Tauranga's job market for young people is in a holding pattern as businesses tentatively wait for the holiday season to begin.
Student Job Search employment consultant Shane Stevic says businesses are not advertising as many summer jobs this year as previously as they 'wait and see how the tourist season kicks in”.

Shane Stevic, employment consultant for SJS.

The overall number of jobs listed with Student Job Search in the Bay of Plenty is about 30 at any given time. This is quite low and notably the number of bar, restaurant and accommodation related jobs are down, says Shane.
'I'm hoping the numbers will pick up once people go on holiday.”
The available jobs are listed on Student Job Search's website and with a smaller number of them available, Shane says competition is intense.
'Immediately five to 10 people apply for each job as soon as they go up.”
The competition is making it tough for the lesser qualified students also.
'With uni students returning to the Bay for summer, it's making it difficult for 17 year olds out of school,” says Shane.
An increased number of young people who can't find a summer job is costing taxpayers as there is an increase in the number of people on the ‘unemployment benefit for student hardship'. This is a weekly benefit of between $180-$230 and can be obtained in conjunction with paid work to the value of $190 gross per week.
A feature of the Bay's job market that surprises Shane is the lack of domestic work available given the demographics of the population – notably the high number of senior citizens.