As the Government’s Covid-19 wage subsidy comes to an end this month, regional New Zealand is looking to combat a spike in youth unemployment.
The Government is investing $11.5 million into rural New Zealand with the aim to to connect young people with jobs.
The Mayoral Taskforce for Jobs and the Ministry of Social Development have signed an agreement involving 23 rural councils, each receiving $500,000 over the next year, to help match job seekers with employers.
The initiative aims to create 50 jobs in each council district over the next 12 months, by assisting small to medium sized businesses with recruitment and training, and foster working relationships between businesses and young people.
Otorohanga Mayor, Max Baxter, said rural councils had a better connection with their communities and were best placed to shoulder tap potential employers.
Baxter is also the Mayoral Tastforce for Jobs Chairman and says this will be the organisation’s biggest project to date.
“Incentives like this don’t come along very often and it’s a chance for 23 rural councils to broker employment opportunities, to move young people into work.”
The other district councils involved included Buller, Carterton, Central Hawke’s Bay, Chatham Islands, Clutha, Gore, Grey, Hauraki, Hurunui, Kaikōura, Kawerau, Mackenzie, Ōpōtiki, Rangitīkei, Ruapehu, South Wairarapa, Straford, Tararua, Waimate, Wairoa and Westland.
