A new report shows that the construction industry in New Zealand is going to be on the lookout for plenty of skilled workers over the coming years.
The number of people expected to be employed in construction occupations is projected to increase by 10 per cent by 2022, adding around 56,000 employees, increasing the total construction workforce to 571,300.
“Demand for skills across the board is at fever pitch, but nowhere more so than in construction, which in the year to June employed over 18,200 more people across New Zealand, the second largest contributor to annual employment growth,” said Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Paul Goldsmith.
The Future Demand for Construction Workers Report 2017 revealed that in the year to June 2017, the construction industry employed over 18,200 more people across New Zealand, the second largest contributor to annual employment growth.
While immigration will account for a fair proportion of new construction workers, Minister Goldsmith says that the country will also be looking to hire more domestic workers as well.
“The Government is actively supporting the training of more skilled workers to meet the demand for new housing and construction,” he explained. “Through initiatives such as Trades Academies, Vocational Pathways, the Dual Pathways Pilot, Maori and Pasifika Trades Training, and industry training we have a significant pipeline for delivering skilled workers.”
The Minister continued: “We have the funding to take on anyone willing to take up an apprenticeship, and have funded 7,500 new apprentices over the past year. The Government is willing to put the resources in, but we also need the support of parents, teachers, careers advisors, and businesses if we are to get more young Kiwis into the trades.”
In 2016 the number of new starts for apprenticeships like carpentry, plumbing and electrical engineering were at the highest levels in nearly a decade. There are now over 43,000 apprentices in training. The government had pledged to get 50,000 apprentices working by 2020.
Article published 7th August 2017