AUCKLAND CITY COUNCIL
MEDIA RELEASE

23 November 2005

Auckland City helps address skill shortages

Secondary school principals and teachers are meeting today with business and industry to address skills shortages in Auckland through the Pathways to Employment initiative.

"Current skills shortages are constraining business growth and are a continuing threat to increasing productivity," said Mayor of Auckland City, Dick Hubbard.

The aim of today's conference is to increase secondary school teachers, principals and curriculum leaders' awareness of the changing labour market and its impact on future skill shortages. The conference will look at the projected high growth industries and Auckland-wide employment opportunities.

"There is an opportunity to make real change by connecting schools and business at gatherings such as this conference.

"Schools will have an action plan to take away from this event. They will use this information to stocktake the current senior curriculum and they will also look at how career information is communicated to students," said Mayor Hubbard.

Auckland City is a leading sponsor of the Pathways to Employment initiative, which is a trade-based approach to skills shortages, a significant issue affecting Auckland and the rest of the country.

Councillor Richard Northey, chairperson of Auckland City's Economic Development and Sustainable Business Committee said that for Auckland and New Zealand to move forward in the global market, it is essential we address our current skills shortages in an effective and informed way. We also need to work together to examine ways to make our workforce even more productive.

Pathways to Employment, an initiative from Howick College, developed out of the need to improve the interface and mutual understanding between secondary school students and the industry-based careers opportunities that are available to them. It aims to promote a better alignment between what is happening in school curricula and the classroom, and business and industry requirements.

"Today's initiative is complemented by my involvement in the Mayors Taskforce for Jobs which involves partnership with central government to develop strategies that result in on-the-ground initiatives for youth skill development," said Mayor Hubbard.

In an indication of the seriousness of skill shortages across New Zealand, 68 of the country's 74 Mayors have signed up to the Mayors taskforce for jobs.

ENDS

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