Coronavirus: Covid-19 provides tech opportunities for south Auckland youth

Friday, 22 May 2020

Some people who lost jobs during the Covid-19 lockdown haven't found themselves out of work for long.

The economic fallout of Covid-19 has seen thousands lose their jobs, but for one south Auckland initiative, it's a “leapfrog” opportunity to provide careers for youth.

Southern Initiative is Auckland Council's social innovation think-and-do tank, tasked to identify the social and economic disadvantages and find career opportunities.

A change in tack saw the initiative move their focus from jobs in hospitality and retail — industries that have been heavily impacted by Covid-19 — to technology, construction and infrastructure.

“We refocussed on these areas before Covid-19, but the big difference is, our focus now aligns with where the opportunities will be in the future,” general manager Gael Surgenor said.

* Coronavirus: The cruel impact of Covid-19 on jobs, livelihoods in south Auckland

* Christchurch hopes $20b Budget nest-egg will create high value jobs

Programmes about 3D printing were some opportunities provided by the Southern Initiative (file pic).

Last week, the Government announced a $1.6b trades and apprenticeships package, more tertiary enrolments and free vocational training courses.

The timing means the initiative, which has been running with a mix of public, private and philanthropic funding, could for the first time, benefit from mainstream funding.

In 2018, the initiative focussed on building a 'digital future' and opportunities for south Auckland youth.

Of 17 young people from a tech career accelerator programme, 10 found jobs, three started their own ventures and four are studying further at university.

Government funding could see the numbers rapidly increase, Surgenor said.

And it's needed now more than ever and it needs to be done at scale.

A recent report by the Southern Initiative looked at the unequal impact of Covid 19 on Māori and Pasifika communities in New Zealand.

The rate for youth aged 15-24 not in employment, education or training was 18.4 per cent in the December quarter, for communities covered by the initiative (TSI), almost double the Treasury forecast of 9.6 per cent for nationwide unemployment post-Covid-19.

“The impact and long tail of the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) on Māori and Pasifika people serve as an indication of the likely unequal impact of the expected Covid-19 recession,” the report read.

“Data on employment in industries, unemployment and wages before and after the GFC, shows that Māori and Pasifika people in the workforce were more likely to lose their jobs, and took much longer to recover from the economic shock. Due to population concentrations this meant particular impacts in south Auckland. In some instances, particularly for Pasifika people living in south Auckland, earning levels still have not recovered.

“There is a clear and present danger that these patterns of unequal impact will repeat and be exacerbated to an even deeper extent with the Covid-19 recession.”

Surgenor said the report was a glimpse of what the crisis could have been like.

“So now more than ever, we have to address those inequities and the disadvantage that communities like south Auckland has been experiencing for a long time and it needs to be a priority.”

She said the focus on skills and jobs in the digital and technology space is important for south Aucklanders as it means they will be able to find work in industries central to the “economic reboot” post Covid-19.

“For a lot of these digital businesses, young people can learn on the job, especially young people with the willingness and the aptitude.

“We need to make the most of the opportunities that are coming out of this challenging time.”