NZTech - Digital Skills Report final

The NZTech - Digital Skills Report highlights the high demand for digitally skilled workers worldwide and the struggles faced by companies in filling these positions. Many countries are implementing coordinated initiatives such as apprenticeship programs, interventions in education, and training partnerships to increase the number of digitally skilled workers. Collaboration between governments, industry, civil society, and education providers is seen as crucial in supporting a strong digital skills pipeline. The Covid-19 pandemic, along with border restrictions and workplace changes, has posed additional challenges for Aotearoa New Zealand. The country heavily relies on immigration to fill senior positions, but border closures have made it more difficult for companies to find skilled workers. Despite economic uncertainty, skills shortages persist, with 79% of companies facing tech recruitment challenges in the past year. Aotearoa New Zealand specifically faces three challenges in the tech sector: filling advanced digital roles, placing early-career tech workers into industry roles, and inspiring younger generations to consider tech careers. The perceived skills shortage is actually a skills mismatch, with a lack of senior workers with specific advanced digital skills and experience. Many students and graduates struggle to find internships and entry-level jobs due to the lack of practical work experience. Furthermore, many students and young people drop out of tech pathways before entering the workforce due to insufficient understanding of opportunities and a lack of support and mentorship. The reliance on immigration and low investment in upskilling existing staff further exacerbate the challenges. The pandemic has highlighted the need for New Zealand companies to invest in and upskill their existing workforce instead of relying solely on migrant talent. To address these challenges, pathways from education to industry need to be better aligned to improve diversity and provide multiple routes into digital technology careers. The report emphasizes the ongoing need for collaboration, upskilling initiatives, and addressing diversity issues in the tech sector to strengthen the skills pipeline and bridge the gap between education and employment.