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The march towards a more skilled workforce is taking major strides with figures showing over 2200 workers in on-the-job training in Wairarapa last year.
Wairarapa MP Georgina Beyer today issued details of industry training for the Wairarapa area, including forestry (520 trainees last year), agriculture (436), and hospitality (106).
Nationwide, industry training numbers grew by almost 20,000 - or 19 percent - last year, reaching a record high of 126,870 trainees.
In the Carterton, South Wairarapa, Tararua and Masterton council areas, a total of 2279 workers participated in industry training last year.
In addition, a further 344 young people were learning on-the-job through Modern Apprenticeships in the Wellington region during 2003. This programme, initiated by the Labour-led Government, is now producing its first graduates, with 215 Modern Apprentices graduating nationwide.
The Government is investing $25.2 million in the Modern Apprenticeships Scheme this financial year.
"What's good about this is people are getting into work they actually enjoy and local industries gain the skilled workforce they desperately need," said Ms Beyer.
Nationwide, 14,181 National Certificates were completed last year - a 45 percent increase on the 2002 numbers.
"The Labour-led Government is aiming to get 150,000 workers into industry training by the end of 2005. Last year's Budget invested $85 million over the next four years.
"The difference between now and a few years ago could not be more stark. Unemployment is down, replaced by a vanguard of trainees whose skills are boosting growth and innovation in the economy," said Ms Beyer.
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