One of the key purposes of the surveys is to assist in advising the Government of the number of workers the required in the region under the Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme in upcoming seasons.
The surveys have been developed by the Central Otago Labour Market Governance Group with support from the Ministry of Social Development which provided $40,000 funding for the project.
Governance group chairman John Lane said the surveys were important for ensuring the region had adequate labour and accommodation for workers.
Central Otago District Council economic development manager Warwick Hawker said the surveys asked business owners a series of questions related to their labour force.
A similar survey was conducted in 2005 but an updated and more extensive one was needed.
Central Otago Mayor Tony Lepper encouraged those who received one of the 220 questionnaires being sent out to take the time to complete them.
''I realise that orchardists are in the middle of one of their busiest harvests ever but it is imperative that they give this survey their attention.
''The challenges of successfully harvesting and processing this season's bumper crop should be fresh in the minds of our orchardists and the information that we get back can be channelled into supporting future labour requirements for this very seasonal activity.''
Mr Lepper said employers in the region had been lucky to match labour demands to requirements in the past, but could no longer rely on luck.
In a labour related issue earlier this summer, the Ministry of Social Development declared a seasonal worker shortage in Central Otago and the Gibbston valley.
Seasonal Solutions chief executive Greg Watson said it was too soon to tell if that shortage had eventuated.
It would require time to find out if crops were harvested on schedule, and would depend on the situations of individual growers.
''It's an interesting one because every season is different. This one, nothing was happening in November and December and all of a sudden [it] came on at once because of the heat and vines took off.''
The survey is the first stage of the labour market survey, and will be followed by interviews and a survey targeting other key sectors relying heavily on seasonal workers such as hospitality, pastoral farming and transport.
It is expected to be completed by June.
