Employment

Clutha Country has plenty to offer in the way of employment whether you are looking to buy your own business or settle into a job, this area is great for fulfilling the dream of a more relaxed pace of life.

The area has a total workforce of approximately 8,900 and has been steadily growing. Agriculture is the mainstay of the local economy and therefore creates numerous opportunities for employment and for agriculture contractors.

Clutha Country covers 20% of Otago's land area, and while it is home to just 10% of its population, the area produces more than 50% of Otago's agricultural output.

Unemployment is very low in Otago at approximately 1.6% of the workforce, as at March 2006. This means that there is a wealth of opportunity, with excellent career scope for skilled people, and for hard-working people who are willing to learn.

Farming, forestry, processing, and the retail and service sectors employ the majority of the workforce.

The most frequently advertised positions are for teachers, engineers, heavy traffic license holders, and hospitality staff. There are also opportunities in the business community and there can be a shortage of applicants to fill positions, creating a wonderful combination of career and lifestyle here in Clutha Country.

Being a family-oriented community, many Clutha Country employers practice flexi scheduling, and will accommodate working parents around the school holidays and daily school schedule.

There are plentiful opportunities to start a business of your own and with the assistance of Enterprise Clutha, these are made all that more enticing. Enterprise Clutha (www.eclutha.org.nz) offer assistance to new business owners, through business mentoring, help developing business plans and financial forecasts, and business start up procedures.

If you would like more information on specific job opportunities go to www.workotagonz.co.nz, check the Situation Vacant columns in the Clutha Leader, Otago Daily Times and Southland Times, contact any Work and Income office, or contact Enterprise Clutha directly (Ph: +64 3 418 4048 or Contact Us)