Critical shortage of skilled scaffolders in NZ

Media release
Critical shortage of skilled scaffolders in New Zealand
Campaign launched to overturn Department of Labour decision

A severe shortage of skilled scaffolders in New Zealand risks stalling the country’s economic recovery, warned Scaffolding and Rigging New Zealand (SARNZ) today.

SARNZ, the voice of the scaffolding industry, is demanding the Department of Labour reverse a decision to remove scaffolding from the Immediate Skills Shortage List (ISSL).

The acute shortage of up to 200 skilled scaffolders has forced companies to enlist labourers to assist with scaffolding tasks, meaning greater supervision, lower productivity and ultimately higher costs.

The shortage of skilled scaffolders also increases the risk of accidents and injuries on the country’s construction sites.

“While the Department of Labour talks big about engaging with industry, it’s chosen to ignore our submission to retain scaffolders on the ISSL,” said Graham Burke, president of SARNZ and director of Lower Hutt-based scaffolding firm Workzone.

“This shortage has always been, and continues to be, in the area of skilled scaffolders with sufficient experience and advanced qualifications to run a crew or a project.”

Mr Burke said the industry was desperately in need of scaffolders with minimum practical experience of between five and 10 years in the industry and a breadth of experience in areas such as commercial, industrial and petro-chemical scaffolding.

“Removing scaffolding from the ISSL is detrimental to the skill base and compromises the ability of existing scaffolding companies to take on jobs that they simply don’t have enough staff with the necessary skills to perform.”

Ministry of Economic Development training schemes established to help address the problem were inadequate with poor retention rates, said Mr Burke.

“These initiatives have proven to be the equivalent of applying a sticking plaster to a gaping wound, with less than 50 per cent of students being placed in full time positions in the industry.

“The construction industry is expected to lead an economic upturn in New Zealand. With almost all construction activity requiring scaffolding, it is critical that we build an adequate skills base to meet the demand and maintain the highest levels of safety.

“We should be taking the opportunity to attract skilled scaffolders from places like the UK, where the recession has hit the construction sector much harder than in NZ.

“This, along with our ongoing local recruitment and training programmes, will build a broader industry base with higher overall skill levels,” Mr Burke said.

ENDS

© Scoop Media