Local Employment

Employment in the Tasman region includes forestry; wood and paper product manufacturing; hospitality, which includes work in accommodation, cafes and restaurants; building and construction; agriculture; and food and beverage manufacturing (including seafood and aquaculture processing). These industries employ around 15,000 people (around 40% of all people working in the region). Seasonal work is available in the seafood and horticulture industries and many jobs in the Tasman region are in seasonal commercial fishing and  aquaculture processing (mainly the farming of mussel shellfish and salmon). The horticulture industry employs around 3,500 people, with most working in apple and pear growing (2,200 workers). Many jobs, such as fruit picking and tree pruning, are seasonal. Workers are in such high demand during peak periods that occasionally employers resort to importing labour from overseas. The Government has recently extended permits for overseas workers employed in horticulture so people can work for longer to help counter the shortage of workers in this industry. http://www.careers.govt.nz/default.aspx?id0=10106&id1=2A62A79D-FB23-4E69-AD01-DF20BC404DFF

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