18 May 2016

Media Release: For Immediate Release

Skills shortages holding back business – action needed, says Auckland Chamber head Michael Barnett

The persistent skills shortages highlighted again in the latest Auckland Chamber of Commerce quarterly survey require a solution-led response, says Auckland Chamber CEO Michael Barnett.

Commenting on the Chamber’s May quarterly Business Confidence Survey Mr Barnett noted, “There has been a persistent skills shortage in Auckland for some time. Results show that 41% of the business respondents are now finding it harder to recruit skilled staff compared to the 35% of this view in the previous survey in February this year.”

“These shortages stretch from construction, truck drivers, to chefs, ICT and engineering,” says Mr Barnett. “Once again, our Chamber survey reinforces that Auckland needs a standalone talent recruitment campaign to address this issue that prevents Auckland businesses from growing.”

Mr Barnett advocates a talent recruitment campaign that links with universities providing the skills in demand, with offshore recruitment via the Immigration department and training Aucklanders for employment among the dimensions we need to focus on.

“The many agencies and organisations involved need to find a way to work together and focus on the vocations where skills are in high demand,” said Mr Barnett.

“While a number of organisations, including the Auckland Chamber, are supporting skills training programmes, plainly we are not yet doing enough to meet the demands of the market.”

It was an area the Chamber would be giving increased attention to, he indicated.

ENDS

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