Education, flexible labour markets key to jobs for youth

The OECD’s new ‘Jobs for Youth’ report correctly identifies better education and flexible labour markets as pivotal to bright futures for young New Zealanders, says Business NZ.



The report issued today notes that tertiary education programmes in New Zealand need to be better connected to the needs of the workplace, that there are too few vocational options in schools, and that the abolition of the youth minimum wage for 16 and 17 year olds may harm youth employment and education. It also notes the importance of quality careers advice.



“These are exactly the points that Business NZ has been making to Government, says Business NZ Chief Executive Phil O’Reilly.



“It is critical that young New Zealanders are able to enter the workforce easily and with the skills they will need to prosper.



“Although there has been good progress in recent years, there is still work to do to ensure that school leavers and tertiary graduates can hit the ground running when they start work.



“We also need to be careful that other government actions do not cut across the key goal of improving the young people’s skills and employability.



“The OECD’s concerns about the possible negative effects of removing the youth minimum wage highlight the importance of having a coordinated approach.”



Business NZ will focus on these and other OECD recommendations in its ongoing work with the major parties, Mr O’Reilly said.