While unemployment has edged down slightly in New Zealand as a whole it has edged up marginally in Whanganui, Social Development regional commissioner Gloria Campbell says.
But Whanganui and Partners economic development officer Chris Heywood says there's lots going on in construction and plenty of jobs on offer - for people with the right skills.
The country's latest Household Labour Force Survey showed jobless numbers had dropped slightly, from 5.2 per cent in the three months to March to 5.1 per cent in the three months to June.
The survey also said the number of people of working age who were "underutilised" was 12.7 per cent - a new statistic that can apply to jobless people not actively looking for work and also to people in jobs who want more work.
In the Whanganui District the number of people on the jobseeker support benefit increased by 30 in the last three months, Ms Campbell said. During the same time 73 people on the sole parent benefit moved into work.
Ministry of Social Development fact sheets show 2148 people in the Whanganui District are on jobseeker benefits, with 431 in Rangitikei Distrit, 522 in Ruapehu District and 855 in the South Taranaki District.
Casual, part-time and full-time jobs in health care are on the up, Ms Campbell said. Some of those moving into them - mainly women - went on to further training. With summer approaching there will also be seasonal jobs in retail, hospitality and fruit picking coming up.
She encouraged employers with jobs to offer to contact the department's Whanganui office for help with recruitment and possible wage subsidies.
On the construction front Mr Heywood pointed to the new government department building going up in St Hill St, tenders out for flight academy construction at Whanganui Airport, the new wastewater treatment plant going ahead, earthquake strengthening happening and port development being investigated.
There was also flood damage still being repaired, with road work and the Anzac Pde walkway repair still to come. And in the rural sector manuka honey and forestry were looking extremely active into the future.
IT professionals were still needed, especially people who bring work from other centres with them, and refrigeration specialists. And all of those jobs require supporting services.
On the minus side are the jobs lost from Dick Smith, Postie Plus, Cavalier Bremworth and Energy Direct - but Mr Heywood said Whanganui's population had increased and the district "certainly isn't moving backwards".
"There's a lot of good stuff happening."