The TEC, Workforce Development Councils and Te Pūkenga have all contributed to a formal cross-agency response to the inaugural Regional Workforce Plans produced by the 15 Regional Skills Leadership Groups (RSLGs) last year.

Led by MBIE, the cross-agency response involved 26 agencies in total, covering a broad range of areas including education and training, employment, social development and priority population groups. It is available on MBIE’s website.

In their response, the agencies welcome the insights and advice in the Regional Workforce Plans and the opportunity to collaborate on a collective response. They provide information on their work in areas prioritised by RSLGs and suggest ways RSLGs and agencies can work together in the future.

They find clear alignment between the themes raised in the plans and central government agency priorities and note the important role RSLGs have in making sure the regional voice on skills and workforce issues is heard by central agencies and national workforce entities.

The response is structured around the themes across the plans:

• Better coordination of workforce and skills planning
• Sustainable, decent and inclusive employment
• Kia eke te ahumahi Māori – Māori workforce and industry success
• Rangatahi transitions from education to further training and employment
• Overcoming barriers to accessing education and employment.

The TEC also provided its own response to each of the 15 RSLGs to address specific training-related actions from each group at a more detailed level.

RSLGs are independent advisory groups on skills and workforce issues. The groups are working with regional partners on the priorities and actions identified in their plans. These will be refreshed annually with the next iterations released in mid-2023.

Find out more about the RSLG mahi at mbie.govt.nz/rslg