West Auckland butcher gets 1000 applications for meat packer job
A New Zealand butcher received over 1,000 applications for a single meat packer position, highlighting a difficult job market. The applicant pool included highly skilled professionals, such as computer engineers and aviation security experts.
Why it matters
The high volume of overqualified applicants reflects significant economic strain and high unemployment rates in the region.
A New Lynn butcher received more than 1000 applications for one meat packer job. Photo / 123rf
A West Auckland butcher feels he could have built “something to go to Mars” with the calibre of applicants for a meat packer role.
New Lynn’s Aussie Butcher managing director Reuben Sharples told Morning Report he was swamped with more than 1000 CVs after advertising for a fulltime staff member.
The country’s unemployment rate is the highest it’s been in more than a decade – described as “crisis-level” among young people in particular.
Sharples said he couldn’t believe the 120 emails he received from applicants for the role.
“I thought, ‘Oh my God, that’s so many.’ But then our admin said, ‘No, you’ve got another 870-odd on SEEK’.
“They’re still coming through now, so over 1000 ... for a meat packer’s role. So pretty overwhelming actually.
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