Opportunities for up-skilling women in workforce

MEDIA RELEASE

Opportunities for up-skilling women in workforce crucial to productivity growth

"Opportunities for up-skilling women in the workforce are crucial to productivity growth", said Darel Hall Executive Director of the Industry Training Federation. "Because 80% of the work force in ten years time is the work force that we have today, a lot of work has been done on not only increasing women's labour market participation, but also women's training participation.

The Prime Minister's speech today talked about the importance of women to New Zealand's continued growth by increasing the opportunities for women to work. Research shows that opportunity for women to train is also important for women to up-skill and get ahead.

"Research released in April 2004 shows that extending the coverage of industry training to key female-dominated sectors such as Education, Health and Finance will substantially contribute to increasing women's participation in industry training.

"Similarly, increasing the number of Modern Apprenticeships so that key female-dominated sectors and occupations can bid for training will increase female participation

"We know that industry training increases productivity and wages, and we know it's very cost effective for the tax payer. The New Zealand Institute of Economic Research report released in November 2004 shows that on average, a learner after industry training is likely to be 5% - 20% more productive than they would otherwise have been.

"Training to up-skill, be more productive and get ahead is an important issue for all sectors of the community. Industry training is an important component of that equation, and an important part of that equation for women", Darel Hall said.

ENDS

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