Skill shortages in Otago and Southland: 102 jobs on list

Butchers, bakers and vehicle painters; along with more than 100 professions in short supply in the southern region.

On Monday, the Department of Labour released its biannual update of the Immediate Skill Shortage List, revealing 102 occupations required for Otago/Southland.

Otago Chamber of Commerce chief executive John Christie said the general public would be surprised by some of the skill shortages faced in Otago, such as apiarists, shearers and jockeys.

"Skill shortages are an ongoing concern for industries," he said.

Workers made redundant in recent months were quickly snapped up by employers looking for skilled staff to fill vacancies.

Employers were looking overseas for staff, and a skill shortages list made the process easier, he said.

Auckland/Northland led the way with 114 skill shortages listed, followed by Canterbury (106), Central North Island (102), Otago/Southland (102), Wellington (100) and Waikato (100).

The only profession unique to Otago/Southland on the list was for a glider pilot instructor.

Otago Polytechnic closely monitored the list to see if they were meeting industry needs, said Mike Waddell, head of marketing, communication and customer relations.

"These lists are very relevant for us as a local regional provider to see if we are meeting the needs of the region."

Several years ago, skill shortages were high in the construction industry and an increase in training helped meet demands of local employers, he said.

"At the moment, there is a high demand for mechanical engineers but it has been harder to attract people to study."

Despite many of their professions being in short demand, people who had undertaken trade-based training were not chasing increased pay packets but "work/life balance," he said.

"There is the potential to be paid more . . . sometimes it is not about pay, it could be about the conditions of work - like an extra week of holidays or a vehicle."

Invercargill Mayor Tim Shadbolt will be spearheading a campaign in Auckland in September aimed at attracting workers to fill some of the estimated 1700 job vacancies in the South.

"Why wouldn't you want to come live here," he said.

In June, Venture Southland released a report on the region's current skill shortages and a strategy on the workforce for the next 10 to 15 years.

More than 12,000 workers would be required by the region just to keep up with expected growth of the workforce, Venture Southland enterprise services manager Alistair Adam said.

"Southland is currently facing significant changes to labour market requirements and this, coupled with an ageing workforce, means we are currently unable to keep up with employment rates."

The Department of Labour also released the Long Term Skill Shortage List, which list 72 professions required throughout the country.

The list is compiled from the department's own labour market survey along with submissions from industry, employers and unions.