The CBD Job and Skills Hub officially opened in Wynyard Quarter in late February 2017.
We are partnering with Pānuku Development Auckland, government agencies (Tertiary Education Commission, Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment, and the Ministry of Social Development) and industry on the hub.
We are leading the hub’s establishment – a one-year process which started with Fu Wah Ltd donating temporary premises for the hub rent free until next month.
Work brokers are busy placing people into jobs with employers delivering construction and infrastructure projects in Auckland’s city centre such as the lead contractors within the Wynyard Development including Hawkins, and LT McGuinness.
More than 80 per cent of the successful candidates so far have come off the Work and Income NZ register. About half the candidates are Māori or Pacific people. The hub is delivering in line with its performance targets and also working with employers to identify upskilling opportunities prior to, as well as during, employment.
ATEED is working with Pānuku’s mana whenua governance forum to enable iwi engagement and amplify opportunities for Māori.
The hub provides job brokering services and skills training services based on industry demand. The initial focus is the construction sector, where jobs in Auckland are forecast to grow by more than 7,500 a year until at least 2018. Construction is a key driver of Auckland’s economic growth, but the sector is finding it hard to recruit people with the right skills.
The hub concept builds on the successful Ara Jobs and Skills Hub at Auckland Airport, and the Tāmaki Jobs and Skills Hub being led by the Tāmaki Regeneration Company.
Another key ATEED initiative in that space is proving a success, with the #BuildAKL campaign now having more than 3,000 Facebook followers – more than 70 per cent of these under 30 years of age. The year-long campaign ends in September 2017 and aims to get 4,000 young people into the construction and infrastructure sector, with a focus on young women, and Māori and Pacific peoples. Again, this is a partnership approach with major companies including Fletcher Building, Downer, Hawkins, and Watercare. Auckland Airport is helping to fund the project.
A record 1,250 jobs across 75 businesses were available for young Aucklanders at this month’s JobFest at the Manukau Vodafone Events centre. An estimated 1,500 young people attended New Zealand’s largest youth employment event, which had a particular focus on young Māori and Pacific job seekers.
The jobs spanned industries including construction and infrastructure, fashion, tourism and hospitality, and food and beverage. JobFest, delivered by Council’s Youth Connections initiative, in partnership with ATEED and The Tindall Foundation, aims to bridge the gap between young job seekers and employers, and help young people get ‘work-ready’ so that they are more familiar with the work place culture.
Hundreds of the 6,000 young people who have attended previous JobFests have gained employment.