Work-based learning plan will ‘exacerbate skills shortage’, say building industry leaders

Tertiary Education Minister Penny Simmonds plans to take work-based training changes to Cabinet in the first half of this year. (Image: Bevan Conley)

Maria Slade

Tue, 08 Apr 2025

Building and construction sector leaders have joined forces to lobby against a Government plan they say will obstruct the training of skilled workers.Industry bodies representing 16,000 businesses and a similar number of apprentices in training say the Government has consulted on work-based learning reforms twice, yet is still trying to foist upon them a model they do not want.The proposed “Option C” embeds training within polytechnics, reducing the industry’s ability to grow the workers it needs, the groups said in a joint le...

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