Marlborough Express - Weekend Express
Older workers looking for new jobs
A new website aims to connect the older workforce with employers in Marlborough, Nelson and West Coast.
The platform has been developed by the Ministry of Social Development in collaboration with local industries and business agencies.
Through {{Markup:anchor}}pickyourpath.nz, people can learn more about job opportunities in the area, such as fruit picking, seafood processing and viticulture, and explore the job market.
MSD regional commissioner Craig Churchill said as the population aged, the number of older workers would rise too, with the Nelson, Marlborough and West Coast regions expected to lead this trend in years to come.
But there were advantages to this. “We all know older workers can be loyal, reliable and have longer tenure,” Churchill said.
“They bring a lifetime of skills, experience, stability and leadership and can mentor younger workers.”
The website offered a calendar that could guide seasonal workers to understand where they might be needed more.
“This is a really great tool for the semi-retired, who might be looking to mix short-term employment with retirement and regional travel,” Churchill said.
The website had different sections to explore job opportunities across the three regions but to find an offer the user was redirected to Find a Job – a job search website hosted by MSD.
The Nelson Tasman Chamber of Commerce and the Office for Seniors teamed up to also “support entrepreneurs over 50 who want to start or scale-up a business”, an initiative called Prime Time.
Churchill said the ministry was also developing supporting tools “for older workers who want training or retraining to re-join the workforce”.
“Flexi-wage 65+ is for people getting NZ Super or the Veteran’s Pension who need training or retraining for a job and provides the employer with a subsidy while the worker gets up to speed,” he said.
He said the country already had “one of the highest rates of people aged over 65 still working”.
“Some are choosing to work longer, staying connected to [the] community and retaining a sense of purpose or simply wanting to afford a better semi-retired lifestyle.
“For others, there may be economic reasons, perhaps around continuing to
be able to afford rent or a mortgage.
“If we plan ahead, we can maximise the benefits of this trend with older workers bringing a lifetime of skills and experience to the table.”
Along with the two regional initiatives, Churchill said there was a range of supports available for older workers who wanted training or retraining to rejoin the workforce.