A large careers fair is underway in Christchurch as building companies look to recruit personnel to help rebuild the city. Eleven employers are taking part.
It's estimated up to 24,000 people will be needed when the rebuilding gets into full swing.
Fletcher Building, which is running the construction programme, is looking on Saturday to fill 70 vacancies and another 200 before the end of the year.
Chief executive of Fletcher's concrete division Mark Malpass says the next 5 to 10 years will see unprecedented demand on the building industry in Canterbury.
He says the industry will be looking for people with a variety of skills, from carpenters and truck drivers through to sales and management staff.
Fletcher EQR currently employs 525 people and has already lined up more than 13,000 contractors to assist with the rebuilding in Canterbury.
