Canterbury Regional Labour Market Stategy

Industry, local and central government working through a Governance Group which includes the CPIT’s CEO Dr Neil Barns are working together on a labour market strategy aimed at addressing key human resource issues in the region. The strategy 'Globally Competitive Canterbury: Smart People in Smart Workplaces” was launched by Hon Ruth Dyson on 17th July at the Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology.


CPIT is coordinating one of the five signature projects “Regional Facilitation including Youth Transitions” and working closely with other members of the Governance Group to foster vocational education and training that supports the strategy.

"From a business perspective this strategy is aimed at increasing our global competitiveness and productivity and will tackle skill and labour shortages. We want to maximise the labour market's contribution to our regional vision with a focus on the existing workforce," said Peter Townsend, chair of the Canterbury Labour Market Governance Group and Chief Executive of the Canterbury Employers' Chamber of Commerce.

"The 'Globally Competitive Canterbury' strategy is the outcome of an intensive process of consultation aimed at creating ways that Canterbury, and each of us, can reach our aspirations for our region - we want people to expand the contribution they are able to make to Canterbury, to their communities, to themselves and their families.

The Canterbury Labour Market Strategy provides a structure for a focus on the contribution of skills and labour market development to the Canterbury economy. The initial phase is the development and implementation, over 2008 and 2009, of the five Signature Projects.

If your organisation would like to participate in the projects in this Strategy please contact the Department of Labour at CLMS@dol.govt.nz

PDF Document Canterbury Regional Labour Market Strategy