Hiring for Manufacturing: Why Now’s the Time to Tap into the MSD Talent Pool

Written by John Hamilton | May 11, 2025 10:24:49 PM

After a tough 12 to 14 months of trimming costs and holding steady, many manufacturers are starting to see the green shoots of recovery. With steady months through January to April, businesses are beginning to think about growth again, cautiously, but confidently. That means building back capacity. And for many, that starts with hiring.

If you’re looking to fill gaps in your team or bring on new staff to support future growth, now is a good time to start exploring your options. One simple, low-risk way to begin? Tap into the Ministry of Social Development’s (MSD) Talent Pool, they are here to help support our Canterbury businesses. Here are some of the ways they can assist you -

1. Recruitment

Recruitment Services to help find you the right people from the MSD Talent pool. In Canterbury alone, they have approximately 19,200 local people looking for fulltime or part-time work.

2. Wage Subsidy and apprenticeship support

They might also be able to help with financial support - like wage subsidies or contributions toward apprenticeship training. It’s worth having a chat to see what funding might be available for your business.

3. Training

MSD may also be able to cover training costs to make sure your new recruits have the skills they need to hit the ground running. It’s a great way to give new team members a solid start, without stretching your budget.

4. In-work support

Once your new hire is on the job, MSD can provide ongoing support and advice to help things run smoothly. It’s a useful way to tackle any early challenges and set your new staff up for success.

The good news is that they offer free recruitment services to help you find the right people without the overhead of traditional hiring channels. They’ll advertise your role, match you with suitable candidates, and can even help organise interviews if needed. And once you’re up and running, they can support you with training and ongoing advice to make sure your new hire is job-ready and settling in well.

Get in touch with your local MSD team or visit their website to list your vacancy and see what’s possible or feel free to contact me for a chat.

Business Canterbury is here to help you make the most of these services, so if you have any questions, just drop me an email.

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