LONG TERM GOAL 2

ALL PEOPLE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN WELL-PAID AND MEANINGFUL EMPLOYMENT

CONTRIBUTING MEDIUM-TERM GOALS

• Labour market participants use their knowledge and understanding of labour market dynamics and drivers.
• Increased awareness and uptake of excellent workplace practices.
• New Zealand workplaces effectively balance employers’ and employees’ needs and interests.
• Reduced barriers to labour force participation.
• Education and workplace learning support positive employment outcomes, and appropriate skill development and utilisation.
• Migrants and refugees settle well and contribute to the economy and social cohesion.

CONTEXT

This goal balances the Government’s objective for economic growth with its objectives for social inclusion, cohesion and stability. While increased labour force participation enhances economic growth, it does not necessarily enhance people’s standard of living.

Creating opportunities to participate in well-paid and meaningful employment requires a commitment to creating and sustaining high-skilled, high-wage jobs, and recognition of the value of non-financial rewards such as work-life balance. It is important to acknowledge that although participation in the paid workforce should lead to better economic, social, and psychological outcomes, people can contribute to society in different ways. All work, including unpaid work, should be valued.

It is easier for people to make the choice between paid and unpaid work if the right opportunities exist. Furthermore, taking up these opportunities will lead to improved job security, a reduction in precarious employment, and more durable voluntary attachment to the labour market over the course of people’s lives.

CONTRIBUTING MEDIUM-TERM GOALS

The three key factors required for active participation are understanding, relevant supply of skills, and support. The right conditions in the labour market will help create employment opportunities and ensure those opportunities are realised. The Department’s role is to:

• facilitate the flow of labour market information
• address explicit barriers via legislation
• support the provision of diverse and relevant educational courses and qualifications, and demonstrate best practice for subsidised workplace training
• support appropriate social networks that assist workers transitioning between jobs (from benefits or other assistance, and from migrant or refugee status).

Groups for whom higher levels of participation in meaningful work are possible include women, Ma-ori, Pacific peoples, young people, older people, people with disabilities, ACC recipients, beneficiaries, migrants and refugees. Achieving well-paid and meaningful employment requires workplaces to be proactive in introducing change, including by forming partnerships with employees and introducing best practice ways of working. Increased awareness and adherence to best practice in some workplaces is known to create a flow-on effect in other workplaces.

THE DEPARTMENT’S CONTRIBUTION

Our contribution to this goal includes work on:

• developing the Department’s labour market performance and information function
• participation
• skills
• decent work and the facilitation of good workplace practices
• refugee and migrant settlement.