Age Trends in the New Zealand and Australian Trades Workforce 1991 to 2001

Abstract

This paper reports on an investigation into the age profile of New Zealand trade workers. The research was undertaken after trades employers identified that ageing trends alongside skill shortages were a significant issue for their business future. The paper compares the age profile of NZ trades workers with the age profile of both the general NZ working population and that of Australian trades workers, drawing on occupational employment data from New Zealand and Australian censuses. It also looks at migration patterns among trade workers in New Zealand. The paper notes that New Zealand has been less effective than Australia in attraction, training or retaining young people in trades and this is a prime reason the New Zealand trade workforce was ageing faster than the Australian trade workforce in the '90s. The findings suggest that, as New Zealand already faces skills shortages in some trades, there is a risk that age-related attrition will add to this in the coming years.