BOP students earn almost $2 million

SJS Chief Executive Tim Allen.

Student Job Search - New Zealand's employment service for tertiary students and employers - has pumped almost $2 million into the Bay of Plenty student economy in the past year.

The result was part of a record-breaking year which saw SJS inject $95.7m into the student economy nationwide.

'We're very proud that we've been able to put more than $1.87 million in Bay of Plenty students' pockets, an increase of more than $300,000 compared to the previous year,” says SJS Chief Executive Tim Allen, announcing the results to the year ending 30 June.

'We have also achieved a record number of job placements in the past 12 months – 27,735 were made across the country.

'It's increasingly more difficult for students to make ends meet. Student debt is increasing and rents have risen sharply in many regions. So the need for our unique job placement service has never been greater.

Not surprisingly, students in the Auckland region claimed the lion's share of SJS student earnings – a massive $40.85 million in the year to 30 June.

Tim says alongside a shift in employment trends, more employers were recognising the value of using SJS to recruit talented students for ongoing part-time roles, with an emphasis on roles that offer more flexibility, such as permanent part-time and casual positions.

The Ministry of Social Development contracts SJS to help students looking for holiday and in-term employment.

The service is free to employers and to tertiary students whose student body or education provider is a member of SJS.

'Our recent results speak to the fact that more and more of our employers are recognising the value of offering ongoing part-time and flexible work options as a way of bringing on board fresh talent and ideas.

'We've seen a shift in attitudes, with many employers we deal with taking a broader view. As long as the applicants have well-developed, transferrable skills such as working in teams and good interpersonal communication, they take the view that they can teach them the technical skills. The benefit to the employer is a highly motivated employee with new thinking and a fresh perspective.

'Student Job Search has been operating since 1982 and has become part of New Zealand's DNA,” says Tim.

'Many employers tell us they found work through SJS back in their student days and because of that they are motivated to employ students now.

'They want to give back to the community and provide a hand up to the next generation of our workforce. But it's also because they recognise that we offer a great service and exceptional talent pool across a wide range of disciplines and make many connections between employers who are seeking specific skills and students who can supply those.”

You may also like....

0 comments

Leave a Comment


You must be logged in to make a comment.