A new report released today by the Canterbury Employment and Skills Board (CESB) brings together a wide range of labour market indicators, modelling results and qualitative information to tell the story of the economic impact of the earthquakes on Canterbury.

The Employment Opportunities in Canterbury report is a result of a joint project by the Canterbury Development Corporation (CDC) and the Department of Labour (DOL) and focuses on employment prospects throughout the region.

Alex Bouma, deputy chair of the CESB board, says the report is a clear marker defining the scale of the job ahead of us, and the start of on-going research that will monitor the Canterbury labour market.

"This report will be a useful reference tool for employers looking to take on new staff as the Canterbury rebuild really kicks into gear in the New Year. Employers should take note of the findings of this report and act accordingly in order to make the most of the opportunities that will present themselves next year."

Simon Worthington, Workforce Strategy Manager for CDC, is focused on helping to enable the region to get the necessary number of workers required for the Canterbury rebuild.

"The Employment Opportunities in Canterbury report will assist in the identification of weaknesses or shortages in the local market. It shows to what extent the Canterbury labour market can respond to the increased demand for labour and skills from the rebuild work and where and when we will need to look further afield for skilled people"

It is hoped the report will alert employers to the increasing demand for labour and that they will act now to be ready to assist the rebuild of Christchurch. It is not only construction related industries that will see an increase in demand - general labourers and business professionals such as lawyers and accountants are already seeing an increase in demand for their services.

CESB and CDC want to ensure businesses have a clear understanding of what is happening in the market and hope the Employment Opportunities in Canterbury report will deliver this and further assist the successful rebuild of Christchurch.