Service sector ITOs issue a labour and skills manifesto
The four industry training organisations (ITOs) that provide workplace training across the New Zealand service sector
are today releasing a manifesto that sets out a plan of action for meeting a growing demand for skilled workers.
Service industries employ nearly 600,000 full- time equivalents (FTEs) – about one in three, or 29%, of people working
in New Zealand – making it the economy’s largest per capita sector.
The four ITOs – ServiceIQ, Careerforce, Skills Active Aotearoa and the hairdressing, barbering and beauty therapy
Industry Training Organisation, HITO – have come together as At Your Service Aotearoa.
The group is issuing a manifesto to focus attention on the need for concerted action to address labour constraints and a
widening skills gap, in a sector which last year generated $47 billion in GDP.
“We want all political parties in particular to understand the importance of the sector and its growing need for
well-qualified workers,” At Your Service Aotearoa spokesman Bruce Robertson says.
“In addition to being a large and important part of the economy, the sector is also a key contributor to our sense of
national wellbeing. Every day New Zealanders benefit in numerous ways from service industries, and the demand for those
industries’ products and services is rising rapidly.
“To meet this demand we need to work together to make more people aware of the opportunities that are available, and in
particular for school leavers to see the sector as an appealing career option.”
A recent At Your Service Aotearoa-commissioned report (see www.atyourserviceaotearoa.org.nz ) by Wellington economic consultancy BERL noted that the sector will have 200,000 job openings between now and 2020 as
people leave their jobs and new ones are created.
The report provides up-to-date analysis of the sector’s contribution to the economy, its projected growth, workforce
training data and potential labour constraints and skills shortages.
Bruce Robertson says the core messages of the manifesto are that At Your Service Aotearoa wants to work with politicians
to target those who, without support, may otherwise not enter the workforce, and that the sector offers good career
paths and rewarding work.
“We want to turn around misperceptions about service work. One-third of service sector roles are already medium-high to
highly skilled.
“The ITOs behind At Your Service Aotearoa understand the growing importance of a well-qualified workforce and they are
calling on Government and all other sector stakeholders to join them in making sure that clear development pathways are
available,” he says.
About the service sector ITOs:
•Careerforce is the ITO for the health, aged care, disability, social services, youth work, cleaning and pest management
professions.
•ServiceIQ is the ITO for the aviation, hospitality, retail, travel, tourism and museums sectors.
•Skills Active Aotearoa is the ITO for the recreation, sport, exercise, snowsport and performing arts industries.
•HITO is the hairdressing, barbering and and beauty therapy industry’s training organisation.