ITP Training For Redundant Workers

December 17 2008 - According to recent research by BERL, commissioned by ITP New Zealand, another 46,500 to 76,400 more New Zealanders will lose their jobs by March 2011. They forecast that unemployment will peak in March 2010, and people with lower skills are likely to make up three-quarters of the increase.

BERL also forecast that job losses will probably be highest in the retail, hospitality and tourism, manufacturing, transport and finance industries.

Institutes of technology and polytechnics (ITPs) are taking a positive view of the Government's 'Restart' package through the provision of training for workers who have recently lost their jobs and other people affected by the recession.

Dave Guerin, Executive Director of ITP New Zealand said:

"The Restart programme appropriately focuses on the most urgent need for people who have lost their job - financial support - while our proposal will support people in the longer term.

"New Zealand's challenge is to look for the silver lining in what is a dark grey storm cloud; the recession. Just as trees were planted in the Great Depression to create a sustainable new industry, this is the time to develop New Zealanders' skills for future growth.

"The growing group of people affected by the recession could be enrolled in high quality courses to boost their industry skills, preparing them for a higher level role than they left, or retraining them for growing sectors.

"This would address both unemployment increases and help develop a more productive workforce and a faster growing economy in 2010 and 2011."

Further research by NZIER for ITP New Zealand shows a mixed picture across the country, with employment growth over the next five years being:

• strongest in the Bay of Plenty, Auckland, Manawatu-Wanganui and Wellington
• medium in Northland, Upper South Island, Canterbury and Otago
• weakest in Taranaki, Southland, Gisborne-Hawkes Bay, and Waikato

NZIER also forecast strongest performance in the following sectors: agriculture and services to agriculture; transport, storage and communication, health and community services, personal and other services, and education.

"ITPs have both the capability and flexibility to respond immediately to increased enrolments in skill development courses."

ITP New Zealand is targeting four groups most affected by the recession:

1. People who have lost their jobs
2. People who are underemployed, such as workers in firms working fewer shifts or shorter weeks
3. School leavers who delay entry into the labour force
4. Tertiary students choosing to study longer

"We are seeking support from Ministers to work with the ITP sector to build skilled communities in this recession, and encourage their officials to work with us in a whole of government manner," said Dave Guerin.