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More Wairarapa workers than ever before are getting paid to learn their trade.
The Wairarapa region has over 9000 employees in industry training and 372 in Modern Apprenticeships, says Wairarapa MP Georgina Beyer. This compares with 8045 and 308 at the same time last year.
In four Wairarapa council areas alone, there are 1873 Industry Trainees and 102 Modern Apprentices.
Ms Beyer says the year's positive results are a vindication of the Government's $98.4 million investment nationwide in work-based training, helped by $41.6m from New Zealand businesses.
"Young people, other workers and employers have grabbed at the opportunity offered by the Government and in so doing are helping the region's economic growth spurt."
Industry training is a respected pathway for workers of all ages into sustainable employment and a skills development powerhouse. The Government aims to have 150,000 workers in training in 2005, and by 2007 it wants to see all 15-19 year olds in work, education, training or other activities that contribute to their long term economic independence and wellbeing.
Numbers in training have increased across the country. Nationally in 2003, over 126,000 trainees took part in Industry Training with over 29,000 employers. In 2002, 106,000 people were involved, with about 24,600 employers.
Wellington's unemployment rate stands at a low 4.7 percent, and available workers are becoming scarcer with regional unemployment benefit numbers at 9603, down from 11,316 in June 2003.
"If you're earning while you're learning, you're looking at a future with sustainable job opportunities because employers need skilled and qualified people to be able to compete in a knowledge-based economy," said Ms Beyer.
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