New Zealand short of boat builders

by Michael Verdon/IBI Magazine on 15 Jun 2005 A New Zealand Department of Labour survey found that boatbuilding was one of 15 trades that have been listed as ‘suffering’ from acute skill shortages.

The survey found that some of the occupations — which also include diesel mechanics — had a fill rate of less than 30 per cent and that not enough new workers could fill vacant positions.

‘Pay and conditions for certain jobs such as boatbuilding played some part in putting people off entering those trades at all,’ said the report.

‘Some people enter the boatbuilding trade with views of working on large vessels and being a part of the lucrative marine industry only to leave because of 'unpleasant working conditions'.’

While young people are attracted by the glamour of yachting, particularly in post-America's Cup New Zealand, boat builders often work in dusty and dirty conditions, the report noted.

The report said that a drop in people entering the trades in the 1990s and low training rates at fully trade-qualified levels contributed to the shortage. Other factors for the shortage include the winding down of many government-based apprentice training initiatives, economic recession, and the rising proportion of young people embarking on academic study in New Zealand.

These shortages are expected to persist in the short term, noted the report.

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