May 04, 2017
Job Fest targets Maori youth
As the latest job statistics show the Maori unemployment rate is still more than twice as high as the 4.9 percent overall rate, more than 1000 jobs were on offer to young jobseekers in Auckland yesterday.
The fifth annual JobFest at the Manukau Events Centre was billed as the country’s largest youth employment event, and had a particular focus on South Auckland and Maori and Pasifika youth.
Auckland deputy mayor Bill Cashmore says it was about bridging the gap between young jobseekers and employers and helping young people get ‘work-ready’ so that they are more familiar with workplace culture.
Among the sectors represented were some with critical skills shortages such as construction and infrastructure, ICT, and hospitality and tourism.
More than 26,000 young Aucklanders aged 15 to 24 are not in employment, education or training including a significantly higher proportion of Maori and Pacific Island youth.
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