28 July 2005

Progressive policy on industry training and skills shortages

The Progressive Party welcomes our coalition partner's pledge on industry training today as it takes a significant step towards our own policy, Jim Anderton said this afternoon.

"Our policy is to:

"Ensure that all school leavers under 20 years old are in work, training or education by 2007 and to double the number of Modern Apprentices and Industry Trainees by 2007.

"In particular, Progressive promotes moves that address skills shortages as follows:

Develop a regular nation wide Skills Shortage Stocktake in order to effectively plan ahead for training and immigration requirements.

Double the number of Modern Apprenticeships from 7000 (Dec 04) to 14,000 by 2007. Progressively extend to older workers.

Ensure 250,000 people are in skills training by 2007 (up from 127,000 in December 04).

Continue to monitor and adjust immigration policy to ensure that it aligns with our needs for skilled labour.

Explore all mechanisms the government might use to assist industry to develop effective skills training programmes.

"That is a policy that will help us lift living standards for all New Zealanders and address skills shortages for kiwi businesses," Jim Anderton said.

ENDS

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