KEY POINTS:
Employees might be a bit more hesitant to change jobs given the global recession, but one thing many workers can do to make the most of their current position is to earn New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) qualifications on the job.
Each year over 185,000 New Zealanders participate
in industry training under the guidance of industry training organisations (ITOs).
"Without question, the industry training system is critically important for a very large number of industries and firms that value the kinds of skills and knowledge that are taught and assessed in those qualifications," says ETITO ventures and stakeholder relations manager, Michael Frampton.
ETITO is one of the largest ITOs and manages some 50 NZQA qualifications across seven industries. ITOs design the national standards and qualifications and manage the industry training systems. Industries from agriculture to social services offer some type of NZQA qualification. Training is often on-the-job where instruction and assessment occur at the workplace.
"As far as the vast majority of most of our qualifications are concerned, there is no specific delineation between on-job and off-job and in many instances the employer assumes the responsibility for the training provision."
Training costs money but usually not as much as not training. A common saying in today's job market says that you shouldn't ask: "What if I train them and they leave?" You should be asking: "What if I don't train them and they stay?"
A research study by the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research (NZIER) showed trainees were 5-20 per cent more productive after industry training. Between 2001 and 2006, The Industry Training Federation reports the average cost of training programmes per employee was just $800.
But the non-monetary or 'in-kind' contributions from businesses such as time off work are quite significant.
There are 39 ITOs which act as brokers between employers, employees, providers and assessors to make sure qualifications are drawn up and administered properly.
Frampton says ITOs can increase the desirability of particular industries to potential job seekers.
"People today are looking for employability. People are looking to understand the relationship between the investment that they will make and training and how the labour market actually recognises it - how firms value that."
In 2006, 34 per cent of trainees were 40 years old and older. Only 19 per cent were under the age of 22.
"The national qualifications framework administered by ITOs offer incredibly valuable pathways into and through industry that enable people to learn about and to be assessed against the kinds of skills and knowledge that are valuable to firms." Frampton said.
But NZQA qualifications are not aimed at just filling the current demands of the labour market.
In 2002 ITOs were legislated with a new directive to upskill their workforces in time to meet future needs.
"It is essentially an attempt to forecast future labour market skill demand and to anticipate the impact of changing technology, demographic shifts and population trends."
For instance, it takes 3 years for an electrician to become NZQA qualified. But anticipating the competency standards for an electrician to operate within the technological environment in the year 2012 is not easy.
"If we don't have an understanding of what the changes might actually mean in 3 year's time, we're going to be producing electricians that are not relevant to the needs of the labour market."
ETITO also creates and oversees qualifications for ambulance officers, call centre staff, electronics engineers, financial advisers, prison officers, security guards and telecommunications workers.
Other ITOs offer qualifications in just about every industry from aviation to funeral services.
"What firms are after are people that know what to do and people with an understanding of why they need to do what they do.
"There is a clear focus on listing the productivity of individuals, ensuring that knowledge is imparted to people in a structured and systematic way and that is in some way recognised."
The NZQA has more than 18,000 national standards and 800 national certificates and diplomas.
For a list of courses available visit www.nzqa.govt.nz. To enrol in industry training on the job, contact your immediate supervisor to see what's available in your workplace.
Contact David Maida at: www.DavidMaida.com