New Zealand's Workforce: Evidence of Upskilling?

Abstract

In this paper, I investigate the prospect that there has been a general 'upskilling' in the New Zealand workforce. This research allows me to conclude several points. First, there is reason to believe that a general upskilling in the New Zealand workforce has occurred. Second, real incomes have been growing in the face of increasing supply, indicating strong, increasing relative demand for educated workers. Further, there is more to incomes than qualifications; to a tangible extent, the incomes of peers, regardless of qualifications, affect wages. Fourth, women are entering the tabor force at a greater rate than men; significantly, this is true at the university end of the qualification spectrum. Finally, there is evidence to suggest a persistent, wide-spread disparity between the incomes of men and women, regardless of qualification, industry, and occupation.