Our vision
We will support people – across different population groups, different regions and facing different challenges – to use their skills so that people can lead happier, healthier and more productive lives, contribute to the economy, support communities, businesses, industries and sectors and share in New Zealand’s prosperity.
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Work provides a sense of purpose, connectedness and opens up further opportunities, as well as providing financial independence, support for physical and mental health, and better outcomes for people and their families. Our country is better off when more people are in paid work, and being in work creates opportunities for people to get ahead and pursue their aspirations.
We also need to drive positive change for those population groups who experience differences in employment outcomes. All New Zealanders deserve the opportunities and independence that come from work. Being able to grow and support the talent of a wide range of people – including women, Māori, Pacific peoples, migrant and ethnic communities, disabled people, older workers and youth – means employers have access to those skilled people. Maximising opportunities for all New Zealanders to be in work will also provide independence for those people and reduce demand for costly government services.
We need to do things differently across government to provide opportunities for people to engage in work, including in the education and welfare systems, and apply a social investment approach. Decisive actions have already been taken in these key focus areas to provide the leadership required to deliver better outcomes for New Zealanders.
This Employment Action Plan sets out our actions and ambitions to work with communities and employers to create effective labour markets and policies, supporting New Zealanders to have the best chance to build a better life for themselves, their families and our country.