Skills pathways approach positive

Skills pathways approach positive

Labour’s jobs and skills policy released today shows a thoughtful approach to the economy’s skill needs, BusinessNZ says.

While the ‘jobs’ part of the policy would be unlikely to grow more jobs – with difficulties including more taxes, interventions in monetary policy and more rigid employment laws – the ‘skills’ part is more promising, says BusinessNZ Chief Executive Phil O’Reilly.

“Labour’s skills policy includes some overly restrictive and unnecessary elements but it does focus on some key areas for New Zealand’s skill needs,” Mr O’Reilly said.

“Labour’s continued support of existing skills policies including apprenticeships, youth guarantees, Gateway schemes and others is positive.  It would mean the continuation of policies that are currently helping to upskill and establish many in employment.

“Labour is also focusing on pathways needed for young people to gain the right skills towards in-demand occupations.

“ICT apprenticeships are also a positive feature of Labour’s skills policy.  Additional tertiary training places for ICT training and more work on upgraded ICT credits would be a welcome addition to the country’s current training mix.”

Mr O’Reilly said Labour’s proposal for intensive support for young people who have been out of work or training for 6 months after leaving school would help address the key problem of numbers of young people not in employment, education or training.

Contact Phil O’Reilly 04 4966552 or Kathryn Asare 021 555 744

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4 Sep, 2014

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