News: Report sets path to resolve infrastructure workforce challenges

Date: 10.05.2022

A new report for New Zealand’s civil infrastructure construction workforce explores the challenges and solutions the civil infrastructure construction industry faces.

The report focussed on work the industry was doing to address workforce challenges

A new report on entering New Zealand’s civil infrastructure construction workforce has been published by national association Civil Contractors New Zealand, with support from the Ministry of Social Development and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.

Titled Developing a Skilled Civil Construction Workforce, the 67-page report explores the challenges and solutions the civil infrastructure construction industry faces.

"The work in the report explored actions the civil construction industry was taking to do this, and many successful programmes that had been identified through the research, and could be shared with the industry," says Civil Contractors chief executive Alan Pollard.

Key recommendations from the report include:

The civil construction industry to take the lead in addressing its workforce development issues, through an established industry forum
Supporting long-term work readiness programmes
Retaining the learnings from short-term pilots
Supporting and embedding Civil Trades as the industry trade certification
Better connecting industry with schools
Clarifying social procurement for civil construction companies

Key opportunities identified include:

Using technology to overcome barriers posed by site safety requirements and equipment cost
Working with the new entities established under the Reform of Vocational Education
Showcasing the aspirational career path available and inspiring people to take up the tools of the civil trades
Truly understanding social procurement and its benefits

"While the report primarily focussed on the work the industry was doing to address the issues, it was also important that partners and supporters within government and education took the findings on board and were able to play their part," says Alan.

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