A CONSTRUCTION industry recruitment firm in New Zealand’s second city of Christchurch says it has seen a dramatic increase in the level of interest from Irish people.
Canstaff’s managing director Matt Jones said the firm had processed more than 1,600 applications since April from tradesmen and engineers in Ireland looking for jobs.
Mr Jones there has been a “phenomenal” turnaround since he first visited Ireland looking for new recruits in 2004. “It was a total waste of time then and we only got a handful of applications,” he said.
It is a completely different story now. The company processed 700 applications in May with 80 people taken on to its books. A second marketing drive in June led to 900 applications; the level of interest has been so great that the company is now opening a Dublin office.
He said that while reports suggesting there was work for 8,000 Irish construction workers in New Zealand were wide of the mark, there would still be opportunities for construction workers there in the months ahead.
The Earthquake Commission of New Zealand said over the weekend that it was looking for 8,000 labourers as part of a major rebuilding project in Christchurch following three earthquakes in the region over the last 12 months.
Most of the jobs will be filled by local workers but there will be a need to go overseas to recruit qualified people. The reconstruction project will last at least five years with salaries ranging from €30,000 to €60,000.
