Which specific qualifications and credentials do you want to see growth in (that can be supported by TEC investment in 2025)?
Qualification or credential Mode Specific regions? Scale of change you are seeking for 2025 Evidence of workforce need – include as text below the table or an attachment Evidence that this provision will meet the workforce need WDC-assigned priority level (for this advice)

Pan-Sector qualifications
These qualifications provide skills that are relevant to a number of industries across our sector.
New Zealand Certificate in Primary Industry Skills (Level 2): Optional strand in Self-Management and Employability Skills [2218]   All regions – but note RSLG specifics: Nelson Tasman (aquaculture strand), West Coast (dairy, sheep, beef and deer, and pork, poultry and other livestock), Wellington (arable in the Wairarapa), and Hawke's Bay. 15% Across our sector, the workforces have significant proportions who hold no qualifications (20%) or at Level 1 (15%) – significantly worse than industry benchmarks. Those lacking qualifications or holding low levels of qualifications typically are strongly correlated with the priority groups that that WDCs are required in our Orders in Council to provide opportunities for. With Covid disruption exacerbating downward trends in student retention and attainment , provision of entry-level vocational education opportunities is even more critical for building basic skills that these learners will lack and for providing pathways for these learners back into further education and training and the associated employment and progression pathways.
A repeated concern from across nearly all of our industries has been the need for a strong set of basic skills for workers in the food and fibre sector, especially for those who are not familiar with those work settings. Over the period 2015-2022 the sector has average ~67,500 new entrants per year. Over half of new entrants are industry changers and retention rates for the food and fibre sector are low. With labour shortages across all sectors, all industries, not just in the food and fibre sector, are accessing workers they have not traditionally used. These workers need new skills to be able to perform productively – and safely – in their industries.
From our engagement with the food and fibre sector, industries have particularly identified health and safety, self-management and 'employability' skills as key gaps in their workforces (in fact these form the most often cited skills gaps by industries), especially for new entrants.		 The New Zealand Certificate in Primary Industry Skills is designed to meet the needs of industries by enabling workers to carry out practical tasks associated with an entry level role in a primary industry context; including using safe work practices and self-management skills. It is targeted at new or potential entrants into the primary sector including seasonal workers, career changers and those not yet engaged in education, employment or training High Priority
New Zealand Certificate in Primary Industry Operational Skills (Level 3): Optional strands in Specialist Equipment, and Infrastructure [2215]  
All regions – but note RSLG specifics: West Coast, Hawke's Bay and Wellington, who are specifically seeking an increase for the arable industry in the Wairarapa.		 20-25% Industries from across our sector have identified the need to strengthen a core set of capabilities for workers, both those entering the industry and the existing workforce. In particular, industries want people who can (safely) operate vehicles, machinery, and other specialist equipment; and maintain infrastructure. The New Zealand Certificate in Primary Industry Operational Skills is one of the sector's central cross-sector qualifications designed to provide primary industry workplaces with individuals who can safely and effectively carry out operational activities which involve vehicles, machinery and specialist equipment, and infrastructure.
Learners will benefit by having a qualification within a training pathway that recognises progression through the industry and enables improved job performance.		 Priority
New Zealand Diploma in Primary Industry Business Management (Level 5) [2221]  
All regions – but note RSLG specifics: Canterbury, Nelson Tasman, Marlborough and the West Coast. The West Coast has particularly highlighted an increase for dairy, sheep, beef and deer, and pork, poultry and other livestock industries.		 10-15% MPI workforce forecasting indicates the need for more skilled workers, with both technical and business/managerial skills needs rising. Most of our industries have also highlighted leadership as a pressing skills gap, alongside a need for business planning and financial management. Environmental sustainability - and the skills required to respond to a changing environment - is an emerging issue for the sector. The New Zealand Diploma in Primary Industry Management is a pan-sector qualification that builds financial management, business planning and general business decision-making skills. It also contains skills around leadership, including for staff employment and work allocation, and applying interpersonal and leadership skills to monitor staff performance, health, safety, and well-being requirements in a primary industry business. It enables a graduate to plan, implement and review the environmental sustainability requirements of a primary industry business. High Priority

 

Are there qualifications or credentials that you are developing or plan to develop that will be available in 2025?
Area of provision and/or qualification/ credential name (if known) Level Mode (if specific) Qualification or micro-credential Estimated date it will be available Description of content (10–20 words) Name of qualification or micro-credential this will replace (if relevant)
Entry Level Qualification Development Project: including stackable MCs       Our expectation is that these would be available for 2025 (Forestry and Seafood entry level MCs should be available in 2024)

We are planning to build flexible, sustainable, and enduring learning pathways for learners as they enter the primary industry sector.

As part of this project, we will also reach out to other Workforce Development Councils to ascertain areas of shared interest to support learner mobility.

  

 

Footnotes

1. Education Counts data shows the proportions of school leavers with no or low level of attainment is strongly associated with school decile and ethnicity https://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/statistics/school-leavers

2. Ibid

3. See https://mukatangata.workforceskills.nz/highlights/retention/