Skills essential for competitiveness

A competitive economy depends on many factors, and the Government’s business growth agenda is systematically addressing the key ones to boost New Zealand’s competitiveness, says BusinessNZ.

“A more competitive economy is less likely to suffer from problems with growth, exchange rates or unemployment,” says BusinessNZ Chief Executive Phil O’Reilly.

The report released today, Building Skilled and Safe Workplace, outlines progress being made in the ‘people’ factors that contribute to competitiveness, including in-demand skills, productivity and workplace safety.

Progress in lifting education achievement, targeting qualifications in needed areas such as engineering and IT, helping people move from benefits into work, reviewing workplace safety, attracting skilled migrants and introducing systems for better skills matching is welcome, Mr O’Reilly said.

“The business community has been asking for better skills policies along with better policies to support exports, innovation and other factors necessary for a competitive economy.

“The scope of change that is required for higher competitiveness is huge and much more needs to be done, but this report gives some assurance that the Government is beginning to make progress in essential areas.”