The announcement of the initiative to address labour shortages for businesses and provide jobs and training in Auckland’s CBD by Hon Steven Joyce at an event in Auckland today is welcomed by the partners supporting it.
The CBD Jobs and Skills Hub, based in Wynyard Quarter, is a collaboration supported by local and central government, training agencies and employers and aims to provide long term, sustainable employment opportunities.
Research shows that in Wynyard Quarter alone, the regeneration of which is being led by Panuku Development Auckland, there is a need for more than 2500 construction workers over the next three years.
Patrick McVeigh, Auckland Tourism, Events & Economic Development (ATEED) General Manager Business, Innovation & Skills, says he welcomes the opportunity for ATEED to work with government and industry partners on the venture.
“The CBD Jobs and Skills Hub will address serious labour shortages by connecting employers with people looking for work, initially in the construction industry, and by up-skilling those already in employment through the provision of practical skills training,” he says.
“Across Auckland there are 32,000 jobs that need to be filled in the construction sector alone, as well as considerable demand in hospitality and tourism. These sectors all have significant opportunities for job creation.”
The CBD Jobs and Skills Hub follows on from the success of the Ara Airport Jobs and Skills Hub and complements ATEED’s #BuildAKL campaign, which aims to get more than 4,000 young Aucklanders into construction and infrastructure jobs over the next year.