14 Feb 2011

Job seekers flock to Australian expo

6:37 pm on 14 February 2011

Australian companies looking to recruit New Zealanders say they were overwhelmed by the response to an employment Expo at the weekend.

More than 6000 people attended an Oz Job Expo in Auckland with some companies receiving many more applications than there are jobs.

Expo organiser Jason Clayton says they were overwhelmed by the number of New Zealanders wanting to re-locate.

Mining and engineering company Byrnecut says it hired eight people straight away and expects to employ up to another 40 people from New Zealand.

Some are leaving the country as early as next week to work for the company.

Swan Transit, which was recruiting bus-drivers for Perth and Adelaide, says it will be difficult to short-list the more than 300 applicants.

He says the demand for Australian jobs is much higher now than in 2008.

Mr Clayton says that's due to pay rates rising and also more job listings.