The trades and engineering sectors will suffer a "chronic" skills shortage within three years if more school leavers are not lured towards them, an industry expert says.
Paul Jeurissen, dean of engineering and trades at the Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT), said a lack of interest among youngpeople could see the industry scratching for workers by 2012.
He said concerns have been "bubbling away for some years" but were surfacing now because there were not enough trainees to replace workers due to retire.
"Education providers and industry need to work collaboratively now to encourage young people to consider a future in both engineering and trades or we will face a skills shortage crisis in the near future," Mr Jeurissen said.
The industry is already reporting a shortage of professional engineers, surveyors, civil engineers, he said.
A high number of infrastructure projects had increased demand for less-traditional trades such as refrigeration, boiler making and air-conditioning, and these trades also needed to attract more school leavers.
Mr Jeurissen said the biggest barrier the industry faced was parental pressure: "Most parents think little Johnny or Susie is going to become a doctor, a lawyer or an accountant and they just haven't seen the lucrative salary packages available through the professions and tradespeople."
Andrew Little from the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturers Union said more could be done to entice students at high school level: "It's a much more sophisticated career these days - having to deal with complex machinery and computer equipment requiring good understanding of maths and science."
Mr Jeurissen was appointed head of MIT's trades and engineering faculty last week and said he will work closely with local secondary schools to help the transition of students from Year 11 into professional, technological and trade training.
He said schools should identify students who are "disengaged" academically and give them opportunity to explore other trades-based career options.
