Workforce development stories
Job seekers in Manawatū will start a six-week infrastructure course in November, with trainees employed by firms from day one.
Projects that kept ferries running, roads safer and power supply secure were among the winners at Civil Contractors New Zealand’s awards in Wellington.
Household water bills could soar unless New Zealand overhauls ageing networks, with studies flagging up to NZD $185 billion of work needed.
Clients on major construction jobs will gain independent contract oversight as The Building Intelligence Group appoints Charles Brown in Auckland.
Employers can now claim support for apprentices for longer, with the subsidy running until August and backing training in critical industries.
Rising retirements and digital skills gaps could push up infrastructure costs and slow delivery unless firms train workers in data and robotics.
Poorly written tenders can push up whole-of-life costs, as councils later face rework, weaker skills and more project delays.
Funding for 29 climate-protection projects is set to shield regions from flooding and erosion while supporting quarrying jobs.
Experts say the $50 billion COVID-19 recovery plan will lift jobs and infrastructure, but warn it leaves big tax and housing gaps.
Sector growth is set to lift jobs and exports as smaller Kiwi tech firms tap climate, finance and 4IR demand over the next decade.
An acute skills shortage is threatening New Zealand construction growth, prompting RICS to train workers amid forecasts of 50,000 more staff needed.
A shortage of engineers is already constraining construction, manufacturing and agriculture as firms struggle to adapt to new skills and technologies.
Australia faces a 1 percent of GDP infrastructure gap as rapid city growth, labour shortages and slower productivity strain new projects.
New procurement rules could ease contract risk and cut legal costs, if agencies shift from lowest price to outcome-led construction deals.
Better procurement could unlock billions of dollars in value from New Zealand’s $129 billion infrastructure pipeline, industry groups say.
Uncertainty over project timing is hampering hiring and investment, with 77% of contractors wanting a clearer pipeline of government work.
Jobseekers could cut training time from days to minutes as a new virtual reality tool is piloted to fill construction skills gaps in New Zealand.
Government procurement may soon favour firms able to prove their contribution to wellbeing, putting traditional industries under pressure to adapt.
A national pipeline could help civil contractors avoid boom-bust cycles and invest with more certainty, the industry says.
Gamified training could help ease hiring woes in construction, with a new tycoon game aimed at teaching employability skills and industry realities.
