"Stop viewing our youth as a problem and start seeing them as our future", was the message delivered at the Taranaki Mayors Taskforce for Jobs community forum held in Stratford on Friday.
It's a view Stratford mayor Neil Volzke shares, saying a change of mindset is needed.
"Our aim is to have youth either in school, in training or in jobs. The hardest part is getting employers on board, that is the real challenge," Neil says.
Stratford, together with New Plymouth, are Taranaki's 'retirement villages', Otorohanga mayor and chairman of the taskforce Dale Williams said, warning that we need to do better for our young people.
"We have to do a whole lot better for those we got, cause we are not getting any more."
"The foot is on the throttle. We have no choice. There will be population growth in Taranaki in the next 10 years but look where the growth is. You will be mowed down by mobility scooters. They will be demanding better footpaths etc, but who is going to pay the rates to get it done?"
The 65-plus age group in Taranaki is predicted over the next 10 years to grow by 30 per cent while the other age groups combined will decrease by 4.8 per cent. In the next decade to 2031, the 65-plus group is predicted to grow by 61.71 per cent and the other groups combined to decline by 12.9 per cent.
National Manager Youth Guarantee Arthur Graves says young people are our future workforce and taxpayers. However, there is a mismatch between those not able to find jobs and employers unable to fill positions and that they are aiming to change this.
"It is about preparing students to go out and get skills, not about credit gathering."
Stratford youth councillor Janelle Rooyakkers says the meeting was an inspiration to all but questioned the lack of other youth, apart from herself and youth council chairperson Rebekah Frost, attending.
Youthworks' Lovey Read says Stratford is on the right track: "We are already doing it but in our separate organisations. Once here (referring to the new youth centre coming, see page 1) we will be able to work together much more efficiently."
Work and Income work broker Rene van de Weert says they work with the mayoral taskforce. He agrees that the challenge is to get more employers to buy in.
"We have 50 youth on unemployment with various skills. Most, however, are unskilled and need entry level jobs. We want to work with employers on this."
Neil says the council will discuss its role, and will be reviewing its youth strategy.