Busy day and best of luck

 

Note: Pressers placed in Talking Auckland are to be taken at the value you attach to them. I just pass the information on. Commentary does not always follow.

From Auckland Council

More than 2000 unemployed youth attend Job Fest15

 Around 2000 unemployed young people from across Auckland attended a youth employment summit in Manukau over the weekend designed to connect them with potential employers and job opportunities.

JobFests15 was the third summit staged as part of Len Brown’s Mayoral Youth Employment Traction Plan launched in April last year.

The plan provides a new approach to addressing youth employment in a practical, action focused way and brings together business, central government, young people and other key stakeholders to develop solutions and pathways to employing young people.

“JobFest15 had to be seen to be believed,” said Mr Brown.  “Hundreds of willing young people who were ready to work hooked up with employers who had job opportunities and wanted to employ young people.

“I am confident this is another important step towards to solving Auckland’s youth employment issue by giving young Aucklanders a pathway of hope – a seamless pathway from school to further education, training and employment.”

More than 23,000 young Aucklanders are not in employment, education or training (NEETs) – 10.5 percent of all Auckland 15-24 year olds.

Auckland Council is committed to reducing that figure with the help of its youth employment partners which include the Tindall Foundation and several high profile companies who have signed up to its Youth Employment Pledge.

As pledge partners companies such as Fletcher Building, InterContinental Hotels Group, the Warehouse and Auckland Council itself commit to providing job opportunities for young people.

Sir Stephen Tindall was at the summit and told the 50 businesses present he commended them for their leadership role in investing in the workforce of the future.

“It is great to see so many local businesses committed to employing young people.  Like me, they can see the huge value and potential in supporting young talent in Auckland,” he said.

“Businesses providing work opportunities for our enthusiastic and vibrant young people will have long-lasting economic benefits to the country and will lead to positive, sustainable community outcomes that will help families, communities and our country as a whole now and in the future.”

As well as connecting unemployed young people with businesses who had job opportunities, JobFest15 featured workshops run by CareersNZ on CV preparation and successful job interviews as well as entertainment from Pacific reggae star Sammy Johnson and Two Many Chiefs.

The Minister of Building, Innovation and Employment Steven Joyce attended JobFest15 which was supported by the Ministry of Social Development and sponsored by The Southern Initiative and MIT.

Auckland Regional Commissioner for Social Development, Blair McKenzie, said JobFest15 provided a unique chance for Work and Income to partner with various organisations such as Auckland Council.

“It enabled us to support youth employment initiatives right across the region and gave young people the chance to engage directly with companies.  For some it was a chance to walk away with job offers on the day.”

It was part of Auckland Council’s and Auckland Tourism, Event and Economic Development’s (ATEED) focus on youth employment which also includes initiatives such as Youth Connections and the Mayor’s Youth Employment Traction Hub.

Over the past two years Youth Connections has actively engaged with more than 600 businesses and 4,500 young people.  As a result more than 860 young people have got jobs.

Auckland Council will now analyse and then announce the results of JobFest15 in terms of how many young people were employed or were helped into future employment.

—–ends—–