Source: MIL-OSI Submissions
Source: Habitat for Humanity
Auckland (October 6, 2021) — The need for adequate housing has become more important than ever with New Zealanders being asked to live, work, play and school their children from home in recent weeks.
“With the current outbreak of COVID-19, the importance of having a home that is safe, warm, dry and has enough space for everyone in the household has come into sharp focus recently,” says Alan Thorp, Group CEO, Habitat for Humanity New Zealand.
The need for housing is in the spotlight in New Zealand and around the globe. Habitat for Humanity’s latest international report “A Ladder Up: The construction sector’s role in creating jobs and rebuilding emerging market economies”, was released earlier this week to mark World Habitat Day on October 4. A major finding was the construction industry – led by homebuilding – is a large, often-overlooked source of jobs in emerging market economies employing from 4% to 11% in the nine countries examined. Every USD$1 million in construction output creates an average of 97 jobs in emerging markets. That compares to 81 jobs created per USD$1 million in agricultural output and 96 jobs per USD$1 million in output in the accommodation and food services sector, according to the report commissioned by Habitat’s Terwilliger Center for Innovation in Shelter. The report focused on nine countries: Brazil, Colombia, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Peru, the Philippines, South Africa, and Uganda.
In New Zealand, however, the construction sector faces different challenges to those identified in Habitat’s global report, with the construction industry being only one part of the housing crisis puzzle that needs to be resolved says Mr Thorp. “Without a construction sector that is well resourced and able to deliver more homes at pace and scale, we will struggle to make headway.”
Julien Leys, Executive Director, Construction Strategy Group says in 2020 the construction industry contributed over $16.6 billion to New Zealand’s GDP and employed over 170,000 workers, yet 25,000 more workers are needed.
“Like Habitat, we increasingly see the impact of COVID on our sector, which was already facing challenges prior to the pandemic. The need for more skilled construction workers, including women, to meet the pipeline of projects for the sector is critical.
“New Zealand’s construction sector is also dealing with the rising cost of building materials and significant delays due to the disruption of global logistics,” says Mr Leys.
About Habitat for Humanity
Driven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity has been working in New Zealand since 1993. Habitat for Humanity supports people to build or improve a place they can call home. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage. Habitat also works extensively in the Pacific, helping families in Tonga, Samoa, and Fiji to access safe and affordable homes, including after disasters. Through financial support, volunteering or adding a voice to support affordable housing, everyone can help families achieve the strength, stability, and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. Through shelter, we empower. To learn more, visit www.habitat.org.nz
About Construction Strategy Group
For more information on the Construction Strategy Group please see – https://www.constructionstrategygroup.org.nz/
