Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board addressing youth employment issue

More than 120 employers will attend a Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board business breakfast tomorrow morning to hear the results of a significant piece of research carried out by the board to address youth employment.

Maungakiekie-Tāmaki is home to 20 per cent of the Auckland region’s manufacturing jobs, 13 per cent of the region’s GDP and employs 80,000 people across a number of key sectors.

“Those statistics make Maungakiekie-Tāmaki an economic powerhouse within the Auckland economy yet we have high youth unemployment with around 1500 locals not currently employed, in education or training,” says Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board Chair Simon Randall.

“It is crucial to the long-term economic success of our area that our businesses have access to a quality, well-equipped and willing local labour force and likewise, it is crucial our young people have good jobs and employment opportunities locally.”

Results of the 2014 Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Employer Survey will be released at the event which has Sir Stephen Tindall and Auckland Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Michael Barnett as keynote speakers.

Sir Stephen and the Tindall Foundation are key sponsors and supporters of Auckland Council’s Youth Connections initiative which is delivered through Auckland’s local boards and Youth Connector champions who connect schools and young people with opportunities in employment, education and training.

The survey was an important step in broadening the board’s knowledge and understanding of local business needs, and providing insight into the minds of key decision makers from more than 120 local organisations.

“It also provides a useful tool to work with business to identify workforce development and opportunities that exist to make employing young people easier,” says Mr Randall.

“Our board has made a commitment to working with employers, educational institutions, the community and young people to address the systemic reasons for youth employment. The breakfast event is to share our survey findings with key local employers and we are confident they will find the results interesting and very valuable.”

Mr Randall says he is pleased by the number of businesses keen to attend the event which includes Fletcher Building, National Road Carriers, and Allied Workforce, along with local business association representatives.

“Tomorrow’s event is another step to tackling the youth employment issue and will further cement the board’s relationships with local businesses so we can work closely together for the good of Maungakiekie-Tāmaki and Auckland.”

Onehunga High School Principal Deidre Shea and former Onehunga High and Youth Advisory Panel member Ginah Vakaheketaha-Nelisi will also speak at tomorrow’s event which will be attended by Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse, champion of the Youth Connections initiative.

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