Data snapshot
To support and affirm what we have heard from people throughout our region we have created a ‘Data Snapshot’ document comprised of quantitative data and further supplementary qualitative data.
On this page
Our region
Our rohe is made up of 3 districts, each bringing their own localised variances to the region's wider labour market. To better understand these variances we have included a high level snapshot of the Taranaki economy using a district level lens.
Regional Labour Market Snapshot
Taranaki vs. New Zealand
| Unemployment Rate | Māori Unemployment rate | Employment Growth P.A | Average Income | Self-Employed | |
| Taranaki | 3.7% | 9.5% | 2.8% | $66,876 | 16.8% |
| New Zealand | 3.4% | 7% | 3% | $69,585 | 16.2% |
South Taranaki
- Average income: $69,172
- Highly skilled workers: 37.4%
- Employment growth: 2.2%
- Population growth: 1%
New Plymouth
- Average income: $66,899
- Highly-skilled workers: 37.3%
- Employment growth: 3%
- Population growth: 0.6%
Stratford
- Average income: $56,704
- Highly-skilled workers: 40.2%
- Employment growth: 2%
- Population growth: 0.5%
Ethnicity
Taranaki is home to 12,300 people.
| Ethnic group | Percentage |
| European | 80% |
| Māori | 25% |
| Other | 13% |
*Total response for ethnicity groups have been used (where everyone is included in every ethnic group they identify with) so percentages will add to more than 100%.
High job creation in Construction and Health Care
Jobs created (2002 to 2022)
| Sector | Jobs created |
| Construction | 3,574 |
| Healthcare and Social Assistance | 2,007 |
| Manufacturing | 1,485 |
| Professional Scientific & Technical Services | 1,438 |
| Public Administration | 1,075 |
Increasingly qualified workforce
Higher percentage of workforce with level 4, 5, 6 and 7 qualifications.
| Qualification level | 2002 | 2022 |
| Level 1-3 | 41.4% | 36.4% |
| Level 4 | 13.6% | 14% |
| Level 5-6 | 10% | 12.1% |
| Level 7+ | 35% | 37.5% |
High employment in health care and education sectors
Jobs filled per sector:
- Construction services: 3,633
- Accomodation & food services: 3,712
- Professional scientific & tech services: 4,036
- Health Care and Social assistance: 6,447
- Education and Training: 4,410
Sources:
Infometrics - Regional Economic Profile, Stratford District
Infometrics - Regional Economic Profile, South Taranaki District
Infometrics - Regional Economic Profile, New Plymouth District
Infometrics - Regional Skills Outlook, Taranaki
Infometrics - Sector Profile, Taranaki
Infometrics - Regional Economic Profile, Taranaki
Kaiāwhina Health Workforce
Insights & Evidence
The Health Care and Social Assistance sector is the second largest job creator in Taranaki, creating 796 jobs between 2012 and 2022.
The Health Sector is the third largest employer in Taranaki, employing over 6000 workers – more than 10% of our workforce.
Kaiāwhina make up an estimated 30% of the health workforce.
Occupational breakdown*
6447 Employed:
- 2,233 Health professionals
- 1406 Carers & Aids
- 342 Health & support workers
- 313 Legal, Social and Welfare professionals
- 259 education professionals
*There are 1894 employed in non-health specific roles within the Health sector.
Demand for health workers outstrips supply
This is predicted to worsen as our population ages.
Ageing population
| Age | 2002 | 2022 |
| 0-14 | 23.2% | 20.4% |
| 15-64 | 63.7% | 61% |
| 65+ | 14.1% | 18.6% |
Nearly 2000 people needed to fill job openings over the next 5 years
Top job openings in the next 5 years in Health Support roles
- Personal Care assistant
- Aged or Disabled Carer
- Community/Welfare worker
- Dental Assistant
- Diversional Therapist.
Top job openings in the next 5 years in the Health Sector
- Personal Care Assistant
- Registered Nurse
- Community Worker
- Aged or Disabled Carer
- Nurse Manager.
Improving diversity in the workforce is expected to help improve health outcomes
Healthcare and Social assistance workforce
Male and female proportion of the workforce:
| Gender | Percentage of workforce |
| Male | 18% |
| Female | 82% |
Ethnicity of the workforce*:
| Ethnic group | Percentage of workforce |
| Asian | 5.4% |
| Māori | 12.2% |
| European | 85.4% |
*Total response for ethnicity groups have been used (where everyone is included in every ethnic group they identify with) so percentages will add to more than 100%.
The Health workforce are becoming increasingly qualified
Table comparing the highest qualification held be those employed in the health sector, 2013 versus 2018.
| Highest qualification held by those employed in the health sector | 2013 (%) | 2018 (%) |
| Bachelor’s or higher | 30.6% | ↑ 36.5% |
| Level 6 diploma | 12.8% | ↓ 7.6% |
| Level 5 diploma | 4.1% | ↑ 5.4% |
| Level 4 certificate | 8.1% | ↑ 8.6% |
| Level 3 certificate | 6.2% | ↑ 10.3% |
| No qualification | 12.8% | ↑ 10.4% |
Sources:
Infometrics - Regional Skills Outlook, Taranaki
Infometrics - Sector Profile, Taranaki
Infometrics - Regional Economic Profile, Taranaki
Hauora and wellbeing in construction
Insights and evidence
The construction sector is the largest job creator in the region, creating 1,423 jobs from 2012-2022.
The construction industry in the second largest employer in Taranaki.
6658 employed in the sector in 2022.
Source: Infometrics - Sector Profile – Taranaki
Construction workforce distribution (2022)
- New Plymouth: 5,170
- Stratford: 345
- South Taranaki: 1,143
Source: Infometrics - Sector Profile – Taranaki
Construction demand outstrips labour supply
“Vertical workforce shortfall for Taranaki estimated to be an average of over 7,300 for 2023” - Waihanga Ara Rau
Taranaki workforce supply & demand
Need data table for this graph.
Source: www.wip.org.nz(external link)
“Its more important than ever that we increase our focus on mental health in the worfkp[lace. We know that for the predominantly male construction workforce, this isn’t a grou that is likely to proactively seek help or reach out to offer it” – Victoria Mcarthur, CEO, Mates in Construction.
There will be 318 job openings by 2028
Qualifications needed to fill 318 jobs by 2028:
- Certificate (level 1-3): 98
- Certificate (level 4): 108
- Certificate (Level 5-6): 32
- Degree (Level 7+): 79
Source: Infometrics - Regional Skills Outlook, Taranaki
Significant issues with worker wellbeing shown in national statistics
- 583 suicides in construction from 2007 to 2017
- 97.9% male
- 16% aged 20-24
- Construction workers are 6x more likely to die from suicide than an accident at work
Source: Construction industry suicides: numbers, characteristics, and rates. ExternalResearch report ER65 [2021] BRANZ
“We are taking a holistic approach. Our Kaupapa is changing the culture of Taranaki’s construction sector to be more inclusive and supportive of the wellbeing of people. We support construction workers, businesses owners, self-employed and groups in associated trades.” – Christina Lorth, Building Wellness Trust.