Manufacturing Sector Talent Survey 2024

When manufacturing does well, our economy does well. Manufacturing contributes more than $23 billion to our GDP, accounts for 60% of our exports and employs 12% of our workforce.  That is why it is important that we get the policy settings right to support our manufacturing sector to thrive.

New Zealand is full of innovative and dynamic manufacturers producing high-quality goods that are being exported around the world. If we want manufacturing to continue to be a cornerstone of our economy and drive our future economic growth then the following worrying workforce trends, threats & weaknesses must be addressed:

• (i) Low labour productivity,
• (ii) Speed of Technology Change,
• (iii) Adoption of advanced technologies,
• (iv) Skills gap, (v) Digital skills gap,
• (vi) Labour shortage,
• (vii) Aging workforce,
• (viii) Constraints on small & medium sized manufacturers and
• (ix) Workforce management & leadership capability.

Understanding talent dynamics in the manufacturing sector is crucial as we face these trends, threats & weaknesses. The survey examines skill levels, recruitment challenges in New Zealand, and the impact of technological innovation. By gathering data from various manufacturing businesses, it seeks to identify trends, challenges, and growth opportunities. Insights from this survey will be going to be provided directly to Minister for Manufacturing Andrew Bayly and his team. This provides Minister Bayley with better information to raise with the Immigration Minister on manufacturing across the Country into sectors, roles and regions affected by recent immigration changes as well as wider talent shortage insights. 

We invite you to complete this 5-minute survey, by 31st July. Click here to access the survey. Your support in this data collection effort is crucial.  Your responses will be confidential and anonymised. 

Thank you in advance for taking the time to complete this survey.