing shortage have put a strain on New Zealand's construction industry, whose workforce are stretched thin. The added stresses of the November quake means even more demand for people to fill all types of construction jobs, which means opportunities for anyone overseas who is interested in working in New Zealand and has skills relevant to the industry. 

Tradestaff provides industrial employment solutions that benefit both employers and job seekers. Our job is recruiting and placing skilled tradesmen for both full and part-time roles throughout New Zealand. Tradestaff is working harder than ever to find recruits and match them to roles where they can do the most good.

Tradestaff is heavily involved in supplying staff to the Christchurch rebuild, and we'll continue to help businesses as new projects arise. If you're interested in working in New Zealand and have skills that could help with the rebuilding efforts, get in touch with Tradestaff today.