Skills shortage absurd when unemployment so high

It is vital to be able to match people with the right skills to jobs, and it is absurd New Zealand faces skills shortages while unemployment is so high, says Labour's Associate Education spokesperson Carol Beaumont.

"Another vital aspect of Labour Leader Phil Goff's jobs announcement today is ensuring people have relevant skills and qualifications to give them employment security," Carol Beaumont said.

"Labour is committed to providing every Kiwi throughout their life cycle with the opportunity to up-skill and realise their full potential, but to do this we need a world class skills training system.

"All the evidence shows that lifting skills and utilising those skills well leads to lifts in productivity. We need to lift productivity to ensure business success and to deliver a high wage economy so that New Zealanders themselves can see a future in our country," Carol Beaumont said.

"Given that 80 per cent of the 2021 workforce is already in the workplace now, we must ensure that good quality learning is taking place in the workplace, and individuals have other opportunities, like those provided through Adult and Community Education, to up-skill.

"Deliberate actions need to be taken bring this about, Carol Beaumont said. "In addition to our comprehensive Youth Skills and Employment Package, Labour will:

* Create a New Zealand Employment and Skills Strategy.

* Set an ambitious target to have three out of four adult New Zealanders holding qualifications at Level 3 or above by 2020.

* Review the entire range of vocational training and make necessary changes to ensure it is world leading and focused on what is appropriate for workplaces now.

* Restore the $13 million cut from ACE and ensure government, employers and unions work together to promote up-skilling in New Zealand."

Authorised by Carol Beaumont, MP, Parliament Buildings, Wellington.

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