Key Takeaways:
- Lifting school attendance is crucial in reducing future unemployment among young people.
- Unemployed school leavers face various barriers, including disengagement from mainstream schooling, health factors, poverty, and socioeconomic pressures.
- Organisations like Taiohi Tūrama provide wraparound support to help young people overcome these barriers and enter employment or training.
- Employers play a vital role in giving young people a genuine opportunity to enter the workforce.
- Rotorua has youth-friendly employers who are committed to employing local youth and helping them develop their skills.
Introduction to the Issue of Youth Unemployment
The issue of youth unemployment has been a pressing concern in Rotorua, with statistics showing that the unemployment rate for 15 to 24-year-olds has risen to 15.2%. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has emphasized the importance of lifting school attendance to reduce future unemployment, stating that it is "job number one". However, the reality is more complicated, and organizations like Taiohi Tūrama have been working to support young people who are not in employment, education, or training.
The Complexity of Youth Unemployment
Taiohi Tūrama’s chief executive, Richards, notes that the education system has not been a positive experience for many young people, leading to disengagement from mainstream schooling or alternative education. Additionally, health factors such as anxiety, neurodiversity, and mental health challenges, as well as poverty and socioeconomic pressures, create barriers to employment. Some young people also lack role models with experience navigating employment or training pathways, making it difficult for them to access job opportunities. Taiohi Tūrama’s approach focuses on understanding each young person’s background, strengths, goals, and support needs before considering employment.
Supporting Young People into Employment
Taiohi Tūrama provides wraparound support to help young people overcome the barriers they face. This includes connecting them with counseling, drug and alcohol services, housing support, or financial assistance. The organization also helps young people develop work readiness skills, such as communication, teamwork, and self-management, and provides practical support with tasks like opening bank accounts and improving social media profiles. Once young people are ready, Taiohi Tūrama helps them access employment or training opportunities, and continues to support them for at least six months after they enter the workforce.
The Role of Employers in Reducing Youth Unemployment
Reducing youth unemployment requires employers to give young people a genuine opportunity to enter the workforce. Richards emphasizes that there is no point putting someone into work if things in their life make it incredibly difficult to participate in or sustain employment. Employers can play a vital role by providing job opportunities, mentorship, and support to help young people develop their skills and gain experience. In Rotorua, businesses like Red Stag, Lumber One, and Novotel are already taking a youth-friendly approach to employment, and initiatives like Whakapiri Mahi are connecting rangatahi with local employers through short shadow roles and structured internships.
Local Initiatives to Address Youth Unemployment
Rotorua has seen several initiatives aimed at addressing youth unemployment. The Rotorua Business Chamber has worked with the Ministry of Social Development to place jobseekers with local businesses for mentorship, even if they have no jobs to offer. The opening of new businesses like Rotorua Central Mall FreshChoice and Timezone has also created new job opportunities for young people. Native Tech’s Whakapiri Mahi program is another example of a local initiative aimed at providing young people with real-world experience and giving businesses a simple way to invest in the region’s future workforce.
Conclusion
In conclusion, addressing youth unemployment requires a comprehensive approach that takes into account the complex barriers faced by young people. Organizations like Taiohi Tūrama play a vital role in providing wraparound support to help young people overcome these barriers and enter employment or training. Employers also have a critical role to play in giving young people a genuine opportunity to enter the workforce. By working together, we can reduce youth unemployment and provide young people with the skills and experience they need to succeed in the workforce.
