LONG TERM GOAL 3

PEOPLE’S SKILLS MATCH THE CURRENT, AND RESPOND TO THE FUTURE, NEEDS OF THE LABOUR MARKET

CONTRIBUTING MEDIUM-TERM GOALS

• Labour market participants use their knowledge and understanding of labour market dynamics and drivers.
• Education and workplace learning support positive employment outcomes, and appropriate skill development and utilisation.
• Global skills and talent are attracted and retained.
• Migrants and refugees settle well and contribute to the economy and social cohesion.
• Our international connections ensure that trade, foreign investment, and skills and knowledge transfer improve the wellbeing of our people.

CONTEXT

This goal is important if New Zealand is to realise its economic potential in terms of growth, comparative advantage and competitiveness. As a small, open economy, New Zealand must maximise its return on human capital.

This goal can only be achieved if the labour market is in tune with labour demand. Recognising when to invest in a person’s career cycle, what skills to invest in, and how to invest is critical. Maintaining and improving the skill levels of our workforce will mean that learning is taking place within our workplaces in a manner that lifts individual performance and workplace productivity. This will be an ongoing process, as technology and new products and services are developed.

Highlighting the social and economic benefits of enhanced skills should encourage investment in skill development and better use of skills. People with flexible skills that meet ongoing labour market needs have improved job satisfaction and job security. Increased tax revenue will also result from a highly-skilled and employable workforce.

New Zealand’s skill needs cannot be met from within New Zealand alone. Immigration enables skilled migrants to come to New Zealand and participate in our most productive sectors, passing their skills and knowledge on to others in the New Zealand workforce and adding value to enterprises.

We want talented people to be drawn to New Zealand by the quality of life and the work it offers. We also want New Zealanders who travel and live abroad to return with globally-relevant skills and talents, as well as links into international markets and opportunities.

The Department influences the attraction of skills and talent through its immigration operational policy and its service delivery role. A key challenge for the Department is helping to ensure that education and workplace learning support positive employment outcomes, and that skills are appropriately developed and used in workplaces. In the skills area, strong partnerships with the Tertiary Education Commission and Career Services are essential.

CONTRIBUTING MEDIUM-TERM GOALS

Labour market participants need to know what skills to invest in and how best to apply the skills they have. People who have a good understanding of the labour market are also more likely to anticipate change and adapt accordingly. Skills need to be nurtured and developed.

Firms, sectors and regions need to know how to utilise diverse skills as well as understand the value of life-long education and training. Skilled migration plays a key part in building a more highly-skilled and adaptable workforce. People learn new skills by applying existing skills in different contexts and through exposure to new perspectives and insights.

THE DEPARTMENT’S CONTRIBUTION

Our contribution to this goal includes work on:

• developing the Department’s labour market performance and information function
• skills
• immigration
• migrant and refugee settlement.