November 11, 2019
Maori interest boosts apprentice numbers
The number of women, Māori and Pasifika pursuing a career in trades on the increase.
The Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation now has 13,000 apprentices in active training.
Chief executive Warwick Quinn says that’s helped by more parents, students and school leavers becoming open to the trades, but if still falls short of meeting demand.
About 80,000 new and replacement construction jobs are forecast to open in the next five years, which means more people need to start formal training now to meet the demans.
The ITO’s 13,000th apprentice is 30-year-old Tioirangi Smith who previously worked in hospitality and is now a carpentry apprentice for SLC Builders Ltd in the Wellington area.
Copyright © 2019, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com