New Zealand is experiencing a long-term engineering skills shortage, and this problem is increasing.
It is estimated that we need between 1,500 and 2,300 additional engineers each year to meet industry demands and support ongoing economic growth.
Historically these additional engineers come through the education system, as well as immigration. However, we are facing challenges in these areas. The current downturn in Government work also means engineers are being lost through firms having to restructure, staff leaving to opportunities overseas and graduates are not being recruited.
An action plan to address the skills shortage
To address this long-term issue, we have worked with Waihanga Ara Rau and ACE New Zealand to develop a long-term skills action plan.
The plan:
- outlines the key areas we have identified from our analysis to help address the long-term engineering workforce shortage
- sets out the main challenges in the pathway to becoming an engineer across the training and workforce journey of engineers
- sets out the actions our three organisations are currently undertaking or exploring as part of our future work planning.
It is a first step towards outlining and addressing the priority challenges. The future initiatives in this plan will be further developed collaboratively over 2025.
This plan complements skills shortage initiatives in adjacent areas, and we acknowledge the great work being done by many in the sector to address the engineering workforce challenges.
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