Employability Skills Framework will help youth get jobs

Media Release:
Employability Skills Framework will help young people get and keep jobs.

A new education resource will help young people into successful working futures, says the Industry Training Federation.

The Employability Skills Framework, launched by the government today, describes the skills and competencies young people need to thrive in the world of work. It has been developed through a partnership of educators, industry training, community, and business representatives.

The framework will help students, employers and educators to be on "the same page" when it comes to employability.

“Developing a better understanding of employability skills will be really helpful for many young people,” says Industry Training Federation (ITF) Chief Executive, Josh Williams. “Identifying the core things that the world of work is looking for from young people is something they both deserve and need to know."

The framework will assist educators to design relevant curriculum to develop and demonstrate these skills, and give employers a better sense when students have the skills they are looking for.

In recent years the Industry Training Federation has worked in partnership with the Ministry of Education to clarify and develop Vocational Pathways. The Pathways help young people navigate between education and employment, and provide new ways of offering more industry relevant learning in secondary and tertiary education. The six colour-coded sectors are also underpinning job profiles on Careers NZ and the Occupational Outlook.

"We colour-coded all the NCEA standards and we colour-coded all the jobs" says Mr Willliams. "But from the very beginning, industry representatives reported a gap between the subjects and standards students pursue at school, and the broader range of skills and capabilities that employers actually want to know about.

"The Employability Skills Framework will help fill that gap, and enhance the Vocational Pathways, by linking learning to the skills and capabilities that will mean young people can step into a successful working future." Mr Williams says.

The framework and case studies are available at www.youthguarantee.net.nz and www.careers.govt.nz

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