Feedback wanted on poverty report

Dr Paul Dalziel looked at poverty problems.

The Mayoral Taskforce on Poverty is seeking feedback on the recently released Employer Demand Survey.

The survey, sponsored by the Poverty Taskforce, is being presented to a range of business, trade union and employment training providers this month.

Responses and reactions to the findings will be incorporated into the findings and recommendations that the Taskforce is preparing for Christchurch City Council in September.

The report has been prepared by a team of researchers from Canterbury University headed by Dr Paul Dalziel.

Early this year there was widespread concern that a shortage of qualified and experienced workers was restricting employment and business growth in Christchurch.

The Taskforce responded by commissioning a research project to measure the extent and nature of the shortage.

Dr Dalziel’s core findings are:

• that unemployed workers are applying for jobs even when they do not have the required qualifications and experience.
• that while qualifications are important for many jobs, experience is seen as more important.
• that employers are finding it difficult to find suitably qualified employees, particularly in the skilled trades.
  The report also comments on how central and local government might encourage a beneficial spiral of rising incomes and prosperity, paying particular attention to how it can help develop and maintain a skilled and experienced workforce.
• Fostering a well-qualified workforce begins early: social investment in quality early childhood education is particularly important
• Likewise, social investment in low-income suburbs, particularly in relation to education, is important for enabling young people to achieve their education potential. Engagement with these communities, their schools and organisations is vital for exploring the best ways in which such social investment can be made.
• Incentives to employers of taking on and training people should be explored.
• Employment assistance programmes appear to be most effective when they have strong links to actual workplace.

Feedback to:
Poverty Taskforce,
PO Box 237,
Christchurch; or
email: PovertyTaskforce@ccc.govt.nz

Related Information
Employer Demand For Skilled Workers In Christchurch