Aotearoa New Zealand faces real challenges when it comes to talent shortages in key industries. Technological disruption, demographic shifts and global events like the Covid-19 pandemic have accelerated transformation across sectors. For young people, this means navigating a future that is less predictable, more complex and increasingly demanding of adaptability, resilience and digital fluency.

To build a strong and future-ready workforce, it’s vital we keep growing a pool of skilled, work-ready young people. That’s why the team at Hanga-Aro-Rau is excited to share our new White Paper on workforce transitions – “Strengthening the Vocational Education and Training System to Improve Workforce Transitions: Seven Strategies for Better Attraction, Alignment and Retention”.

This White Paper brings together learning from our work with industry and vocational education partners over the past four years. As a legacy document for Hanga-Aro-Rau, it offers practical ideas to support the shift to the new Industry Skills Boards, along with insights and strategies designed to strengthen the current Vocational Education and Training system.

We also make the case for continued Government support of a workforce transition function, a key part of what’s helped build strong connections between education and employment. We believe this foundation is worth building on and supporting into the next phase of system transformation.

Helping young people make sense of the labour market, understand their options and build the competencies to manage their career pathways is critical to both individual success and national prosperity.

Download the White Paper on workforce transitions