Through his employment businesses Jones recruits staff for jobs from farm and agricultural contracting and food processing to seasonal staff and quality assurance experts, many coming from around the globe to work in New Zealand.
Without the seasonal influx of internationals who usually arrive in May Jones is struggling to fill placements.
“We are expecting staff from overseas to start in May but we are not expecting to see them.
“A lot of seasonal workers have gone back home, backpackers have left in droves as have staff who were in highly skilled positions.
“These people and these sources of recruitment won’t be able happen. That puts a lot of pressure on the balance of the year and going into next year depending on how long our border is closed.
“I have hundreds and hundreds of placements to fill right now and there’s going be hundreds more as we climb out of this covid pandemic.
“We are struggling big time.”
Jones works with parent companies around the world to recruit staff, particularly for the more highly skilled quality assurance positions across the dairy and food processing industries.
“Bringing in these specialist skilled people is not going to happen and effectively that’s going to put pressure on exports.
“We are going to see unemployment soar over the coming months and, of course, not everyone will be cut out for a career in the primary industries.
“I want people to be aware there are opportunities and bloody good ones, too, in primary industries.
“I want to hear from anyone who is interested in the primary industries as a career whether it be from newbies to the industry or those who want to further existing primary industries careers.
“And I am prepared to train as I can do that too. I’ll grab them if they’re keen to learn.”
Jones also facilitates agricultural training programmes, which include the recent opening of the Canterbury AgTraining facility near Ashburton.
AgTraining plans to offer 100 diplomas to attract people to join the agri sector.
“We have got the likes of the construction sector and consultancies and the tourism industry virtually doing nothing. In the primary sector we are busy.
“If you want long-term security in your job get into primary industries, it’s always innovative, diversified. NZ has got a good global reputation for the food we produce and it evolves.
“It’s not all just about shifting a mob of sheep. A lot of people don’t get that there’s a lot more involved.”
Over the lockdown AgStaff has experienced a 30% increase in business because of more intensification of food production.
“We have spent three weeks drawing up declarations with clients to have our staff keep working under the lockdown. I just need more staff.
“I have been working from 10 in the morning until 2am. I just couldn’t sleeo, There’s been so much to do to get it right.”
Jones has hundreds of jobs available immediately in food manufacturing and seasonal agricultural work.
He recruits staff for most of the dairy food producers and manufacturers and on any given day there are 900 vacancies across the dairy industry.
“We are aggressively going out to find Kiwis to get involved in the dairy industry.”
The agricultural contracting industry will also be heavily impacted with immigrant staff going home and unable to return.
“Everyone just ran and is still running, Contractors know they won’t get them back.
“I’m not expecting any international workers exchange for at least the remainder of the year, probably longer.
“We are going to need Kiwis,” Jones said.
