The government’s Earn as You Learn initiative, designed to connect high school education with practical skills, is poised to expand into additional areas.
Its pilot phase was said to have delivered “standout results.”
The pilot was launched in Waikato in February this year and is planned to expand to the Hutt Valley and Canterbury next year, with Auckland scheduled for 2027.
Small Business and Manufacturing Minister Chris Penk described the initiative as “a government-backed and industry-led initiative that gives students paid, real-world experience in manufacturing while they study.”
“Students spent two days a week in the classroom at Wintec’s Rotokauri Campus and three days working with some of the region’s most advanced manufacturers as they earned an NZ Certificate in Manufacturing Level Three,” he said.
According to Penk, the pilot achieved learner completion rates exceeding 80%, with eight out of ten participating employers committed to continuing next year and additional employers currently in discussions to join.
“Manufacturing risks facing ongoing shortages of skilled workers,” Penk said.
“Earn as You Learn helps secure the future of a sector that contributes 8% to national GDP and underpins 60% of our export economy, while giving young Kiwis the chance to step into exciting careers in a rapidly evolving field.”
“Our task now is to take this proven model nationwide and ensure New Zealand has the skilled manufacturing workforce it needs for the future.”