Employers to help jobless youth

Rotorua Mayor taskforce workshop for jobs for young people. 23 September 2015 Daily Post photograph by Stephen Parker RGP 24Sep15 -

Rotorua employers will play an important role in getting 1000 local young people off benefits and into work, according to an international career development expert.

Mayor Steve Chadwick launched her Mayor's Taskforce for Jobs yesterday at a workshop attended by more than 30 local employers.

It was facilitated by Dave Turner, a consultant and expert on employer engagement in education and training across OECD countries.

Mrs Chadwick, who is part of the national Mayors Taskforce for Jobs governance group, said the workshop aimed to link young people with the workforce.

"What we are concerned about is last count in March we had 1000 young people between 15 and 24 on a benefit. That is wasted human capital and it doesn't matter if they're in training, or getting some skills or moving on a career pathway, we need to convert them into active learning or doing and that's what the mayor's taskforce is all about for us," she said.

"The big problem we acknowledge is if we don't grab those children, those young people, then they are going to have probably a lifetime of loss of opportunity ..."

Mr Turner said employers and educators needed to work closer together as they did in Switzerland where 70 per cent of 15 to 19-year-olds were in apprenticeships.

"You (employers) are absolutely essential for disadvantaged young people or disconnected young people in the labour market, the reality is schools will not get them work-ready without your help.

"What I have already heard and what frustrates me is the education dollar hasn't yet gone out to help employers be part of the education return.

"I still want to see a school principal one day say he will actually remove two or three full-time teachers and replace them with brokering and resourcing into employers ..."

Red Stag Timber and Lakes District Health Board representatives at the workshop spoke of the success they had engaging with young people through cadetships and the Gateway school programme to address skill shortages and an ageing workforce.

Mr Turner said he felt optimistic Rotorua would turn around its youth unemployment problem. "My optimism has increased in Rotorua based on the incredibly strong turnout here today ..." Mr Turner told the Rotorua Daily Post.

"[This] is an economy that actually has some jobs, a lot of other places don't have that, there's skill shortages and there's a need by employers to get young people to work so that need can generate some positive action."

Rotorua Chamber of Commerce chief executive Darrin Walsh agreed employers were the key to help alleviate youth unemployment.

"I think a lot of focus was on employers working closer with the educators and providing a pathway, and I think that's a great way forward ..."

Mayor's Taskforce for Jobs

* Mayor Steve Chadwick has partnered with an Excel Rotorua project.

* The vision is by 2017, all Rotorua people under 20 will be in education, training or work.

* Rotorua Lakes Council says 1000 local youth from 15-24 are on a benefit.

* Other projects include a workforce-planning approach with Rotorua's health, wellness and spa industry.

* Want to identify 20 businesses willing to trial additional work experience and placement opportunities