Failure to train young people contributes to housing stall
new-zealand-labour-party
Mon Jul 03 2017 12:00:00 GMT+1200 (New Zealand Standard Time)
Failure to train young people contributes to housing stall
Monday, 3 July 2017, 9:24 am
Press Release: New Zealand Labour Party
3 July 2017
Nats’ failure to train young people contributes to housing stall
Budget documents forecast that housing construction will stall in the coming year, despite the massive housing shortage, and National’s failure to train young people in building trades is partly to blame, says Leader of the Opposition Andrew Little.
The Budget forecasts growth in the residential construction sector to slow from nearly seven per cent to just 0.3 per cent in 2017/18. Treasuryattributes this, in part, to ‘capacity constraints in the construction sector (particularly for skilled labour)’. Government data shows a significant reduction in the number of carpentry and plumbing apprentices under National, despite the Christchurch rebuild and national housing shortage.
“After nine years, National has managed to stall housing construction in the middle of the largest housing shortage we’ve ever seen. We needed to be training more young people in building skills; National trained fewer. Labour’s fresh approach will incentivise builders to take on more apprentices so we can grow the building workforce.
“Already, the problems can be seen. Building consents are static. The residential construction sector shrunk 1.6 per cent in the latest GDP statistics. With record population growth and housing already in short supply, a stall in housing construction is the last thing this country needs.
“National allowed the number of building apprentices to fall following the Canterbury earthquakes, despite the growing need for skilled builders. The number of carpenter apprentices qualifying was down 30 per cent in 2016 compared to 2011.
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“The number of apprentices in training is now increasing, but many more are needed and years of too few apprentices being trained have led to the shortage of experienced workers now.
“Now, we’re seeing the results of National’s failure to invest in training: a building sector that is hitting its limits when we still need many more houses.
“Labour is committed to expanding the building workforce and training more young people as part of our comprehensive housing plan. Labour will help firms with the cost of employing an apprentice through our Dole for Apprenticeships scheme and apprentices will have access to our fees free tertiary policy. KiwiBuild contractors will be required to train apprentices as part of their participation in the programme. The KiwiBuild Visa will allow builders to bring in a skilled worker as long as they also train a local apprentice,” says Andrew Little.
Contact: Mike Jaspers 027 677 8875
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
Total Building Apprentices gaining qualifications
2,775
2,425
1,925
2,140
2,350
2,520
Building Surveying (Inspection)
0
0
20
85
85
75
Building nec, mixed or nfd
10
10
20
35
30
45
Bricklaying and Stonemasonry
20
55
60
60
60
60
Carpentry and Joinery
2,060
1,740
1,170
1,190
1,335
1,405
Ceiling, Wall and Floor Fixing
90
165
215
170
225
220
Roof Fixing
120
105
50
75
80
110
Plastering
15
10
5
5
0
5
Glazing
35
40
25
20
30
30
Painting, Decorating, Sign Writing and Other Finishes
30
15
130
135
200
280
Plumbing, Gasfitting and Drainlaying
405
280
240
365
310
290
Source: Education Counts (figures rounded)
Number of new dwellings consented
Month
Trend(2)
2013
May
1,733
Jun
1,737
Jul
1,746
Aug
1,770
Sep
1,810
Oct
1,861
Nov
1,918
Dec
1,969
2014
Jan
2,008
Feb
2,036
Mar
2,061
Apr
2,080
May
2,083
Jun
2,075
Jul
2,058
Aug
2,047
Sep
2,048
Oct
2,062
Nov
2,083
Dec
2,110
2015
Jan
2,130
Feb
2,140
Mar
2,148
Apr
2,161
May
2,187
Jun
2,217
Jul
2,248
Aug
2,280
Sep
2,315
Oct
2,347
Nov
2,367
Dec
2,372
2016
Jan
2,374
Feb
2,393
Mar
2,427
Apr
2,480
May
2,548
Jun
2,615
Jul
2,657
Aug
2,650
Sep
2,598
Oct
2,530
Nov
2,476
Dec
2,454
2017
Jan
2,465
Feb
2,491
Mar
2,524
Apr
2,552
ends
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