Existing qualifications do not always align with the skills required to do the work and attracting people with the right skills is a challenge.
The Tāmaki Makaurau Regional Skills Leadership Group (RSLG) has identified in its Regional Workforce Plan that the local sector has a need for entry-level roles, but that there is increasing demand for innovation, science and technology skills to meet the demands for genetics and cultivars innovation, robotics and automation in agri-tech related farming. This will require new skills, and the industry is struggling to attract the skills required to adopt the innovations and technologies needed to improve growth and productivity.
In some instances, people are gaining qualifications in skills that they have already learned on the job. For example, the industry is advancing through increased automation and the existing qualifications do not necessarily align with these changes.
The Hawke’s Bay Regional Skills Leadership Group has identified in its Regional Workforce Plan that the industry is preparing for new technologies such as robotic harvesting, but that they lack sufficient existing workers with fundamental horticulture skills and knowledge in the region.
More recognition of transferable skills might help to attract people and move people to and from other industries, ensuring a more continuous work stream in line with seasonal demands.