Waihanga Ara Rau, Te Waihanga (the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission), and the Construction Sector Accord are helping in the recovery efforts in areas affected by Cyclone Gabrielle by providing early projections for the construction workforce based on projects received.
These workforce projections are broken down by occupations, such as planners, engineers, trades workers, machinery operators, and labourers, and provide a view over the coming years. The recovery workforce projections have been developed by Te Waihanga, and Waihanga Ara Rau has enhanced its Workforce Information Platform, WIP.org.nz, to provide recovery workforce projections for the residential construction sector.
By providing an early understanding of possible labour demands, these projections will support affected regions in their project planning and coordination. This understanding is important given the large scale of the recovery effort across multiple regions and the potential need to draw on national capability and resources. Developing a skilled workforce takes time.
These early workforce projections will change, but having a view now will support affected regions in their project planning and coordination and the construction industry to identify potential workforce needs.
About Waihanga Ara Rau
Waihanga Ara Rau is the Workforce Development Council (WDC) representing and supporting the construction and infrastructure sector in vocational education and training.
It is committed to providing a strong voice for the industry while ensuring a future-fit workforce and honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi and Māori-Crown relations.
Its vision is a construction and infrastructure sector that enables everyone to reach their potential.
Its core functions are to:
Provide skills leadership by ensuring our essential building, construction and infrastructure sectors are training new and existing workers to the highest and most consistent standards.
Lead the development of industry qualifications, set industry standards and assess training provision against these industry standards.
Bring consistency to industry standards and learning outcomes – making sure they are applied across the motu, and all learning modes.
Be the voice of industry to represent industry interests as well as being a system leader providing input on policies that matter most to industry.
Provide advice to the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) on investment in vocational education and determine the appropriate mix of skills and training for the industries they cover.
