Opportunities for boat builders are limited in the short term, but good in the long term.
Boat building experienced a period of strong growth between 1996 and 2006, with the number of boat builders almost doubling. However, the worldwide recession has significantly reduced demand for new boats, which has also limited opportunities for new boat builders.
Employers are less likely to take on new staff when demand for their goods is low, and some boat builders have laid off staff to decrease costs. However, other areas of boat building remain stable. For example, there's still steady demand for workers doing maintenance, repair and refitting of boats.
Number of boat builders in New Zealand
(1996, 2001, 2006)| Census | Number of boat builders |
|---|
| 1996 | 1,026 |
| 2001 | 1,452 |
| 2006 | 1,986 |
| Source: Department of Labour, Jobs and Tertiary Education Indicator Tool. |
Long-term outlook good for boat builders
While work for boat builders is limited now, the drop in demand is likely to be temporary. Opportunities should increase as the recession eases.
A 2008 Market Economics survey reported that the marine industry is forecast to double in size by 2020.
Auckland City Council to reserve land for boat-building companies
Auckland City Council has recently made a commitment to keep land near the waterfront available for the marine industry. This provides greater certainty for boat-building companies in Auckland (where half of boat builders are based) and is likely to create more opportunities for boat builders in the future.
