US employment expert tells employers to up-skill or perish

An American employment expert says New Zealand companies need to do much more to ensure future workforces are up to the challenges brought on by changes in demographics and increased automation.

Los Angeles-based chief executive of LeadersUP Jeffery Wallace says employers need to get back into the "talent development game" or risk a rapid decline in fortunes.

"We desperately need our employers to upskill our human capital.

"We need employers to understand the value of home-grown talent.

"We also need companies to embrace diversity and inclusion as a competitiveness strategy."

Wallace says "it's very likely" that studies suggesting half of all jobs in New Zealand could be wiped out by automation and digital technologies over the next 20 years are accurate.

He also says at least 60 per cent of jobs will require some form of post-secondary education by 2020 and that it's critical employers play their part in making sure education aligns with industry.

"I want to see local people fill current employment opportunities," says Wallace.

"I want to see young people empowered so that they can start to grow their own businesses.

"But most importantly we need the business community in New Zealand to go to central government and say we need our education system and our tertiary system to skill up folks in alignment with us.

"Businesses have to understand that you can do well and do good at the same time."

Jeffery Wallace has been brought to New Zealand by Auckland economic growth agency ATEED and will be a keynote speaker at tomorrow's Future Ready Summit.