working together

Regional Forum on Employment & Skills

Taranaki

drive for employment

• Employment Strategy 2000• Making Work Pay• Tertiary Education Commission• Youth transitions• Jobs Jolt

the Government’s

vision

• a prosperous, inclusive, environmentally sustainable society

• opportunities for all• fuelled by economic growth and

innovation

why we’re here today

• a strong economy brings different challenges

• government, community, industry must work together

• new issue: lack of staff

new issues, new

remedies

• regional development plans set out the first steps

• it is time to consolidate our efforts; to work together, and move forward

a region of solid growth

• 6.5% job growth• robust growth in the regional

economy• 68.3% labour force participation • 5.5% unemployed• 18% increase in house prices • retail sales, real estate, construction

fuelling growth

an evolving region

• new industries are integrating with traditional industries

• film making, arts, technology • farming and manufacturing • agriculture, fishery, service, sales • cheese making, chemical

engineering, hairdressing

the outlook

• signals point to weakening growth

• strong NZ dollar, fall in world prices

• good news for Taranaki:– dairy prices are lifting– local economy should stay positive– unemployment is unlikely to rise

balancing demand and

supply

• skills shortages in Taranaki: nursing, automotive industries, accounting technicians, drivers, trades

• also shortages of semi-skilled workers, professionals, graduates

the pool of available

labour

• 36% are aged between 25 and 39 years

• qualifications don’t feature strongly

• employers report problems with motivation, life skills, literacy

what are the solutions?

• social development: tackling causes, not symptoms

• working in partnership, with a long-term focus

• harnessing vision and commitment

strategies in Taranaki

• industry-driven and demand-led • employers are in the driver’s seat

• building on successful industry-based opportunities

• economic growth moderately positive• primary sector growth to continue• Service industries expanding

the results

• training in the meat processing and hospitality industries

• jobs for security staff following The Last Samurai

• supplying truck drivers and road construction workers

• retrofitting low-income homes

the results

• Mayors Taskforce for Jobs: Career Start cadetship scheme, rock carving

• Taranaki Youth Connections• Experience Express• Local Employment Co-ordination• Northern Circuit Track revamp• Be Your Own Boss

helping the momentum

• Skills Action Plan aims to reduce skill and labour shortages:– industry and regional initiatives– education and training initiatives– information matching initiatives– immigration initiatives

• no single response will meet all needs

time to move forward

• participation in workforce is the path to long-term, sustained economic health

• we must build on the journey already begun

• success will depend on partnership and commitment

• give everyone in Taranaki the chance to participate

working together

Regional Forum on Employment & Skills

Taranaki