Nelson Tasman Settlement Support

A Partnership between Department of Labour and Nelson City Council

Employment

Businessmen in suits speaking to each other.

The Nelson Tasman lifestyle is attractive to migrants from many parts of the world. Regional unemployment is one of the lowest in the country. Employment growth in both Nelson and Tasman exceeds the labour force growth.

Regional wages

Worker in a high-visibility vest at the marina.

Wage and salary earnings of people in the Nelson Tasman region from June 2005 - March 2007 were $39,560 (Nelson) and $36,710 (Tasman).
Source: Statistics NZ, Linked Employer-Employee Data.

State of employment in the region

There has been a shift in the numbers working in traditional industries like agriculture, fishing and forestry, to the growth sectors of retail trade, property and business services and manufacturing. In Tasman, the largest employing industries are agriculture, retail trade and manufacturing.
A large part of the region’s employment growth has been in highly skilled occupations such as legislators, administrators, managers, professionals and technicians and this is where skill shortages are predicted in the future.

The notion of Sunshine Wages is not a reality and most employers recognise the need to offer competitive wages to recruit and retain appropriately skilled staff. However, the median hourly wage rates for Nelson Tasman region are slightly below the national median, largely due to the high numbers working in low wage industries and seasonal work.

Facts and Statistics

  • In March 2007, the total number of filled jobs for Nelson was 22,870 (up 2.1% from March 2006), the number for Tasman was 15,440 (up 0.1% from March 2006). Source: Statistics NZ, Linked  Employer-Employee Data (LEED)
  • In 2006, the property and business service sector was the largest employer in Nelson, with 38% of the city’s workers. Source: Department of Labour, Annual in-depth regional report
  • Agriculture, retail and manufacturing account for over 50% of employment in Tasman. Source: Department of Labour, Annual in-depth regional report
  • Wage and salary earnings of people in the Nelson Tasman region from June 2005 - March 2007 were $39,560 (Nelson) and $36,710 (Tasman).
    Source: Statistics NZ, Linked Employer-Employee Data.
  • An informal survey based on job listings on the TradeMe website showed Tasman recorded the fifth-highest jump in salaries nationwide in the first half of 2008, with a 12% rise lifting the average salary to $44,263. In Nelson, the average advertised salary was higher, at $46,003, a 5.7%  rise.